18th and 19th Century Literature: Enlightenment and Romanticism
1. The Enlightenment
General Introduction
The Enlightenment
The 18th century, often called the Age of Enlightenment or Age of Reason, was significantly influenced by British empiricism—the view that experience could give rise to theoretical values. David Hume, a representative of philosophical rationalism founded on empirical grounds, awakened a current of admiration in France, initiated by Voltaire.
The Enlightenment is characterized by a blend of intellectualism and empiricism. It gave rise to the
Read MoreItalian and Spanish Literature of the 14th-16th Centuries
Petrarch and the Italian Influence
Petrarch: The Father of Humanism
Francesco Petrarca, a 14th-century Italian poet and humanist, is best known for his vernacular compositions, particularly his Canzoniere (Songbook) and Trionfi (Triumphs).
- Triumphs: An allegorical poem in six parts exploring themes like love, death, fame, and time.
- Songbook: A collection of over 350 poems, primarily love sonnets inspired by Laura de Noves, showcasing the evolution of the poet’s emotions.
Petrarch’s work had a profound
Read More15th-Century Spanish Literature: An Overview
15th-Century Spanish Literature
Poetry
Ballads
Romances, a cherished form of Spanish folk poetry, are believed to be derived from chansons de geste. Their structure (eight-syllable lines with assonance rhyme in pairs) originates from epic poems. Categories include historic, border, Breton, Carolingian, romantic, and lyrical ballads. Primitive and minstrel romances belong to the old ballads, while those addressing 16th and 17th-century themes are considered new romances.
Learned and Courtly Poetry
Popular
Read MorePrelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Claude Debussy
Rhythm
Debussy employs a rhythmic approach that avoids a rigid alternation of strong and weak accents. Instead of eliminating the bar line, he weakens its impact through continuous changes in time signature: 9/8, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, 9/8. In the first part, the eighth note consistently serves as the ternary subdivision. However, the middle section (not included in the provided score) features 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures. The melodic rhythm is subtle due to the varied note values, with notes and chords
Read MoreEnd of the Century Literature: Modernism in Spain
The Rise of Modernism
In the final years of the 19th century, a shift occurred in the existing aesthetic landscape. While Realism and Naturalism continued into the next century, young writers, influenced by a Romantic spirit, rebelled against the dominant sensibilities. These writers, known as Modernists, rejected the values and customs of bourgeois society.
Characteristics of Modernism
- Rejection of Bourgeois Values: Modernist writers embraced bohemianism, a lifestyle that defied social conventions.
Spanish Theater from 1940 to the Present
Introduction
During the Civil War, theater served as a means of political propaganda. The post-war period was catastrophic: authors died (e.g., Valle-Inclán, Lorca), many went into exile (e.g., Alberti, Casona), and those who remained in Spain (e.g., J. Álvarez Quintero, Arniches, Benavente) either abandoned playwriting or premiered few works.
Theater, like other arts, was subject to censorship. Genres and topics reflected the times. In the immediate post-war period, the baroque tradition of allegorical
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