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

Early Life and Poetic Beginnings

Miguel Hernández and his poetry cannot be disentangled from the Spanish Civil War. While the war interrupted his natural development, it was crucial to his poetic and human growth. In his youth, his concerns were not primarily social or political. Works like Perito en Lunas show an exclusively literary preoccupation, and in El rayo que no cesa (The Lightning That Never Stops), the theme is love, not social issues.

The Spanish Civil War: A Turning Point

When Spain was plunged into the tragedy of the Civil War (1936-1939), Miguel Hernández acted, moved by loyalty to the Republic and his social class. He himself had left school at fifteen to become a shepherd for his father's flock. His commitment was also shaped... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Poetry, War, and Political Commitment" »

17th-Century Spanish Prose

Picaresque Novel

In the early 17th century, pessimistic literature emerged, reflecting social and satirical disappointment. Works like Guzmán de Alfarache (Mateo Alemán) and El Buscón (Francisco de Quevedo) showcase a moralistic shift. The rogue's role diminished, as seen in The Life of Squire Marcos of Obregón (Vicente Espinel) and La Pícara Justina.

Lucianesco Tales

Inspired by picaresque realism, Lucianesco tales incorporate magical elements and imaginative developments while maintaining a moral and critical worldview. Examples include Los Sueños (The Dreams) and El Diablo Cojuelo (The Devil on Two Sticks) by Quevedo and Luis Vélez de Guevara, respectively.

The Novella

These short stories, set in large cities,... Continue reading "17th-Century Spanish Literature: Picaresque to Religious Prose" »

Avant-Garde

In 1910 came the so-called avant-garde or "isms," which include: Creationism, of Hispanic origin, sought to create reality within the work itself, and Surrealism, of French origin, was intended to express emotions and subconscious thoughts.

The New Novel of the Century

Prominent authors include Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, and James Joyce.

Novecentismo

In the second decade of the twentieth century, there emerged a group known as the "Generation of '14," who were known for their intellectualism, their eagerness for Europe, and their search for pure art. The chief representative is Juan Ramón Jiménez, who wrote poetry.

Novecentista Novel

It is characterized by lyrical descriptive passages and the presence of essayistic elements. These works... Continue reading "Spanish and Latin American Literary Movements: 19th and 20th Centuries" »

Renaissance: New Ideas

• Appreciation of human beings: Anthropocentrism and individualism
• Critical spirit
• New force of classical culture
• New conception of the state: The Prince by Machiavelli
• New forms of social relations: Bourgeoisie (new values: wealth and economic power)
• Crisis of traditional morality

Restoration of Books - Poetry

• Italian influence
• Metric renewal: Hendecasyllables and seven syllables; lira, triplets, octavas reales, estancias or silvas
• New genres: Song, eclogue, epistle
• New topics: Love, nature, myths

First Half of the 16th Century: Garcilaso de la Vega

• Themes: Love, nature, mythology
• Works: Sonnets, songs, elegies, epistles, and 3 eclogues

Second Half of the 16th Century: Mystical Poetry

Fray Luis de Leon

• Themes: Rustic loneliness, desire

Naturalism

Naturalism was a drift of Realism in France during the last decades of the 19th century. Its creator was Émile Zola, who presented his theory in works such as The Experimental Novel and Evenings of Médan.

• Naturalists relied on observation and experimentation.
• Topics covered were related to marginalization in all its aspects.
• They were interested in miserable and sad environments, and characters were often marginalized (alcoholics, 'morons', etc.).
• Technically, the authors' documentation and naturalistic observation were proclaimed by Realism.
• The writer's attitude toward reality was to be impartial.
• The end of the novel was moral: the writer aimed to improve society.

Naturalistic Novel in Spain

From 1883, when Emilia Pardo Bazán published... Continue reading "Literary Trends in Late 19th Century Spain" »

Joaquim Ruyra: Life and Literary Contributions

Joaquim Ruyra was born in Girona on September 27, 1858, and died in Barcelona on May 15, 1939. He was a Catalan writer, considered one of the greatest storytellers of the modern 20th century. Heir to rural properties in Blanes, his father was a lawyer in Girona, where Ruyra studied at the seminary of St. Martin. After attending the Institut Street Force in 1873, he participated in the Carlist War.

A narrator and writer of the Art Nouveau era, Ruyra was recognized by J. F. He collaborated with several magazines. In 1919, he published The Stop, and in 1931, he published The Copla. The government commissioned him to write the biography of Ramon Turró.

Ruyra's Major Works

Poetry:

• The Land of Plenty, 1906
• Ventises-

The Popular Lyric: The conversation in popular lyrics was often captured in songbooks of the era. A common lyrical form is the Christmas carol.

Carol Structure

Carols typically feature opening lines that are partially or wholly repeated as a refrain. They usually have four or more verses. Two lines often rhyme: one with the refrain and another, called the back line, with the chorus.

Carols were used in performances on biblical themes.

The Romance

The romance form, with its series of eight-syllable lines in rhyming pairs (assonance in even lines), originates from epic verses. Both primitive and minstrel romances, created in the 15th century, are part of the old ballads. They are lyrical-epic in character and cover a variety of topics, including historical... Continue reading "Spanish Renaissance Poetry: Forms, Themes, and Key Authors" »

Theater in the 20th Century Before 1936

Commercial Theater

1. Trends

1.1. Commercial Theater: No Frills

1.2. Authors and Works

• Jacinto Benavente: *The Unloved*
• Carlos Arniches: *The Chiefs*
• Serafín and Joaquín Álvarez Quintero: *The Cain Theater Renovation*

Theater Renovation

1. Features

2. Authors and Works

• Valle-Inclán: *Luces de Bohemia*
• Lorca: *Blood Wedding*

Overview: In the theater before the Civil War, there were two main trends: commercial theater and theater renovation. The commercial theater included more conventional works that catered to the public's tastes of the time, such as comedies of bourgeois atmosphere (e.g., *Autumn Roses*) and rural melodramas (e.g., *The Unloved*) by Jacinto Benavente. Modern literature included Carlos Arniches... Continue reading "Spanish Theater Pre-Civil War: Key Figures and Works" »

Spanish Narrative to 1939

The Spanish narrative up to 1939 has its origins in the crisis of 1898. This, coupled with a growing loss of confidence in the positivism of the previous century, led to pessimism and "anguish." This social and ideological situation was joined by a special cultural development. A group of eager young writers emerged, imbued with refreshing ideas, including Ramiro de Maeztu, Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, Jacinto Benavente, Rubén Darío, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, and the Machado brothers. They lived intensely through the historical events and issues of Spain and were especially sensitive to the "disaster of '98."

The Generation of '98

The term "Generation of '98" is mainly associated with writers such as Azorín, Baroja,... Continue reading "Spanish Narrative to 1939: Generation of '98 & Modernism" »

Roman Theater: Origins and Characteristics

Theater emerged in Rome after the epic period and just before the lyric period. Although several theatrical genres were cultivated, comedy was the most triumphant. Representative authors of Roman comedy include Plautus and Terence.

Roman Comedy: Influences and Types

Roman comedy draws heavily on Greek comedy, adapting themes and character types to Roman customs. Different types of comedy include:

• Fabula Palliata: Characterized by a Greek setting. Actors wore the Greek costume, called pallium in Rome.
• Fabula Togata: Featured a Roman setting and characters dressed in the Roman toga.

Plays could be classified as:

• Motoriae (busy)
• Statariae (calmer)
• Mixtae (a combination of both)

Plautus: Master of Roman Comedy

Plautus... Continue reading "Roman Theater and Comedy: Plautus and Terence" »