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

Iberoamerican Modernism and Generation of '98

Modernism in Iberoamerica

Modernism in Iberoamerica began in the late nineteenth century and concluded with the start of the First World War. Its fundamental characteristics included:

• Aesthetic rebellion against bourgeois evasion.
• Intense eroticism in representing feelings of love.
• A melancholy tone mixed with rebellion and vitality.
• A search for a new poetic language.
• Restoration of metric forms.

Generation of '98

This movement focused on:

• Concern for the problem of Spain.
• A desire for openness towards Europe.
• A deep love for Spain.
• A taste for traditional and popular lexicon.
• Moderation in the use of language and rejection of rhetorical excess.
• Subjectivism.

Rubén Darío

Rubén Darío was one of the most celebrated... Continue reading "Iberoamerican Modernism and Generation of '98 Literary Movements" »

Miguel Hernández: A Poetic Connection to Nature

Miguel Hernández, from his early years, developed a profound connection with living nature, which granted him his first insights into life. His opening lines reflect the ripples of a teenager who sought to transfer to paper the simplest, everyday events of life—those he observed daily. His work, therefore, speaks of sensory poetry, visual and audible manifestations that reveal the close connection between Miguel Hernández's poetic craft and daily life.

Everyday Poetry and Influences

This type of poetry can be described as "everyday," as if written through his very eyes. His focus is on the landscape of Orihuela and a modernism that echoes the styles of Vicente Medina and the bucolic manners... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández's Poetic Nature: Themes and Imagery" »

Romanticism: A Revolutionary Cultural Movement

Romanticism is a cultural and political movement that originated in Germany and the United Kingdom in the late eighteenth century. It arose as a revolutionary reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment and Classicism, prioritizing feeling.

Key Features of Romanticism

A key feature is the break with classical tradition based on a routine set of rules. Core tenets include:

• The consciousness of self as an autonomous and fantastic entity.
• The primacy of the creative genius over the Universe itself.
• The supremacy of feeling against neoclassical reason.
• Strong nationalistic tendencies.
• A stance of liberalism against despotism.
• Emphasis on originality over classical imitation.
• Valuing the imperfect,

Latin Declensions and Case Functions

The Five Latin Declensions

1. First Declension: -a / -ae
2. Second Declension: -o / -i
3. Third Declension: Consonant stem or -i / -is
4. Fourth Declension: -u / -us
5. Fifth Declension: -e / -ei

Grammatical Functions of Latin Cases

• Nominative (Nom): Subject, Predicate Attribute
• Vocative (Voc): Appellation
• Accusative (Ac): Direct Object (CD)
• Genitive (Ge): Noun Complement (CN)
• Dative (Dt): Indirect Object (CI)
• Ablative (Ab): Circumstantial Complement (CC)

The Roman Senate

The Senate was the most important institutional body of the Roman Republic. Although its political functions diminished during the Imperial Era, Senators retained immense social prestige. They wore the toga praetexta in public ceremonies and enjoyed reserved seating... Continue reading "Roman Institutions and Latin Declensions: A Foundation" »

Poetry in the Diaspora: Luís Seoane (1910-1979)

Painter, muralist, designer, poet, playwright, Luís Seoane began to excel in his academics in Compostela. He joined the *Federación Universitaria Escolar* in 1933 and settled in Madrid as a labor lawyer. He fled to Portugal and from there embarked for Buenos Aires.

Merits:

• a) Articles published in several Argentine newspapers. He directed and collaborated with several magazines of the local Galician community: *Follas Novas*, the magazine of "Centro Gallego" and *Buenos Aires*, the newspaper *El Correo de Galicia* and *Galicia Literaria*.
• b) Edited several artistic works: 13 prints of the cartoons *Galicia Mártir*, *Atila en Galicia*, *Milicianos*, and *Estampas de la traición*, with Franco's

Spanish Poetry Since 1940

The consequences of the civil war included a break with past trends, the exile of many poets (literature speaks of two groups: inner and exile), censorship preventing poets from expressing themselves freely, and isolation from European literary and artistic movements.

Poetry of Exile

Different cases:

• Antonio Machado died a few days before leaving Spain.
• Poets of the Generation of '14, like Juan Ramón Jiménez.
• Poets from the Generation of '27: some died, like Lorca, others went into exile.

Common topics include the theme of the lost homeland. Their poems evoke struggle, illusions, and a tone of desperation and bitter nostalgia. Spanish evocation of distant lands and the craving to return. The styles are varied (Juan Gil... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry: From Civil War to Modern Avant-Garde" »

Jacinto Verdaguer (1845-1902) (second half of the 19th century)

This author represents the consolidation of Renaixença poetry and is considered the creator of modern Catalan literature. He became so popular that his poems were learned in schools, and some even became popular songs.

The work of Verdaguer includes poetry and prose, and he alternated between Castilian and Catalan in his writings, producing all his work in Catalan.

Born into a peasant family, he entered the seminary to begin his ecclesiastical career and started to familiarize himself with European culture and Greco-Roman influences. He alternated his studies with farm work and developed an enthusiasm for the popular culture of his rural upbringing (tales, legends, etc.).

After being... Continue reading "Jacinto Verdaguer: Pioneer of Modern Catalan Literature" »

The activity of monks, focused on God and the destiny of man, significantly influenced the medieval theocentric worldview.

Feudalism: Social Hierarchy of the Middle Ages

The typical social organization of the Middle Ages was feudalism, a system based on the obligation of vassals to remain loyal to their lords in exchange for land.

• Nobility: Based its influence on economic, military, and political strength. It was divided into high and low nobility, and included knights and warriors.
• Clergy: Divided into high and low clergy. The former was composed of the Church hierarchy, and the latter by common clergy or popular groups.
• Commoners (Village Level): Characterized by the absence of privileges. They constituted the largest group in society, with most

Isabel Allende's Literary Style

On the literary plane, Isabel Allende's writing recreates a place and an era, allowing characters and story to emerge organically, without an initial plot plan. Several of her books have been born from letters and personal reflections; The House of the Spirits and Paula are prime examples of this. She composed Paula as a tribute to her daughter, indicating it is more a memoir than a biography. Humor is an integral part of her writings, whether journalistic or literary works. Allende attempted to reach young readers with The City of Beasts (2002), a book that allowed her a break and the freedom to capture their imagination in a new way.

The Post-Boom: New Latin American Narrative

Isabel Allende's work has been pigeonholed... Continue reading "Isabel Allende's Influence on Post-Boom Latin American Literature" »

Understanding Literature: Forms, Genres, and Historical Context

Literature is a profound form of artistic expression that utilizes oral or written language as its primary medium. It can be broadly categorized into two fundamental forms: verse and prose.

• Verse: In verse, the work is composed with the deliberate intention of creating rhythmic sensations, often through the repetition of elements like meter, rhyme, or specific sound patterns.
• Prose: In contrast, prose lacks a consistent rhythm or the systematic repetition of elements found in verse. It mirrors the natural flow of everyday speech and writing.

Literary Genres: Categorizing Artistic Expression

Literary genres are categories that allow us to group literary texts based on their common features,... Continue reading "Literature Forms, Genres, and Medieval Literary Periods" »