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Key Early 20th Century Spanish Novelists

This period saw a flourishing of diverse styles, from humor to modernism and the avant-garde.

Writers Focused on Humor

Fernandez Flores: His main interest was the creation of the modern humorous novel in Spain. For him, humor was an attitude towards life, increasingly critical and intellectual (Volvoreta, The Living Forest...).

Ramón Gómez de la Serna: He wrote novels, short stories, and avant-garde theater. However, his most interesting works are the greguerías (humorous lyrical images establishing witty, unusual relationships between two objects or concepts), which he defined as: humor + metaphor.

Modernist Novelists

Gabriel Miró: He presents a special care in his prose. Formed in modernism (Cherries

Ancient Egyptian Architecture

Egyptian architecture may be noted in three stages: Old, Middle, and New Kingdom. It is characterized by the use of large stone blocks, low wood utilization, and the use of adobe, sandstone, and granite.

The Pyramids and Giza

The pyramid is one of the most important architectural manifestations; it consists of geometric shapes and the inclination of its walls, which is not accidental but binds the construction to a terrestrial dynamic impulse that allows the Pharaoh to ascend to the sky. Notable examples include the Pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren, and Menkaure).

Temples and Funerary Monuments

The temple is also of great importance, which is found surrounded by a unique stone facade chaired by two obelisks. To reach... Continue reading "Ancient Egyptian Art and Architectural Wonders" »

Pre-Columbian Art in Latin America

Pre-Columbian, or Pre-Hispanic art, encompasses all artistic manifestations of cultures and civilizations that developed in the current Latin American territory before the arrival of European conquerors in the fifteenth century.

Mesoamerican Region

The Mesoamerican region, to the north, occupies what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and part of Nicaragua. Here are located the Aztecs and the Mayans, who built pyramids and large patios with writing based on signs that appear in books called codices.

Andean Region

The Andean region, south along the Andes and Pacific Ocean coasts, includes Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and part of Chile. They raised monumental stone edifices and excelled in ceramics and goldsmithing,... Continue reading "Pre-Columbian Art: Mesoamerican & Andean Civilizations" »

José María Iparraguirre (1820-1881): A Life Dedicated to Basque Identity

José María Iparraguirre was born in Urretxu, Gipuzkoa. As a young boy, he moved to Madrid with his parents. At the age of 13, he returned to the Basque Country and fought in favor of the Carlists in defense of the *Fuero* during the First Carlist War. In 1839, after the war's end, he did not approve of the Embrace of Bergara, believing the promise was not kept. Consequently, he had to leave for exile, along with many others.

Exile and the Birth of "Gernikako Arbola"

Abroad, he found protection from a French soprano singer. In addition to learning French, he studied reading, music, and the songs of French poets. In 1852, he returned to the Basque Country and sang "*Gernikako... Continue reading "José María Iparraguirre: Basque Bard and Symbol of Freedom" »

The Splendor and Fall of the Baroque

The Baroque is the cultural and artistic movement that developed during the 17th century. This era coincided with a period of economic and social crisis, marked by:

• Poverty and depopulation.
• The expulsion of the Moors.
• Kings leaving the government in the hands of politicians.
• A serious crisis caused by bankruptcy and the decline in the arrival of precious metals from America.
• The impoverishment of the majority of the population. Disillusionment and disappointment replaced Renaissance ideals.

Thought and Culture

The Baroque period was characterized by pessimism and disillusionment. Humanist ideals were abandoned in favor of a deeper focus on religion. This sense of crisis was reflected in a culture of violent contrasts.... Continue reading "Baroque Era: Art, Culture, and Poetry of the 17th Century" »

Delibes excels in portraying innocent and novelistic characters. The novel focuses heavily on character development, dedicating a significant portion of the text to depicting human figures.

Character Groups

The characters can be divided into three main groups:

Foreground Characters:

This group includes Azarias, the protagonist, and Master Ivan, who serves as the antagonist. Paco and Bass also play important roles, representing the humble and participating in the central intrigue.

Background Characters:

This group consists of Paco's family (Low, Xica, Quirce, Rogelio, and Snow) and Master Ivan's family (Mrs. Markesa and Miss Miriam), along with members of the household (Don Pedro, the expert, and Dona Purita).

Minor Characters:

This group includes servants,... Continue reading "Delibes' Characters: A Deep Dive into Social Conflict" »

Blas de Otero: Life and Literary Trajectory

Blas de Otero was born in Bilbao in 1916. He was educated by the Jesuits, studied law, worked as a professor, and died in Madrid in 1979. In summary, over decades his trajectory can be synthesized as a movement from the self to collective problems: social poetry. From around 1965 his work embarked on a new search for paths, moving to the sidelines of literary groups.

1st Phase (1945–1958)

In the first phase, and around 1951, he published books and in 1950 poems that strengthened a human, fierce angel of conscience. These poems were written between 1945 and 1950 and later collected under the title Ancia (1958). This period is dominated by the "I" and its problems. He had several thematic directions:... Continue reading "Blas de Otero: Life, Poetry and Social Commitment" »

Sociopolitical Context and Post-War Narrative

The literature of war (1939) was heavily influenced by the Franco regime. Our language ceased to be official, and the progress achieved during the Republic was abolished: the language disappeared from public view, administration, and teaching, and was forced back underground. Despite the lack of infrastructure, the 1950s saw the appearance of the novel Uncertain Glory (Incerta glòria) by Joan Sales. This work, which was censored, recounts the experiences of war from the viewpoint of the vanquished and won the Joanot Martorell prize.

During the 1960s and 1970s, with the dictatorship already consolidated, a certain permissiveness emerged. Although the atmosphere remained contrary to normalization,... Continue reading "Catalan Literature After the Civil War and Enric Valor" »

Antonio Machado

Born in Seville in 1875, Antonio Machado studied at the Free Institution of Education in Madrid. During his time in Paris, he met Rubén Darío. In 1907, he became a French teacher in Soria, where he married Leonor Izquierdo, a sixteen-year-old girl who passed away shortly after. He later moved to Baeza, Segovia, and Madrid. As a staunch supporter of the Republic and the legal government of the Popular Front, he was exiled in 1939 and died in Collioure, France, shortly after crossing the border.

Poetic Evolution and Major Works

Machado's poetic creation is deeply marked by significant life events:

• Solitudes (1903) and Solitudes, Galleries and Other Poems (1907): Following his trip to Paris, Machado published these works. His poetry

La Celestina and the Dawn of Spanish Theater

Two Distinct Theatrical Traditions

Early Spanish theater encompassed two distinct genres:

• Religious Theater: Focused on themes related to the life of Jesus.
• Profane Theater: Included burlesque, as well as amorous and pastoral themes.

Significant authors of this period included Lucas Fernández and Juan del Encina. Encina's characters often used a rustic language known as sayagués. A representative character is the shepherd, known for singing, dancing, being infatuated, and neglecting their duties. The merit of these authors, and of theater throughout the 15th century, lies in the appearance of La Celestina, written by Fernando de Rojas.

Authorship and Editing of La Celestina

The first known edition of... Continue reading "La Celestina and Early Spanish Theater: A Deep Dive" »