17th 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
Romanticism: A Deep Dive into 19th-Century Literature and Art
Romanticism
Historical Framework
The 19th century began with Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808, the subsequent War of Independence (1808-1814), and the return of King Ferdinand VII, who restored absolute monarchy. Constant disputes arose between absolutists (supporters of the king’s full powers) and liberals (defending national sovereignty and civil liberties), leading to the exile of many intellectuals, primarily to France and England. Upon the king’s death, these intellectuals returned, contributing
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