Spanish Romanticism: A Deep Dive into 19th-Century Literature
Spanish Romanticism (19th Century)
A) Socio-Historical Context
The Romantic movement emerged in the first half of the 19th century, replacing the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason with feeling, imagination, and passion. Originating in late 18th-century Germany and England (Pre-Romanticism), it spread to France, Italy, and Spain during the 19th century. Goethe’s The Adventures of Young Werther (1774) played a key role in disseminating Pre-Romantic ideals. In Spain, Romanticism coincided with the death
Read More17th Century Spanish Literature: Baroque and Poetry
1. The 17th Century
In Spain and France, the absolute monarchy consolidated, concentrating power in the hands of the king and the court. Meanwhile, in Holland and England, the bourgeoisie grew in importance, and legislatures began to control real power. Peasant revolts and religious wars were common. The 17th century was a century of crisis: economic instability, agricultural decline, population decline, and foreign wars. The crisis affected the social structure: the bourgeoisie lost influence, while
Read More18th & 19th Century European Theatre: Goldoni, Vaudeville & Gogol
18th & 19th Century European Theatre
Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793)
From Law to Theatre: Carlo Goldoni abandoned his law profession to dedicate himself fully to the theatre. In 1748, he was hired in Venice to write for a theatre company. He later moved to Paris, where he worked as a tutor to princes while continuing to write for Italian and French actors.
Goldoni’s Poetics: Goldoni believed in creating a theatre of marvel and laughter, highlighting the ridiculous aspects of society without directly
Read MoreSpanish Poetry of the 20th Century: Modernism and Vanguard
Nouveau
(Introduction) In the second half of the 19th century, Spain had produced a conservative, middle-class ideology that was based on the belief in progress and technical advances. A universal crisis began to appear, resulting in a fin de siècle culture with different events such as the reaction against naturalistic rationalism. Alternative forms of knowledge based on irrationalism replaced irrational intuition. Poetic Modernism began in France with the appearance of Parnassianism and Symbolism,
Read MoreRomantic Literature: Poetry, Novels, and Theater
Romantic Literature
Poetry
Romantic Poetry
Freedom manifested itself in verse, retrieving traditional metric forms and creating innovative mixes. Symbolic and connotative language shaped modern poetry. Two types can be distinguished:
- Narrative Poetry: Historical-legendary themes are discussed (e.g., The Student of Salamanca). Short narrative poems or ballads, often romantic or historical, predominate.
- Lyric Poetry: Impregnated with subjectivism and emotionalism. Intimate matters and grand themes prevail.
Spanish Literature of the Early Renaissance: Idealism, Realism, and Spirituality
Spanish Literature of the Early Renaissance
1. The Idealist Narrative
The idealist narrative presents an idealized world with fantastic characters and implausible plots.
1.1 The Romance of Chivalry
Originating in medieval times, the chivalric genre flourished during the sixteenth century. Key works include:
- Tirant lo Blanc (1490): Written in Catalan and later translated into Castilian, Cervantes considered it one of the best books for its style.
- Amadis of Gaul (1508): Published by Garcia Rodriguez, it