Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Latin

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was a tragic conflict that profoundly divided the 20th century. Despite the turmoil, Spanish literature experienced an era of grandeur, particularly in poetry. This period led some to speak of a second Silver Age or Golden Age, as authors from the Generations of '98 and '14 were still publishing, and the Generation of '27 was at its peak.

The War's Impact on Poets and Literature

The war brought death to some, like Federico García Lorca, and forced others into exile, including Juan Ramón Jiménez, León Felipe, Luis Cernuda, and Jorge Guillén. For those who remained, censorship became a pervasive reality.

"Rooted Poetry": Neoclassicism and Tradition

Among the poets who stayed in Spain, a logical "regulatory unity"... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry After the Civil War: A Literary Divide" »

Mysticism and Asceticism in Spanish Literature

Writers of this period were deeply influenced by mystical and ascetic traditions. While mystic poets sought the union of the soul with divinity, ascetics focused on achieving moral perfection. Often, these two concepts were intertwined.

Fray Luis de Leon

Born in Cuenca, Fray Luis de Leon professed in the Order of St. Augustine. During an era when Latin was the exclusive language of university education, he—along with San Juan de la Cruz and Santa Teresa de Jesus—advocated for education in Castilian. Fray Luis wanted his work to be accessible to all people, which is why he chose to write in the vernacular rather than Latin.

Works of Fray Luis de Leon

• Prose: De los nombres de Cristo (a treatise on

40a60 YEARS FROM Poetry Background: the poetry of the thirties. In the 1930s, the lyrics are rehumaniza and drift toward compromise. During the war, poetry propaganda weapon used. Panorama of poetry after the war absences in the poetry scene is significant. Fundamental works were written after the war. The poets of the "Generation of 36" will become senior representatives of the poetry of the moment. The poetry of the forties. The Generation of 36. The poets are born between 1909 and 1922. After the Civil War marked two major poetic trends: poetry rooted that develops without anguish. Its members aspired to the renaissance classical serenity. They value the classical forms as the sonnet, and address issues of love, religious and patriotic.

Biography of Gabriel García Márquez

Gabriel García Márquez (GGM) was born in 1928 in Aracataca into a middle-class family. He studied in Bogotá, where he began to devote himself to literature and journalism. Later, he traveled to Cartagena, where he abandoned his law studies to focus on his writing within the Barranquilla Group. He published his first novel, Leaf Storm, in 1955. In 1967, his masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude, was published, catapulting him to global literary fame. It is considered the pinnacle of contemporary Latin American literature. In 1975, he announced a hiatus from narrative to engage in political activism, returning six years later with Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981). GGM has participated in various... Continue reading "Gabriel García Márquez: Life and Chronicle of a Death Foretold" »

Prepositions of Time: IN, ON, AT

• IN: *in the afternoon*, *in December*, *in summer*, *in 1998*
• ON: *on Friday*, *on the 12th of July*, *on my birthday*
• AT: *at 3 o'clock*, *at midday*, *at night*, *at New Year's*

Family Vocabulary & Possessive Nouns

• Family Members:
  • Cousins (primo/a)
  • Aunts (tía)
  • Uncles (tío)
  • Nieces (sobrina)
  • Nephews (sobrino)
• Saxon Genitive (Possessive 's):
  • *Charles's brother*
  • *The brothers' car*

Possessive Adjectives & Demonstratives

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • *His* (él)
  • *Her* (ella)
  • *It's* (it is) vs. *Its* (possessive)
• Demonstratives:
  • *This* (cerca, singular)
  • *That* (lejos, singular)
  • *These* (cerca, plural)
  • *Those* (lejos, plural)

Articles and Plural Noun Rules

• Articles:
  • *A* (singular, before consonant sounds)
  • *An* (singular, before vowel sounds:

Poetry of the 1940s

Rooted Poetry

Rooted poetry emerged in the 1940s, characterized by a focus on the perfection of verse and the expression of beauty, often setting aside the plight of the Civil War. These poets expressed religious beliefs or traditional themes, such as landscapes and love. Their style was calm, classic, aloof, and cold, intentionally avoiding painful feelings or cries of anguish. The metric was regular, and the sonnet was the preferred stanza. This poetry was mostly published in magazines like Garcilaso and Escorial, the latter founded by José García Nieto. Key authors include:

• Luis Rosales
• Leopoldo Panero
• Luis Felipe Vivanco
• Dionisio Ridruejo

Uprooted Poetry

In the same decade, uprooted poetry emerged as a skeptical reaction against... Continue reading "Spanish Literature: From Postwar Poetry to the Generation of 50" »

Miguel Hernández: A Poetic Journey

First Poetic Stage (1933-1936)

During this period (1933-1936), Miguel Hernández's lyrical production is characterized by the pursuit of poetic language itself and the significant influence of Ramón Sijé. This stage includes notable works such as Perito en lunas and El rayo que no cesa.

Perito en lunas (1933)

Perito en lunas is Miguel Hernández's first published book (1933). It comprises 42 poems, primarily in octavas reales. This collection belongs to Hernández's neogongorist phase, transforming everyday objects into art and incorporating the genre of the riddle.

El rayo que no cesa (1936)

Published in 1936, El rayo que no cesa explores the central theme of an unfulfilled love. Moral standards prevent the... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Poetic Evolution and Key Works" »

Spanish Literature in the 1950s and 1960s

Poetry

The Decade of the 50: Most Representative Authors

• Blas Otero (1916-1979): Existential poetry, social poetry, new forms of expression
• Gabriel Celaya (1911-1991): Surrealist, intense and aggressive language

The Decade of the 60: Most Representative Authors

• Jose Hierro (1922-2002): Early works: search for happiness; later works: collective suffering and existentialism
• Claudio Rodriguez (1934-1999): Simple style, singular
• Angel Gonzalez: Social poetry
• Jaime Gil de Biedma: Intimate issues
• Jose Angel Valente: Secrecy

Novel

The Decade of the 50: Representative Authors

• Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio: Realistic approach, concentration of action
• Ignacio Aldecoa: Passion as a storyteller
• Jesus Fernandez Santos: Existential themes

The

Origins of Spanish Golden Age Theater

Italian Influence and Early Developments

The origins of Spanish theater in the sixteenth century were significantly influenced by Italian techniques and resources. Lope de Vega was well acquainted with the work of Italian companies and founded his own "theater cave" (teatro cueva). Juan del Encina introduced Mexican themes into Spanish drama by the end of the sixteenth century.

Structure of Golden Age Drama

Divisions of a Play

Plays were typically divided into three acts, or "days":

• Exposure (Exposición): The first act, introducing the characters and conflict.
• Knot (Nudo): The remainder of the first act, the second act, and part of the third, where the plot develops.
• Outcome (Desenlace): The resolution of the

16th Century Spanish Narrative

The prose narrative of the 16th century cannot be defined as the modern novel. Originating in Italy, it encompassed short stories, novels, and imitations of Cervantes. New genres emerged, such as the pastoral narrative, akin to lyrical poetry. A notable example is The Seven Books of the Diana by Jorge de Montemayor.

A unique genre was the Moorish-themed narrative, featuring the figure of the Moor, sometimes in tolerant coexistence with Christians. The anonymous Abencerraje and the Beautiful Jarifa is a prime example. These were not realistic depictions of Moorish life but idealized portrayals, similar to pastoral narratives. Francisco Delicado, author of the rich Andalusian work akin to La Celestina, stands out.... Continue reading "16th Century Spanish Literature: Genres and Evolution" »