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

Juan Ramón Jiménez: Pure Poetry and Noucentisme

Juan Ramón Jiménez, a key poet of Noucentisme, sought what he called "pure poetry," moving beyond mere sentimentality.

Poetic Style and Influences

Although chronologically associated with the Generation of '14 (or Noucentisme), Jiménez's work connects significantly with both Modernism and later avant-garde movements. He initially embraced Modernism and became influential for many avant-garde authors.

His aim was to reach truth and, through it, eternity. For him, accuracy is beauty. Poetry serves as a source of knowledge, a way to grasp the essence of things.

Evolution and Key Works

Juan Ramón Jiménez developed a precise and accurate poetic style. His poetry evolved through distinct stages. A... Continue reading "Juan Ramón Jiménez: The Quest for Pure Poetry" »

The late 19th and early 20th century in Spanish literature saw a series of innovations and changes. Pessimistic authors reflected the societal anxieties of the time. Their works often conveyed frustration and hopelessness. Influenced by Schopenhauer, they explored the idea that overcoming pain and suffering requires giving up on worldly desires. This led to a focus on lost history, internal conflict, and fragmented protagonists. The writers of '98 were united in their protest against the customs and situation of Spanish society, offering a personal and subjective view of things.

Valle-Inclán was one of the most avant-garde writers, beginning in modernism and evolving towards the grotesque. His major prose works include the Sonatas (Autumn,

Livelihood:

That which should be itself and not another.

Diverse Conceptions of the Soul

Its substantial identity. Del Alma: In substance, spirit will not admit of a composite or material existence. Del Alma is to be concrete, and to port an individual to a substance to order or resemble a universal form. Clinamen is considered to be the soul tied to the body, as the pilot of a ship, safe in its independent tendencies to substance.

Source Del Alma

As he formed the Soul

1. Traducianism:

   ESIS is the position of Tertullian and St. Augustine. Consensus is that your soul is the result of your parents.

2. Emanation:

   EI (the soul) is to be emanating from his substance (Stoic) or will not return (Neoplatonism). For Spinoza, the soul emanates from substance; for

The Evolution of Languages in Spain

Official and Co-official Languages

The constitution establishes Castilian (Spanish) as the official language of Spain. Galician, Basque, Catalan, and Valencian are recognized as co-official languages in their respective regions.

Linguistic Diversity

Linguistically, there are varieties that are not considered languages, such as Asturian and Aranese.

Historical Language Formation

The most widespread languages in ancient times were Iberian, Celtic, and Basque. Other languages like Tartessian were spoken in the south. Phoenician, Greek, and Carthaginian were established on the coasts. These pre-Roman languages eventually disappeared, but some terms reached the current Castilian.

Romanization and Romance Languages

During... Continue reading "Evolution of Languages in Spain: From Romanization to Today" »

Spanish Verbs: Tenses and Moods

Indicative Mood

• Preterite Imperfect: singing
• Preterite Perfect Simple: I sang
• Future Imperfect/Conditional Simple: sing
• Preterite Perfect Compound: I sang
• Preterite Pluperfect: had sung
• Preterite Anterior: I had sung
• Future Perfect: I will have sung
• Conditional Perfect: could sing

Subjunctive Mood

• Present: singing
• Preterite Perfect: has sung
• Preterite Imperfect/Preterite Pluperfect: had sung
• Future Imperfect: sing
• Future Perfect: he has sung

Non-Personal Forms

• Gerund: singing
• Participle: sung

Verbal Expressions

• Obligation: haber de, tener que, deber
• Probability: deber de, poder, venir a

Verbal Aspects

• Inchoative: burst out, get to, begin to
• Repetitive: go back to
• Terminative: finish, stop
• Durative: being, walking, followed
• Resultative:

Contemporary Poetry

During the war, poetry was the most cultivated genre, and the most prominent theme was exile. The poetry was characterized by continuing with the symbolist tradition, but the symbolism evolved into pure poetry. Avant-garde, experimental, and visual resources appeared. In the sixties, historical or social realism emerged.

Crisis of Realism in the Seventies

Since the seventies, realism entered a crisis, and poetry became characterized by eclecticism and a certain trend. New proposals emerged, and poetic works were published by authors of the postwar era because these poets coexisted with the realistic trend, moving away from realism.

New Poetry: Intimacy and Experience

Realism intended to achieve social change, but many poets felt... Continue reading "Evolution of Contemporary Poetry: From Exile to Experience" »

The Generation of '27: Key Poets, Themes, and Influences

Federico García Lorca's works are characterized by a blend of inspiration and technique, revolving around central themes such as the tragic destiny of humanity and the impossibility of complete human fulfillment. In his early phase, influenced by Bécquer, Machado, and Juan Ramón Jiménez, he aimed to convey a tragic perspective on love and death, exemplified in Gypsy Ballads. Later, breaking with traditional verse in Poet in New York, he reflected the impact of the city and warned against a dehumanized world. He was also significantly influenced by Rafael Alberti and Surrealism.

We can distinguish a lyrical neo-populism in which he speaks of his nostalgic sea (Sailor on Earth) and Surrealism,... Continue reading "Generation of '27: Key Poets, Themes, and Influences" »

Internal Monologue

The internal monologue is a relatively new expressive form that appeared in North America at the end of the nineteenth century. A great expressive instrument, such as the novel Ulysses by James Joyce (1922). The interior monologue is a form of expression without restraints; sentiment is free. In a digressive way, we go from one topic to another by association of ideas. Originally, in English, it is called "Stream of Consciousness," favoring images that can literally represent what is said, especially with the changes characteristic of indirect speech. The monologue is usually long. The final chapter of Ulysses is the most famous interior monologue. It invents a formula to avoid censorship, where the brake is the existence... Continue reading "Understanding Internal Monologue and Miguel Delibes' Works" »

Baroque Prose

In the seventeenth century, prose used satire and caricature to criticize society. The preferred style was the concept, which, with its expressive concentration and verbal games, lent itself particularly well to the authors' purpose. Francisco de Quevedo and Baltasar Gracián are highlights of this kind of prose.

Picaresque Novel

As for prose fiction, there is the rise of the picaresque novel with the publication of works including Guzmán de Alfarache by Mateo Alemán, and El Buscón by Quevedo, which more or less faithfully follow the model of Lazarillo de Tormes. Another important work is El Criticón by Baltasar Gracián, an allegorical novel that offers a distinctly pessimistic worldview. But the most outstanding novel of this... Continue reading "Baroque Prose, Theater, and Lyric Poetry: A Cultural Snapshot" »

Spanish Romantic Literature: Authors and Prose

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: The Rimas

The Third group (Rimas XXX-LI) is about the failure of love. The woman is the executioner of the poet's illusions, and her portrait becomes bleak.

The Fourth group (Rimas LII-LXXIX) shows loneliness and anguish. The world is a hostile place, and the poet is isolated within himself.

Technical Aspects of the Rimas

The most important technical characteristics of the Rimas are their brevity and condensation, simple rhetoric, and symbolism of the reality of love. The stanza form of the poems is free, but with a predominance of assonance rhyme and verses of seven (heptasyllable) and eleven (hendecasyllable) syllables.

Rosalía de Castro: Life and Works

Rosalía de Castro (... Continue reading "Key Figures and Prose of Spanish Romanticism" »