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

The Enlightenment in 18th Century Spain

The Enlightenment was a cultural movement born in 18th-century France, founded on reason as a primary form of knowledge. It implied a rejection of the Old Regime and a revision of previously established ideas, paving the way for new forms of thought. In Spain, this movement was notably more moderate.

Key Characteristics of the Spanish Enlightenment

• Emphasis on science and the experimental method.
• Travel was seen as a crucial way of learning about other cultures.
• The concept of utility was linked directly to progress.
• A significant focus on widespread educational reform.

Many authors aligned with political movements, using literature as a vehicle to convey their ideas. Spanish writers, in particular, aimed for... Continue reading "The Spanish Enlightenment: 18th Century Intellectual Movement" »

The Experimental Novel in Spain: 1960s

Factors Influencing the Experimental Novel

Factors that influenced writers to make way for a new kind of novel included:

• The depletion of social realism.
• The need to recover fantasy in stories.
• A renewed concern for language.
• The influence of European and American writers (Proust, Kafka, Joyce, Faulkner).
• The emergence of the boom of the Latin American novel.

This movement began in Spain with Tiempo de silencio by Luis Martín Santos.

Key Features of the Experimental Novel

Features of this period include:

• Addressing issues such as childhood, adolescence, war, the passage of time, and the reconstruction of memory.
• Without abandoning social issues, it leaves room for the irrational, the dreamlike, irony, and humor.
• Technically,

Pre-1936 Spanish Theater

At the beginning of the century, Spanish drama was largely unrecognized. High comedy, referring to bourgeois realist drama, flourished due to societal demand. In 1905, over 50 writers, including Unamuno, Dario, Azorin, Valle-Inclán, the Machado brothers, Graw Maeztu, signed a manifesto of public protest. Key figures in this genre include Dicenta and Jacinto.

Poetic drama attempted to bring modernism to the theater. Eduardo Marquina, with Children of the Cid, was a prominent figure. The Machado brothers also contributed significantly, permeating poetic knowledge into their works.

The comedy of manners showcased great variety, often linked to musicals like the zarzuela and operetta, such as La Gran Vía and La Verbena de

Modernism and the Generation of '98

The Crisis at the End of the Century

Controversy: Modernism vs. Generation '98

The intellectuals of the time, including those from decadent Hispanic America, coined the term Art Nouveau. This movement represented a rejection of society and culture. In Spain, Modernism and the Generation of '98 coexisted in the literature of the century, but critics viewed them as manifestations of a crisis at the end of the century.

Modernism: A Rebellious Renewal

Modernism embodied a vital attitude of rebellion and renewal, impacting politics, religion, and art. It involved a rejection of materialism and the social and moral norms that restricted human freedom.

Literary Modernism

Literary Modernism, a movement born in Latin America... Continue reading "Modernism vs. Generation 98: Literary Crisis & Renewal" »

Ancient Greek Oratory: Origins and Evolution

Speeches have been a fundamental part of Greek literature since its inception. The Homeric poems, for instance, contain famous examples. Later poetry, tragedy, and historical accounts also feature significant discourses. However, it was not until the second half of the 5th century BCE that speech developed into a distinct discipline with its own rules and a recognized literary genre.

Its emergence was a direct result of the democratic regimes established in cities like Athens and Syracuse. Two primary factors fueled its development:

• On one hand, democracy offered every citizen the opportunity to speak publicly in the assembly.
• On the other, democratic disputes were settled before large popular courts

The Generation of '27 in Spanish Literature

Definition

The term Generation of '27 refers to the group of Spanish poets who shared common features and began writing in the 1920s. The name specifically references the year 1927, when most members participated in a tribute to the Baroque poet Luis de Góngora. Some critics argue that this period represents the Silver Age of Spanish literature.

Authors and Core Features

The central core of the Generation included:

• Pedro Salinas
• Jorge Guillén
• Dámaso Alonso
• Gerardo Diego
• Federico García Lorca
• Rafael Alberti

These writers shared several key characteristics:

• Many coincided at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid.
• They were of similar age and possessed a high literary culture.
• They generally held liberal attitudes

• Noucentisme
• Noucentisme, a cultural movement in Spain during the 1910s, positioned itself as the voice of the new century, opposing the characteristics of the previous era.
• While the Noucentista writers didn't share a unified group identity, they had overlapping traits:
• • Strong intellectual foundation: They were primarily philosophers, essayists, historians, and critics.
  • Europeanism: This distinguished them from the Generation of '98, which focused on Castilian themes.
  • Emphasis on meticulous craftsmanship: Like Juan Ramón Jiménez, they valued well-thought-out work, rejecting improvisation.
  • Rationalism: They prioritized intellectual rigor, objective analysis, and clear presentation.
  • Anti-romanticism: They rejected sentimentality and passion, favoring

Introduction

Spanish literature production during the Civil War was scarce and tended to serve the interests of each side. These works were often urgent and of poor quality. The conflict caused a deep cut with the earlier tradition. After the war, Spanish intellectuals like Pérez de Ayala, Jarnés, and Francisco Ayala Sender, who supported the Republic, were forced into exile or faced death.

Young novelists at the beginning of the 1940s found themselves in a depleted atmosphere. Censorship was imposed not only on young artists but also on any work, past or present, that opposed the regime's ideals.

This period also includes the production of exiled writers after the war, with their reflections on Spain, the Civil War, and its aftermath.

Some notable... Continue reading "Spanish Literature: Civil War to 1975 and Beyond" »

Post-War Spanish Poetry

After the Civil War, poetic production divided into two main groups:

• Poets in Exile: Covering topics such as the lost homeland, often with a bitter tone.
• Poets in Spain: Starting a process of rehumanization, with themes revolving around existential and social problems.

The 40s and Early 50s: Generation of '36

These poets are known as the Generation of '36. Two major trends stand out:

Rooted Poetry (Arraigada)

Grouped around the magazine Garcilaso. Influenced by a religious feeling present in classical forms, presenting a consistent, orderly, and serene worldview. Topics covered include family and nature. Poets in this group include Luis Rosales and Leopoldo Panero.

Uprooted Poetry (Desarraigada)

Represented by the magazine Espadaña.... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry Movements After the Civil War" »