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Federico García Lorca

García Lorca's work expresses his personality: an intense vitality that contrasts with the harrowing shadow of death. Topics include a passion for life, for love, and for freedom in conflict with a repressive society or tragic fate. The presence of frustration, loneliness, and death develops on a personal and social level. In his dramas, the characters are confronted with forces that suppress natural instincts, passions, hopes, and desires.

Stages of García Lorca's Work

• First Stage: Training and assimilation of different currents, including traditional and popular art and high culture. This includes youthful works, songs, and poems of flamenco singing. Gypsy Ballads portrays the marginalization of those facing social and

The Generation of '27: A Literary Movement

The Generation of '27 was a group of Spanish poets united by friendship and shared literary tastes. They benefited from the experience of modern art and the avant-garde, revolutionizing Spanish poetry while building upon tradition.

Origins and Influences

The commemoration of the tercentenary of Góngora in 1927 served as a catalyst for the group's formation. These poets, all with strong academic backgrounds, began under the guidance of Juan Ramón Jiménez and Ortega y Gasset.

Impact of the Spanish Civil War

The Civil War led to exile for many, often without return, and in some cases, to death, as happened to Lorca.

Key Themes in Their Work

The main themes explored by these poets include man's relationship... Continue reading "Spanish Poets of the Generation of '27: Themes, Style, and Key Figures" »

Analysis of a Poem from Campos de Castilla by Antonio Machado

Introduction

This analysis focuses on a poem from Antonio Machado's Campos de Castilla. Machado, born in Seville in 1875, moved to Madrid in 1883. His relationship with Rubén Darío began in 1903, the same year he published his first book and gained recognition. He married Leonor Izquierdo in 1909 and moved to Paris with her. After her death, his writing became increasingly personal. He fell ill in late 1939 and died shortly after in Collioure, France.

Machado's Works

Soledades, published during the height of Modernism, reflects themes of melancholy, suffering, and post-Romantic intimacy. Campos de Castilla (1912), considered his masterpiece, was published shortly before his wife'... Continue reading "Analysis of Antonio Machado's Poem from Campos de Castilla" »

The Monarchy (753-509 BC)

Reality and legend intertwine during this period. Seven kings ascended to the throne, beginning with Romulus and ending with Tarquinius Superbus. Rome conquered Latium and founded the port of Ostia. Servius Tullius implemented the first organization of the population, dividing it into four regional tribes and seven classes based on origin and wealth. The army was divided into tactical units called centuries.

The Republic (509-27 BC)

The king was replaced by two consuls. This era saw significant administrative development, with legislation extending to regulate the rights and duties of citizens. It was a period marked by wars of expansion and conquest, as well as political rivalries. A crucial event was the Punic Wars,... Continue reading "Ancient Rome: From Monarchy to the Fall of the Empire" »

18th-Century Literature: A Period of Transition

Neoclassicism: A Return to Classical Rules

The 18th century witnessed a complex interplay of literary movements. Neoclassicism sought to revive classical principles, emphasizing:

1. The three unities in theater: place, time, and action.
2. Purity of genre.
3. Poetic decorum: a balance between substance and style, influencing character portrayal.
4. Didactic purpose: literature should both entertain and educate, fostering good citizenship.

The Enlightenment: Reason and Reform

The Enlightenment, originating in France, championed reason as the primary source of knowledge. This emphasis on rational discourse led to the period also being known as the "Century of Lights".

A key concern was the advancement of knowledge... Continue reading "18th Century Literature: Neoclassicism, Enlightenment, and Pre-Romanticism" »

Galician Theater: Late 20th and Early 21st Century

The death of Franco in 1975 and the arrival of democracy brought a series of legislative changes, establishing administrative structures, rights, and fundamental freedoms, also affecting the language. Three basic texts were key: the Constitution (1978), the Statute of Autonomy (1981), and the Law of Linguistic Normalization (1983).

This period also saw significant social transformations due to integration with the EU, including improved food and health, leading to an aging population and economic development. This decreased the impact of emigration and led to immigration as a social factor. Language was normalized through institutional campaigns, the influence of RTVG, and a major boost in publishing,... Continue reading "Galician Theater: Late 20th and Early 21st Century Evolution" »

Origins of Ancient Rome

On the Italian Peninsula:

• In the center, Latins were pastoralists and farmers.
• In the north, the Etruscans.
• In the south, the Greeks had founded colonies (Magna Graecia).

In the mid-eighth century (8th) BC, Latins gathered some tribes near the Tiber River. More Latins settled on seven hills (Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Capitoline, Palatine, Aventine, and Caelian) to protect themselves against frequent floods. There, they raised the first settlements and would create a city that would later become Rome, a major commercial enclave.

Roman Religion

The Romans deified natural phenomena and forces (numina). The oldest places of worship were sacred forests (lucia). It was also important to worship the domestic gods (lares) in private,... Continue reading "Ancient Rome: Society, Origins and Expansion" »

Modernism in Spanish Literature

Origins and Influences

Modernism, an artistic movement spanning from the 1880s to the First World War, marked a significant shift in Spanish literature. It emphasized aesthetics and artistry, emerging in Latin America from a desire for literary renewal. Key figures like Rubén Darío and José Martí spearheaded this movement.

French literary modernism, particularly Parnassianism and Symbolism, heavily influenced Spanish Modernism. Parnassianism, with its focus on "art for art's sake," championed formal perfection and the beauty of poetry. Symbolism, on the other hand, employed symbols to evoke ideas and emotions, using musical language and rhythm to convey hidden meanings.

Other notable influences include Becquer'... Continue reading "Modernism in Spanish Literature: A Guide to Its Origins, Themes, and Key Authors" »

Prose in the Sixteenth Century

Didactic or Humanist Prose

Didactic or humanist prose was used to teach, as exemplified by Juan Valdés in his work *Dialogue of Language*.

Religious Prose

Key figures in religious prose include:

• San Juan de la Cruz, who described in his prose the mystical experiences found in his poetry.
• Fray Luis de León, known for *The Names of Christ* and *The Perfect Wife*, a work on the role of the Christian woman.
• Santa Teresa de Jesús, author of *The Book of Life*, chronicling her life from childhood to the founding of her first convent, and her most important work, *Interior Castle* or *The Mansions*, where she recounts an allegorical vision: a castle with seven chambers that the soul must traverse to achieve mystical union

Francisco Quevedo

Francisco Quevedo y Villegas was born in Madrid in 1580. He became famous at a young age and participated in various political intrigues. He later retired, ill, to Torre Juan de Abad. He died in Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) in 1645 and is considered the highest representative of the conceptismo style.

His style is characterized by a masterful use of language, irony, parody, puns, and metaphors. He also uses vulgar and colloquial expressions, adopting a playful attitude towards language. His works include:

• Love poems, both idealized and torn visions of love.
• Moral and philosophical poems addressing the passage of time, the transience of life, and death.
• Satirical and burlesque poems, which caricature different aspects