Love: The Pillars of Miguel Hernández's Poetry

The poetry of Miguel Hernández is primarily based on three pillars that have defined poetic themes throughout history: life, love, and death.

The Evolution of Love in Hernández's Work

The theme of love in Hernández's poetic journey began with a Platonic influence, characterized by an idealized vision reminiscent of nineteenth-century Romantic poets such as Bécquer, Zorrilla, and Espronceda. Later, his work shifted toward a more erotic and visceral experience, where the poet surrenders body and soul to passion, most notably in El rayo que no cesa (The Lightning That Never Ceases).

Key Themes in El rayo que no cesa

El rayo que no cesa is considered his most representative work regarding love. It...

La Novela Española Inmediatamente Posterior a la Guerra Civil

La novela de los años inmediatamente posteriores a la Guerra Civil demuestra la total dependencia en las primeras tendencias vigentes del tercio de siglo. Sin embargo, el exilio, la represión y la censura configuran un precario panorama, agravado por las penurias editoriales y, en general, por el empobrecimiento intelectual del país.

A la sombra de la cultura oficial, se alzan las primeras novelas de jóvenes escritores, novelistas de nuevo orden, con más o menos rasgos "antiguos", destacando la corriente de la 'novela de los vencedores' y otra corriente, denominada "neorromántica", que se rescata y nutre de la obra El bosque animado (1943) de Wenceslao Fernández Flórez. Una...

Key Avant-Garde Movements of the 20th Century

Futurism: Speed, Dynamism, and Technology

Founded by Marinetti, Futurism proclaimed a complete break with the past and tradition. It glorified war, magnified sport, speed, dynamism, technical inventions, and adventure, expressing a worship of the "I" and youth.

Literary Techniques of Futurism:

• Destruction of syntax (using the infinitive verb form as the only valid tense).
• Elimination of the adjective and the adverb.
• Abolition of punctuation and capitalization.
• Use of arithmetic signs and musical words.
• Emphasis on absolute freedom of expression.

Cubism: Intellectual Art and Literary Collage

Cubism was born as a pictorial art movement in Paris. It was an intellectual movement requesting the participation of...

The Breakup of Yugoslavia: Causes and Conflicts

The late 1980s marked the beginning of a profound economic crisis which provided momentum for opening the external market. This period saw primary disagreements emerge:

• Between the richer republics (Croatia and Slovenia), where the restoration of capitalism was favored, and the most underdeveloped regions.
• Among the distinct ethnic and religious groups that made up the centralist country.
• Between the aspirations of Serbia and Montenegro and the rest of the territories, supporters of increasing their self-governance.

The Communist leaders embarked on a nationalist race headed by Milošević in Serbia and Tuđman in Croatia. In 1990, the first democratic elections were held.

The Yugoslav Wars

War in Slovenia

Bartomeu Rosselló-Pòrcel (1913–1938)

Literary Work

His poetry is short but dense. He adopted patterns of Baroque and Culterana poetry alongside classicizing elements. Key works include Nou Poemes (1933) and Quadern de Sonets (1934). Published posthumously was Imitació del Foc (1938).

Topics and Figures

His work features world competitions dominated by a game of opposites with a symbolic sense. He was clearly influenced by Baudelaire, and comparisons are drawn between him and the Angels (mediators between earth and heaven). There is an abundance of adjectivization, epithets, and superlatives. His metrics range from strict standards to free verse.

Literary Trends

• Early Period (Pre-1936): Investigation of pure poetry and a break with the Majorcan

Spanish Romanticism and Costumbrismo

Key Authors and Works

• Ramón de Mesonero Romanos: Known for costumbrista works like Escenas Matritenses.
• José de Larra: Famous for his critical "Articles" ("Artículos"), including El castellano viejo and Vuelva usted mañana.
• Serafín Estébanez Calderón: Wrote Escenas Andaluzas.

Early European Influences

Spanish Romanticism was influenced by European figures such as Chateaubriand, Henry Fielding, Daniel Defoe, and Sir Walter Scott. Lyrical influences include Lord Byron, while Victor Hugo impacted theater, and Alexandre Dumas influenced novels with works like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Notable Romantic Writers

• José de Larra: Also noted for his youthful contributions.
• Enrique Gil y Carrasco:

Lope de Vega: The Phoenix of Wits (1562–1635)

Lope de Vega (1562–1635) was known as a Monstruo de la Naturaleza (Freak of Nature or Phoenix of Wits) due to his extraordinary productivity. It is estimated that he wrote around 1,800 plays, of which approximately 470 are retained today.

Key Characteristics of Lope's Theater

Archetypal Characters in Lope's Plays

• The Lady: The model of perfect, virtuous womanhood.
• The Gallant: Handsome, noble, and brave, often the protagonist.
• The King: A character who ensures justice and resolves the central conflict impartially.
• The Lady's Father: An exemplary father figure, upholding honor.
• The Opponent: The antagonist of the protagonist. (Servants often act as confidants or go-betweens.)
• The Gracioso (Funny Character)

Pre-Theater 1936: Trends and Groups

The different groups and trends in the theater prior to 1936 are:

1. Bourgeois Comedy

Jacinto Benavente was its most representative author. He offered a theater with a greater interest in conversational dialogue and a more realistic tone.

The characters were bourgeois, and the topics covered were typical conflicts such as unrequited love and infidelity.

Among his works are "La Gobernadora" (The Housekeeper) and "Lo Inquilino" (The Unloved), a kind of theater that develops a violent world of uncontrolled passions for urban education.

2. Poetic Theater

It arises from modernism. It is a scene of pure evasion that retrieves historical and legendary themes.

Eduardo Marquina highlights "Las Hijas del Cid" (The Daughters...

Juan Ramón Jiménez

Chronology of Key Life Events

• 1881: Born in Moguer (Huelva).
• 1900: Moves to Madrid, called by Villaespesa and Rubén Darío.
• 1901: Suffers a depressive crisis following the death of his father. Interned in a mental hospital.
• 1905: Moves back to Moguer due to depression. Lives there in isolation, which is reflected in Platero y yo.
• 1911: Returns to Madrid, residing at the Residencia de Estudiantes.
• 1916: Marries Zenobia Camprubí in New York. Publishes Diary of a Newly Married Poet. Lives in Madrid until the Civil War.
• 1936: Abandons Spain due to the Civil War. Travels to American countries.
• 1951: Settles in Puerto Rico.
• 1956: Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. His wife dies shortly thereafter.
• 1958: Dies in Puerto Rico.

Poetic

Lope de Vega: Poetic Forms and Style

His work was a reflection of his tumultuous lifestyle. He utilized the most popular poetic forms, ranging from traditional to cultured, including:

• Ballads (Romances)
• Letrillas
• Sonnets
• Odes and Elegies
• Songs and Epic Poetry

Lope expresses a sensitivity very close to traditional songs, but also drew from Petrarchan sources and participated in the artistic games of the Baroque aesthetic. His love sonnets and religious sonnets are particularly emphasized. The romance (ballad) was instrumental in his lyrical work. His repertoire is complemented by carols (villancicos), quatrains, and seguidillas.

Luis de Góngora: Cultured and Popular Tradition

Petrarchan forms and the pastoral world of Garcilaso form the basis of his...