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Romanticism in Spain: Key Characteristics and Literary Stages

Romanticism was a profound social and artistic movement spanning the first half of the 19th century. Its central purpose was asserting the right to liberty, understood both individually and collectively. In Europe, its development, particularly later in Spain during the reign of Ferdinand VII, allowed artists to express their ideology freely, disregarding classical rules.

Passion replaced reason, and artistic works became subjective. Romantic works are characterized by a mixture of genres, the combination of verse and prose, and the use of different metrical structures within a single poem.

Core Themes of Spanish Romanticism

• Feelings and Emotions: The primary theme is the intense expression

Antonio Machado: Biography

Born in Seville in 1875, Antonio Machado moved to Madrid. He attended the Institución Libre de Enseñanza starting in 1889. He first traveled to Paris, where he met Symbolist poets. In 1907, he published his first book, Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas. He moved to Soria, where he met Leonor Izquierdo; they married two years later. In 1912, he published his second major work, Campos de Castilla. That same year, his wife died, and he fell into a depression. Afterward, he went to Jaén, where he lived with his mother. His final poetic work was titled Nuevas Canciones. He died in France in 1939.

First Poetic Stage

Symbolist Poetry and Art Nouveau

Key Aspects:

• Work: Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas
• Themes and Purpose:

Modernism

Modernism, a poetic movement, was introduced by Rubén Darío, heavily influenced by the French Symbolists, including Verlaine and Mallarmé.

Rubén Darío came to Spain as an American delegate during the Colombian centenary celebrations. By this time, he had achieved success with his poetry collection, Azul. After living in Paris, where he was influenced by symbolist writers, he adapted their styles to Castilian. He wrote Prosas Profanas. Upon his return to Spain in 1899, he was already considered a master by young Spanish writers, who were captivated by the magical sound of his verse.

Rubén Darío sparked a genuine renewal in Spanish literature, incorporating symbolic forms, contrasting with the realistic art of the Restoration writers,... Continue reading "Spanish Modernism: Literary Movements and Influences" »

The Spanish Renaissance: Literature and Key Figures

The Renaissance period profoundly shaped Spanish literature, introducing new forms, themes, and sensibilities, particularly influenced by Italian models.

Key Authors of the Spanish Renaissance

Garcilaso de la Vega (1501–1536)

Garcilaso was the quintessential Renaissance gentleman: noble, gallant, courtly, and military. His poetic works address essential themes of the Renaissance.

• Sonnets: He wrote 40 sonnets, drawing composition from Italian literature. They are almost entirely focused on the theme of love, often inspired by court poetry and songbooks.
• Eclogues: He composed 3 eclogues, characterized by their bucolic (pastoral) nature.

Fray Luis de León (1527–1591)

Born in Belmonte (Cuenca), Fray... Continue reading "Spanish Renaissance Masters: Poetry, Mysticism, and the Picaresque" »

Spanish Golden Age Novels

The Idealistic Novel: The most abundant during the Renaissance, it tells the story of heroes in unrecognizable landscapes and among idealized people.

The Byzantine Novel: Also known as a novel of adventures. It recounts adventures that take place during a typical journey, often involving travel by boat to discover small islands and exotic landscapes. This novel represents a journey where a young protagonist must deal with multiple disabilities and handicaps. Key themes include pirates, storms, islands, and abduction.

The Pastoral Novel: Constitutes a journey where characters travel in search of happiness. Two types of actions are distinguished: one internal and slow, and another made up of stories of past shepherds. The... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age Novels: Types and Key Examples" »

18th Century Spanish Prose: The Essay

During the first half of the 18th century, the influence of French Neoclassical ideas and the reaction against the Baroque style fostered a literature aimed at renewing Spanish culture and society. The essay was the most appropriate form, especially for Father Feijoo and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos.

Benito Jerónimo Feijoo: A Visionary Thinker

• His work had a clear didactic purpose and a social dimension: it aimed to teach people what he considered the truth and to attack misconceptions and superstition.
• Example: Teatro Crítico Universal.
• His style was clear and precise. He was one of the founders of modern scientific language.

Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos: Reformer and Writer

• Besides being a writer, Jovellanos

Garcilaso de la Vega: A Renaissance Poet

Early Life and Influences

Garcilaso de la Vega, born in Toledo in 1501, was the quintessential Renaissance man, skilled in both arms and letters. He married Doña Elena de Zúñiga. However, his encounter with Isabel Freyre ignited a passionate and inspiring love that would deeply influence his poetry. This love was unrequited, as Isabel married another man and tragically died young in childbirth. Garcilaso's travels to Italy exposed him to the new poetic styles of the time, further shaping his work.

Poetic Evolution

Garcilaso's poetic journey can be divided into three stages:

• Traditional Cancionero Poetry: Initially, Garcilaso cultivated a traditional style of poetry known as "cancionero".
• Petrarchan Influences:

Spanish Golden Age Poets: Themes and Styles

Garcilaso de la Vega

Poetic Themes and Evolution

• Love, often expressed with melancholy and sadness due to frustration or unrequited feelings.
• Connection between love and nature, relating to the locus amoenus theme, reflecting the inner world as a poetic refuge from pain.
• Other themes include friendship, fate, fortune, and the mastery of passions.

Stylistic Development

• Early Petrarchan poems show influence from cancionero lyric and the Valencian poet Ausiàs March, characterized by a more intense and dominant use of traditional lyric resources.
• From 1532, increased contact with Petrarchan poetry led to the incorporation of classical genres like the ode, elegy, epistle, and eclogue into his work.

The Eclogues

Garcilaso'... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age Poets: Themes, Styles, and Key Works" »

Classical Deities and Attributes

Zeus / Jupiter:

sovereignty over all the universe. Crown, Eagle, ray, scepter.

Poseidon / Neptune:

sovereignty over the waters. Crown, trident, chariot and hippocampus, newts, trident, dolphin.

Hera / Juno:

Queen of Olympus, protector of marriage and parties. Crown, scepter, peacock, pomegranate.

Hades / Pluto:

sovereignty over the subterranean world. Chariot + black horses, ivory throne, scepter, horn of abundance.

Demeter / Ceres:

protector of agriculture. Ear of wheat, sickle, torch.

Athena / Minerva:

protector of intelligence, some arts (philosophy, literature, and crafts) and war (for justice). Helmet, spear, Aegis, armor, owl, olive, winged victory.

Hestia / Vesta:

protector of the family, home, and State. Flame of