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José Ortega y Gasset: Historical Context and Thought

The historical period José Ortega y Gasset lived through was shaped by significant national and international events. It included major international occurrences such as the World Wars, the Russian Revolution, the rise of fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany, and Stalinism in the Soviet Union.

In Spain, this era encompassed the loss of its colonies in Cuba and the Philippines, the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Second Republic, the Civil War, and Franco's dictatorship. All these events profoundly influenced Ortega's trajectory and political thought. His philosophy, sociology, and metaphysics remained deeply connected to his circumstances.

Ortega analyzed the political processes unfolding... Continue reading "José Ortega y Gasset: Philosophy, Context, and Enduring Influence" »

The Theater of the Prewar Period (Before 1936)

The development of the theater before the Civil War was conditioned by the abundance of private premises, which addressed the shortage of public entertainment. Therefore, the works represented were primarily commercial and designed to please the bourgeois public. Consequently, we can divide the theater into two groups: that which was represented and that which was not.

Theater That Was Represented

The High Bourgeois Comedy: This genre is based on naturalness; its characters are bourgeois individuals who live out their daily problems on stage. Jacinto Benavente stands out, with his most emblematic works being: Rose of Autumn, The Vested Interests (a hypocritical farce about the ideals of the bourgeoisie)... Continue reading "Spanish Theater Before 1936: A Historical Analysis" »

Spanish Narrative: From Origins to the Golden Age

In Greco-Roman culture and Western literature, epic verse emerged, resulting in ethopoeias or epics. With the passage of time, prose began to be used, which in the sixteenth century would give rise to the modern novel.

Medieval Narrative in Verse

Traits of medieval narrative poetry include:

• Historical function: Character information or news.
• Intention: The protagonist acts in favor of political or religious enterprises.
• Style: The use of phrases and popular literary characters.

Within the narrative in verse, we find: Mester de Juglaría, Mester de Clerecía, and Romances.

The Mester de Juglaría

The minstrels were entertainers who made their living from their performances in castles, squares, and taverns.... Continue reading "Spanish Medieval Narrative and Epic Poetry" »

FGL: Fuentevaqueros in 1898

Studied law, philosophy, and music. In 1919, he moved to Madrid, establishing relationships with prominent writers, poets, and artists of his generation. He was a NY Fellow in 1929-30.

In 1932, he founded La Barraca, a university theater company that brought classic and contemporary plays to the pueblos. He was assassinated in 1936.

Double-edged personality: Overwhelming charisma and vitality juxtaposed with intimate discomfort and the pain of living.

Poetics

• His attitude is very strict.
• Poetry where passion and perfection, the human and the aesthetic, coexist in a rare purity.
• Popular and cultured elements are intertwined.

Literary Works

First Book: Book of Poems (1921)

• Influenced by Bécquer and Machado, modernism.
• Themes:

Germanic Origins of the Spanish Language

In the 5th century, Germanic peoples arrived in the Iberian Peninsula from lands north of the Roman Empire. Although their presence hardly altered the existing linguistic situation, groups like the Suevos, Vandals, and Alans preceded the Visigoths. The Visigoths, a strongly Romanized people, came to dominate Hispania. They brought their taste for epic poems (Hazañas de Héroes) to our country.

Germanisms are words of Germanic origin introduced into our language by the Visigoths. Examples include:

• Burgo (borough)
• Falda (skirt)
• Ganso (goose)

Arabic Influence on the Spanish Language

In 711, the first Arabs arrived in Spain, and shortly after, they dominated a large part of the peninsula. In the 10th century,... Continue reading "History of Spanish Language: Germanic, Arabic, Italian Influences" »

Modernism (1892-1906)

What period does Modernism encompass? From 1892 until 1906.

What characterizes this movement? The introduction of different aesthetic tendencies considered modern.

What stylistic trends contribute to renewed Modernist poetry?

• Regeneracionisme → Vitalism: Joan Maragall → Espontaneisme.
• Aestheticism → Symbolism: Rusiñol → Decadentisme.
• Pre-Raphaelitism: Alexandre de Riquer and Jeroni Zanné.
• Parnassianism (School of Mallorca): Miquel Costa i Llobera, Joan Alcover, Gabriel Alomar.

What kind of novels thrive during Modernism?

• The Naturalistic Novel: Raimon Casellas, The Fiery Assistant; Víctor Catala, Solitude; Adaptations: The Life and Death of George Fraginal.
• The Decadent Novel: Prudenci Bertrana, Josafat; Miquel de Palol,

The Realistic Narrative

The progressive governments were devoted Democrats and pushed reforms, creating great discontent. Realism was influenced ideologically by philosophical and scientific currents.

Realism: Origins and Characteristics

Realism originated in France between 1830 and 1840. Key authors include Honoré de Balzac and Stendhal. In England, authors like Charles Dickens are highlighted, and in Russia, Leo Tolstoy. Realism aims for detailed descriptions, characterized by a simple, sober, and moving style that engages with the characters. It often incorporates the use of popular dialects.

Spanish Realism

Spanish Realism has two key dates: the publication of La Gaviota by Fernán Caballero in 1849 and the publication of La Regenta by Leopoldo... Continue reading "Realism in Spanish Literature: Key Authors and Movements" »

Prose Fiction in Spanish Literature

Books of Chivalry

Books of chivalry were a prominent literary genre of the late 16th century. They first appeared in the Middle Ages and reached their peak between 1510 and 1560. Key characteristics of chivalric fiction include:

• Exaggerated and fantastic elements
• Presence of wizards and wonderful creatures
• Constant battles where the knight demonstrates courage and strives to be worthy of his lady's love

The narrator recounts the exploits in the third person, often acting as a chronicler of the deeds of a great knight. The most important work was Amadís de Gaula by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.

Pastoral Novel

The first pastoral novel published in Spain was Los siete libros de Diana (The Seven Books of Diana) by Jorge... Continue reading "Spanish Prose Fiction: Genres and Literary Evolution" »

Spanish Realism and Naturalism Novelists (1850 onwards)

The Novel in the Nineteenth Century: Realism and Naturalism (Post-1850)

Imagination and feeling were essential characteristics of Romanticism. The new artistic trend is based on the observation and description of the world around the writer. In this change affected some changes occurring in society by the mid-nineteenth century.

The bourgeoisie has established itself as the dominant social class. The rise of the bourgeoisie is coupled with large industrial and commercial development.

Contemporary Novel (1890–1914)

• Great technical and scientific advancement.
• Fast industrial growth and urbanization.
• Crisis of positivism and rationalism.

Key Spanish Authors

Benito Pérez Galdós

Galdós studied law... Continue reading "Spanish Realism and Naturalism Novelists: Key Figures" »

The Chaplain

The Chaplain was the seventh master of Lazarus. He is an opportunist who uses others for profit. He provided Lazarus with his first paying job. Lazarus spent four years with this master to receive the money he needed to buy clothes and a sword. When Lazarus obtained what he needed, he left his master and his craft.

The Sheriff

The Sheriff was the eighth master of Lazarus. The sheriff represents the law of that time. Lazarus found the trade of his master very dangerous, so he left him.

The Archpriest of San Salvador

The Archpriest of San Salvador was the ninth and last master of Lazarus. This is the love that introduces the wife of Lazarus. This also represents the corruption of the clergy, as there were stories in that area regarding... Continue reading "Lazarillo de Tormes: Masters, Themes, and Picaresque Style" »