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Federico García Lorca: A Theatrical Journey

Federico García Lorca, a prolific playwright, began writing theater at a young age. His extensive work is often categorized into distinct periods, showcasing his evolving artistic vision.

Lorca's Theatrical Periods

Juvenile Period (Early Works)

This period includes:

• The Curse of the Butterfly (1920)
• Mariana Pineda (1925)

These early works demonstrate the revitalizing power of verse drama.

Popular and Children's Works

This period includes short puppet plays, such as:

• The Puppet Don Cristóbal (1931)

Prose and Verse Plays

Works combining prose and verse include:

• The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife (1930)
• Doña Rosita the Spinster and the Language of Flowers (1935)

These plays often explore the central theme of frustrated... Continue reading "Federico García Lorca's Dramatic Evolution & Modern Novel Traits" »

Notable Catalan Authors and Their Legacies

Mercè Rodoreda (1908-1983)

A self-taught author, Mercè Rodoreda's life was marked by a fated marriage to her uncle and the birth of her son. During the Spanish Civil War, she distanced herself from Republican politics while working as a Catalan translator. In 1939, she went into exile in France, where she lived and had a relationship with another writer. She returned to Catalonia in 1972.

Major Works by Mercè Rodoreda

• Aloma
• La plaça del Diamant (Diamond Square)
• El carrer de les Camèlies (The Camellia Street)
• Jardí vora el mar (Garden by the Sea)
• Mirall trencat (Broken Mirror)
• La mort i la primavera (Death and the Spring)
• Various collections of short stories

Pere Calders (1912-1994)

Born and deceased in Barcelona,... Continue reading "Prominent Voices in Catalan Literature" »

The Dawn of Romanticism in Spain

The entry of Romanticism into Spain was facilitated by new European ideas that began to circulate from 1810 onwards. This was largely thanks to the dissemination of German Romantic writers, who influenced 17th-century Spanish theater. The penetration of the Romantic movement was made possible through three key entry points: Levante, Andalusia, and the return of emigrants.

Late Romanticism emerged in Spain when Germany, France, and England were already evolving towards other literary trends. While some critics have attempted to date the movement's beginning in 1814 and its end in 1849, these specific dates are difficult to universally accept.

Stages of Spanish Romantic Literature

We can identify three distinct stages... Continue reading "Spanish Romanticism: Evolution, Themes, and Literary Expressions" »

Novecentismo and the Generation of '14

The Novecentismo movement, also known as the Generation of '14, sought to revitalize Spanish art and literature. These authors championed "pure art," an aesthetic detached from Romantic sentimentality. This dehumanized approach, with art existing for its own sake, was a key principle. Philosopher José Ortega y Gasset and Catalan writer Eugeni d'Ors were central figures in this movement.

Poetry

Juan Ramón Jiménez, a prominent poet of this era, saw his work evolve through three distinct phases:

• Sensory Phase: Works like Water Lilies showcase the influence of Modernism, blended with Jiménez's unique poetic voice.
• Intellectual Phase: This period features prose poems like Platero and I, exploring themes of

Triumph of Classicism: Ideals and Influences

Several factors contributed to the triumph of the new ideals of Classicism, including:

• Protection and revival of classical forms.
• The establishment of Aristotelian precepts, supported by literary theorists (preceptists).
• The influence of Cartesianism, fostering a taste for clarity, order, and rigorous structure.

Structural Features of French Classical Theater

The main structural features of the French classical theater are:

1. Separation of Genres and Styles: Tragedy maintains great seriousness and a solemn style.
2. Five-Act Structure: The works typically consist of five acts.
3. Respect for the Three Unities: The following rules must be strictly respected:
   • Unity of Action
   • Unity of Time
   • Unity of Place

Key Authors of

Spanish Poetry: Early 20th Century (Until 1939)

Spanish poetry in the first half of the twentieth century emerged from the Modernist movement and the Generation of '98. The century saw the rise of distinct literary trends: Novecentismo, the Avant-Garde movements, and the Generation of '27.

Modernism

Modernist poets rejected the bourgeois and materialistic world, championing art for art's sake, the worship of beauty, and a preciously refined language. Their favored subjects included:

• Escapes to exotic worlds or past eras
• Cosmopolitanism
• Indigenismo (Indigenous affairs)
• The aristocratic and refined world
• Sensuality and its intimate expression, often through a languid sadness

Their style was refined, renewing poetic language to impress all the senses.... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry 1900-1939: Modernism to Generation of '27" »

Juan Ramón Jiménez: A Poetic Journey

Juan Ramón Jiménez was a pivotal figure whose characteristics served as a liaison between the previous generation (Symbolist and Modernist) and the Generation of '27.

His personality was egocentric, tender, melancholy, and prone to breakdowns. These traits led him to seek solitude, reflection, and a quiet life, yet he simultaneously developed intense social and cultural activities.

He always knew his destiny was linked to the pursuit of beauty and knowledge through his work, which he dedicated exclusively to this endeavor. His body of work, a collection of poetry, he called "My Work."

Jiménez was aware that poetry, by using language heavy with dense conceptual and hermetic elements, was addressed to a select... Continue reading "Juan Ramón Jiménez: Poetic Evolution and Literary Legacy" »

Miguel Hernández: Life, Love, and Death in Poetry

Miguel Hernández, while stylistically aligned with the Generation of '27, is considered part of the post-war generation due to his age and poetic career. He died in 1942. His predominant themes are life, love, and death. His poetic journey can be divided into four stages:

• First Compositions: Rooted in traditional *culteranismo*. Example: Perito en lunas (1933).
• Love Poetry: The most representative work is El rayo que no cesa (1934-1935), which includes the impressive "Elegy to Ramón Sijé."
• Poetry and Social Commitment: Viento del Pueblo (1937).
• Poetry of Recent Years: After the war, Miguel Hernández wrote most of Cancionero y romancero de ausencias (1938-1941) in jail.

Some of Miguel Hernández'... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández and Post-War Spanish Poetry: A Deep Dive" »

Introduction to the Maison Carrée

The Maison Carrée is a pseudoperipteral Roman temple located in the urban area of Nîmes, France. Its construction dates back to the time of Agrippa, around 16 BC. The original author of this description is anonymous.

Construction Materials

The Maison Carrée was built using materials such as marble, particularly for its upper sections and decorative elements.

Architectural System and Details

The temple's construction system is based on wall lintels and features Corinthian columns. It utilizes a base derived from the Attic base. The capitals are adorned with three rows of acanthus leaves, with each leaf in the upper rows placed between two leaves of the bottom row. At the center, a rosette is found between the... Continue reading "The Maison Carrée: Roman Temple in Nîmes" »