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

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" »

Ramón María de Valle-Inclán: Literary Analysis

Ramón María de Valle-Inclán's literary output is usually divided into two stages:

1. The modernist sense, aristocratic conception paradigm of English Parnassian of "Art for Art's sake."
2. The *noventayochistas* and grotesque (for his critical spirit and patriotic themes).

Modernist Works: Sonatas

The trilogy of novels of the Carlist War is formed by The Crusaders in the Cause, The Glow of the Fire, and Bigwigs of the Past (+ modernist features grotesque).

*Noventayochistas* Works

Tirano Banderas, a historical novel about the fall of a Hispanic dictator. The Iberian Ring, an incomplete trilogy, a historical theme.

Sonatas

A major constituent of his novels is *Sonatas*, containing the alleged memories of... Continue reading "Valle-Inclán's Literary Stages, Works, and Themes" »

The Evolution of 20th Century Spanish Theater

Facing the neo-romantic drama, cultivated by Echegaray and other playwrights of his school, a new theater emerged, aiming to reflect a real, everyday world in which viewers could see themselves. The 1936 Spanish Civil War implied a radical break in Spanish literary and theatrical production.

Federico García Lorca, along with Ramón del Valle-Inclán, are considered the great innovators of contemporary Spanish theater. Lorca's "La Barraca" was launched to represent classics throughout Spain, fostering quality theater.

Spanish Theater Styles (Early 20th Century to 1936)

In the period from the beginning of the century until 1936, Spanish theater offered diverse forms:

• Bourgeois Comedy

  Characterized by hilarious

The Theater of Postwar (Since 1939)

The theater experienced a general crisis after the war. Authors were scarce and suffered from strict censorship. The public and employers were not willing to embrace innovation, which led to a reduction in drama.

Triumphant Theater

It proposes a clear continuity with dramatic forms and themes from before the Civil War. High comedy is benaventina, does not innovate, and does not have a provision for a clear trend of rupture. It shows humorous theater. The most prominent representatives are Enrique Jardiel Poncela and Miguel Mihura.

Committed Theater

In the late 1940s, with the premiere of Historia de una Escalera by Antonio Buero Vallejo, an inflection occurs in the course of postwar theater. It breaks with the... Continue reading "Postwar Theater and 20th Century American Literature" »

Curial e Guelfa: An Anonymous Chivalric Tale

Curial e Guelfa is a chivalric novel by an anonymous author, likely written in the first half of the fifteenth century. It was not discovered until the late nineteenth century. The action is set during the reign of Peter II (1276-1285) and recounts the social ascent of Curial, a man of low status, through chivalry and love.

Curial is initially helped by a noble lady, Guelfa, but he falls in love with Laquesis, a lady of even higher status, causing a break with Guelfa. After traveling to the Holy Land and Greece, Curial is shipwrecked near Tunis. He is enslaved, taking the name John (Samag), and does not reciprocate the love professed by Camera, his master's daughter. When released, he becomes captain... Continue reading "Chivalric Novels: Curial e Guelfa and Tirant lo Blanc" »

Experimental Poetry and Renewal: 1950-1960

Topics: Everything deeply human: man, time, childhood, friendship, love, and everyday life.

Style: Greater variety than in the previous decade and more rigorous in their work with words.

Group or Generation of '50: Claudio Rodríguez, Ángel González, José Ángel Valente, Jaime Gil de Biedma, Gamoneda, José Agustín Goytisolo, Caballero Bonald.

• Claudio Rodríguez: His early career began with Don de la ebriedad. Later books include Conjuros and El vuelo de la celebración.
• Ángel González: Considered the most social of the poets of the Group of '50. His work shows a journey through different stages. His most important works are Tratado de urbanismo and Canciones para una breve biografía.
• Jaime Gil de

S18: Bourbon Suppression

After the succession of Gurria Mon and the enthronement of the Bourbons, the Catalan language was banned and persecuted. Charters, customs, and usages were abolished.

The Enlightenment

Dominated by rationalist ideas of progress and science, literature was primarily didactic and essayistic. Publications included grammatical and historical dictionaries, and catalogs of literary authors.

Poetry

Neoclassicism

Didactic and scholarly, imitating classical forms and themes. Poets also cultivated satirical poetry and narrative (e.g., John the Baptist Escorigüela, Anthony Cardona and February, and Joan Ramis).

Preromanticism

Characterized by a more intimate, subjective, and sentimental style. This led to the early Romantic authors of... Continue reading "Evolution of Catalan Literature: 18th Century Resilience" »

Luis de Góngora: Poetic Works

The poetry of Góngora practiced minor art and Petrarchist poetry. He explored various subjects, treating them with a high approach or parody.

Minor Art Poetry

• Growing Moorish ballads, pastoral, historical, and burlesque.

Sonnets

• The theme is loving, inciting the Petrarchist line, though modified by the consciousness of time.
• Others are burlesque.
• A third group addresses disappointment and the transience of life.

Major Poems

• Fable of Polyphemus and Galatea
• Soledades

Lope de Vega: Poetic Works

Lope de Vega was a man of extraordinary creative capacity in narrative, theater, and literature.

Romances

Lope was one of the creators of the new romance. He developed Moorish, pastoral, and loving romances. In his old age, religious and... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age Poets: Góngora, Lope de Vega, Quevedo" »

Spanish Realism and Naturalism

Armando Palacio Valdés

A realist, his novels often depict an idealized world (the valley, farmers, villages). He addresses the conflict in the mines when it arises in these settings, and values traditional life.

Work: The Lost Village

Pedro Antonio de Alarcón

His stories are well-constructed and possess great narrative force.

Work: The Three-Cornered Hat

Juan Valera

An educated man, he achieved his intended purpose in his artistic works. His novels explore amorous and religious conflicts, and feature thorough psychological analyses of their protagonists.

Works: Pepita Jiménez and Juanita la Larga

José María de Pereda

An academic and novelist with traditional ideas, he described the landscape of his homeland, Cantabria.... Continue reading "Spanish Literature: Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism" »