17th-Century Spanish Literature: Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and More
17th-Century Spanish Literature
A Change in Social Function
During the 17th century, Spanish literature underwent a significant shift in its social function, becoming an art form aimed at a broader audience.
- Its primary goal was no longer to moralize or teach but to entertain and please the public.
- A vibrant literary world emerged, marked by rivalry between authors and lively polemics.
Stylistic Transformations
Sobriety and balance gave way to stylistic exuberance and complexity.
- Writers sought innovation,
Spanish Baroque Theater: Formation, Structure, and Social Function
Formation of Spanish Baroque Comedy
In the realm of Spanish Baroque theater, the term plays referred to performances in public spaces, encompassing comedies, tragi-comedies, and dramas, excluding pure tragedies. The play, in this context, adheres to a formula established by Lope de Vega in the late 16th century.
Lope de Vega’s significant contribution was the integration of various elements into his plays, including:
- Introduction of lyrical elements
- Complex and intertwined plots
- Interpolation of comic
Baroque Literature and Theater: A Golden Age of Spanish Arts
The Baroque Period
The Baroque period, immediately following the historical and cultural rebirth, reached its highest representation in Spanish literature and splendor, crowning the Golden Age launched by a revival.
Historical and Social Context
The Baroque in Spain covered the period of the so-called Habsburg children: Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II. This era was characterized by a historical crisis:
- Financial crisis: Spain wasted opportunities by not adequately investing the wealth from the
Romantic Poetry and Prose
Romantic Poetry
Narrative Poetry
Narrative poetry developed a kind of narrative linked to the medieval epic, romances, and legends of oral transmission. Frequent elements are ghostly and gloomy. The stories are located in places steeped in artistic tradition.
Lyric Poetry
There were two periods during the nineteenth century: In the first half of this century, José de Espronceda cultivated a lyric characterized by rhetorical emphasis and patriotic and social themes. The development of lyric poetry continued
Read MoreThe Generation of ’27: A Poetic Synthesis
The Generation of ’27, a group of Spanish poets born around the turn of the 20th century, embodies the traits of a generation shaped by shared intellectual pursuits and mutual admiration. Their gathering for a tribute to Luis de Góngora, guided by Juan Ramón Jiménez, solidified their common stylistic features and recognition of a bygone era. These poets achieved a remarkable synthesis of tradition and innovation.
Bridging Tradition and the Avant-Garde
From Spain’s rich literary past, they resurrected
Read More1902 Generation: Literary Renewal in Spain
Breaking with Realism
While literary history often distinguishes between the Generation of ’98 and Modernism, both movements share a crucial commonality: a rejection of late 19th-century Realism. They viewed Realism as bourgeois, stale, and mundane. This shared rejection led them to explore new forms of expression, intensified by the social and political upheaval following the loss of Spain’s last colonies. This period, culminating in 1902, saw a surge of critical perspectives, particularly within
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