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Galician Literature in Exile: Poetry, Narrative, and Theater

As a result of the Spanish Civil War, many Galicians, including writers, artists, and intellectuals, were forced into exile.

Poetry: Themes of Social Critique and Longing

Poetry was the genre most cultivated in Galician literature of exile. The topics discussed included social critique, reflection on the plight of immigrants and exiles, and the reclamation of the dignity and history of Galicia.

Major Poets and Works

• Luís Seoane: Notable works include Fardel de eisilado (Exile's Bundle) and Nube (Fog). His style is characterized by its accessibility, aiming for his lines to reach all readers.
• Lorenzo Varela: Began his literary activity in both Spanish and Galician. He published works such

Context of Exile: Post-1936 Uprising

The military uprising in 1936, which prevented the approval of the Statute of Autonomy, led many Galician intellectuals into exile in Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico.

Preserving Culture & Language Abroad

Exiles, alongside immigrants, played a crucial role in preserving Portuguese culture and ensuring the continuation of the Galician language as a written form. Their actions included:

• Organization of exhibitions and conferences
• Establishment of publishing houses
• Founding of newspapers
• Constitution of cultural entities
• Denunciation to UNESCO regarding the persecution of Galician culture and language

Key Figures in Exile Literature

Poetry

Emilio Pita

Born in La Coruña, Emilio Pita emigrated to Argentina as a child.... Continue reading "Portuguese & Galician Literary Exile: Preserving Culture" »

Literary Narrative: Structure and Subgenres

Defining the Epic and Narrative

The epic or narrative is composed of literary works in which the author uses the voice of a narrator to tell a story. The narrator is a central figure in narrative works. The narrator tells the story, detailing the events located in space and time, describing places and people, introducing dialogues, and weaving the plot or argument.

Subgenres of the Epic

The epic has many subgenres. The most prominent include:

• In Verse: The epic poem and romance in verse.
• In Prose: The novel, the story (short story), and the legend.

In Unit 11 we explore in detail the major subgenre of literary narrative.

Verse Meter and Syllable Count

Classification by Extent

Verses are classified according... Continue reading "Literary Analysis: Narrative Structure, Poetic Meter, and Syntax" »

Spanish Theater Before 1936: Trends, Authors, and Key Works

In the late nineteenth century, European theater was dominated by naturalism, focusing on reflecting human problems and analyzing character psychology. The breakdown of these conventions marked the development of European theater. Various art movements, particularly Dada and Surrealism, sought a complete break with traditional theater. The text became less important, and the viewer was expected to actively participate in the work. Techniques from cabaret, silent film, and puppet theater were incorporated, and stages were moved to unconventional locations like factories and churches.

Benaventino Comedy

Commercial theater saw the triumph of Benaventino Comedy. Jacinto Benavente was the... Continue reading "Spanish Theater: Trends, Authors, and Works Before 1936" »

Modernism: A Late 19th Century Literary Movement

Modernism emerged at the end of the 19th century in Europe and America. It encompassed renovating currents opposed to the aesthetics and attitudes of realism. Modernism, a stream of artistic and literary renewal, developed in the late 19th century, representing a break with the aesthetics of realism. It received influences from French movements in the second half of the 19th century:

• Parnassianism: Striving for formal perfection (art for art's sake), disregarding feelings, and focusing on beauty.
• Symbolism: Seeking meaning in reality through the use of symbols.

Modernism is considered to have begun with the publication of Azul by Ruben Dario in 1888. Other notable authors include Francisco Villaespesa,... Continue reading "Modernism and the Generation of '98: Literary Movements in Spain" »

Celestite

Authorship

Attributed primarily to Fernando de Rojas, with Act I possibly by Rodrigo de Cota. Initially 16 acts, later expanded to 21.

Editions

• 1^st Edition (1499-1500): Untitled, also known as Comedia de Melibea. Contains 16 acts and annotations, including an acrostic verse prologue.
• 2^nd Edition (1502): Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea, with 21 acts.
• 3^rd Edition: Mid-16^th century, titled La Celestina.

Genre

Debated between:

• a) Play: Division into acts, absence of a narrator, action driven by dialogue, specific time and place setting.
• b) Dialogue Novel: Length and complexity make it difficult to stage.

Structure

• Act I: Introduction to the action.
• Acts II-XII: Development of conflict between characters.
• Acts XIII-XX: Development of Calisto and Melibea'

Innovation in Renaissance Lyric Poetry

This section delves into the evolution of lyric poetry during the Renaissance, particularly focusing on the Second Renaissance period.

The Second Renaissance Context

• Pope Pius and the Counter-Reformation: A significant period marked by religious and cultural shifts.
• Educational Restrictions: Young people were forbidden from studying in foreign universities, and reading was carefully monitored to control the spread of ideas.

Poetic Currents of the Second Renaissance Lyric

Petrarchism

Poets following this pattern showed a strong preference for love themes, often characterized by idealized beauty and unrequited affection.

Horatian Lyric

Some authors cultivated poetry focused on moral themes. The favorite stanza form... Continue reading "Renaissance Lyric Poetry & Word Formation: A Comprehensive Study" »

Mercè Rodoreda: Life and Literary Stages

Mercè Rodoreda was self-taught. Her work is closely related to major events in her life and can be identified through three distinct stages of existence:

• The Early Works: A series of five novels that the author subsequently disavowed, with the exception of Aloma. Aloma is a psychological and symbolic work focusing on love and unhappiness, which Rodoreda reviewed and revised over the years.
• The Stage of Maturity: During this period, she published twenty-two stories and the work that consecrated her as a narrator, La Plaça del Diamant (Diamond Square). This novel follows the life and maturity process of a girl of popular origin named Natalia, utilizing the technique of interior monologue. She also wrote

The literature of the twentieth century marks the beginning of modernity. In the early twentieth century literary field, the Renaixença movement, begun in the previous century, shared the stage with Modernism and the recently appeared Noucentisme. After the civil war, a new generation of writers emerged, reflecting the vicissitudes of the postwar period and reaching the current generation of poets.

Modernist Poetry

Modernism was a cultural movement born to modernize society and its structures, showing a progressive ideology. Modernism is based on a romantic idea where the artist faces society and its economic interests, taking refuge and living solely for art. This professional dedication makes the artist a social rebel, known as the proponent... Continue reading "20th Century Catalan Poetry: Modernism to Avant-Garde" »

Renaissance Literature in Spain

The Renaissance

The Renaissance, the historical period following the Middle Ages, originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe. This era exalted earthly life and embraced vitalism, epitomized by the phrase carpe diem. Knowledge became a means of human improvement, giving rise to humanism. Renaissance values, particularly among the bourgeoisie, were disseminated through the printing press. The Renaissance individual sought direct communication.

Renaissance Poetry

Garcilaso de la Vega

Garcilaso de la Vega's small body of work (38 sonnets and 3 eclogues) focuses almost exclusively on love. To express his feelings, he often employs classical mythology and the literary motif of the locus amoenus. Garcilaso introduced... Continue reading "Spanish Renaissance Literature: Poets and Prose" »