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Spanish Poetry After 1936: Key Movements

Miguel Hernández: War Poetry & Transition

Miguel Hernández's poetry, inspired by the poets of the Generation of '27, represents a transition and significant influence in war poetry. The author reflects the experience of war and its hardships, which deeply moved him. His poetry employs few clever tricks, focusing instead on metaphor and symbolism. Thus, the poet's procedures and feelings are inseparable.

Rooted Poetry: Optimism and Tradition

The poets of this trend were creative youth themselves. They grouped around the journal Garcilaso. They exhibit great optimism, clarity, and order in their poetry, sharing a coherent, orderly, and calm worldview, free from chaos and distress. They live in the contemplation... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry After 1936: Key Movements and Influences" »

Modernism: Key Features

Key Features: Modernists embraced beauty in all forms, focusing on creating beautiful objects and spaces, and expressing intense feelings and emotions. They contrasted vulgarity with the aristocratic, often symbolized by the swan. Their rejection of the reality they inhabited led to a fascination with the past (classical world, myths, medieval, Renaissance, 18th century, and Hispanic past) and distant, exotic lands.

Issues at the End of the Century

Issues at the End of the Century: Spain faced a profound political and social crisis in the late 19th century, culminating in the Disaster of 1898 (Spain's military defeat by the U.S. after the Cuban insurrection), which resulted in the loss of its last colonial possessions (... Continue reading "Modernism and the Crisis of the 19th Century in Spain" »

The Italianate Lyric

The Italianate lyric introduced new forms and themes into Spanish poetry:

Key Topics of the Italianate Lyric

• Love: Conceived as a psychological process in which the beloved is idealized.
• Nature: Seen both as a manifestation of the harmony of God's creation and a confidante of the poet.
• Mythology.

Metrics and Strophic Forms

The hendecasyllable verse, imported from Italian poetry, brought new compositions and strophic forms:

• The Sonnet (verses arranged in two quatrains and two tercets).
• The Heroic Verse Poem.

Genres Recovered from Classical Literature

Various genres of classical literature were recovered:

• The Ode: Suitable for existential, moral, and philosophical reflection.
• The Epistle: Allows the expression of domestic and family issues.

Spanish Literature: The Postwar Period (1939-1975)

Historical Context of Postwar Spain

The period begins in 1939, establishing in Spain the dictatorial regime of General Franco, which lasted until 1975.

• In 1977, the first democratic elections were held, and in 1978, the Constitution was adopted. Democracy was restored under the monarchy of Juan Carlos I.

Social Transformations and Economic Boom

The postwar years were initially tough economically.

• Economic Boom (1950s): Starting in the 1950s, an economic boom led to the country's modernization and opening toward Europe. This enabled a more critical attitude toward the dictatorship among certain social sectors.
• Post-Franco Changes (1975 onwards): Following the death of Franco in 1975, significant social

Tradition and Vanguard

Miguel Hernández was not a man of learning; his life was a struggle against difficulties and shortcomings. In November 1931, hopeful, he traveled to Madrid with his teenage poems, which he brought back in 1932, disappointed by his failure to implement completely renovated literary ideas. His poetry writing became much more complex, with a *culterano* accent. This poetry is the fruit of his reading of the Baroque, Góngora, and the *gongorists* of the Generation of '27.

In 1934, he returned to Madrid to try again, and this time he accessed the literary world, thanks to influences from Sijé. It was a fertile time, open to everything and everyone; his assimilative capacity was absolute. His circle of friends expanded.

Miguel... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Life, Poetry, and Commitment" »

Josep Maria Benet i Jornet: A Playwright's Evolution

Josep Maria Benet i Jornet's early theater was realistic, characterized by reflection on the individual and the society that surrounds them. His work later evolved to explore more intimate and existential themes.

Key Realistic Plays

• Berenàveu a les fosques (1972)
• Quan la ràdio parlava de Franco (1979)

Children's Theater Contributions

He also cultivated children's theater with works like:

• Supertot (1975)
• El somni de Bagdad (1977)

Awards and Other Works

Benet i Jornet received the National Prize for Literature in the dramatic literature category in 1995 for his play Morir. Additionally, he was the first scriptwriter for telenovelas produced by Catalan television.

Enric Valor: Grammarian, Folklorist,

Federico García Lorca

García Lorca's work expresses his personality: an intense vitality that contrasts with the harrowing shadow of death. Topics include a passion for life, for love, and for freedom in conflict with a repressive society or tragic fate. The presence of frustration, loneliness, and death develops on a personal and social level. In his dramas, the characters are confronted with forces that suppress natural instincts, passions, hopes, and desires.

Stages of García Lorca's Work

• First Stage: Training and assimilation of different currents, including traditional and popular art and high culture. This includes youthful works, songs, and poems of flamenco singing. Gypsy Ballads portrays the marginalization of those facing social and

Catalan Literary Movements: Poetry and Theater

Poetry and the Jocs Florals

Themes in Catalan Poetry

• Historical recreation of a stronger past (the Middle Ages).
• Passionate love and religious concerns (e.g., the full moon, the mystery flower).

The Jocs Florals (Flower Games)

Promoters

Rubió i Ors, Milà i Fontanals.

Topics and Prizes

The three main themes were Homeland, Faith, and Love. The prize for each theme was a jewel-flower.

Purposes

• Normalize acts of literary creation.
• Target young artists as both audience and authors.
• Popularize literature.

Jacint Verdaguer (1845–1902)

In 1877, Verdaguer was awarded the Jocs Florals prize thanks to his work, L'Atlàntida. In 1886, he undertook a trip to the Holy Land, which proved very taxing and favored a change... Continue reading "Catalan Literature: Jocs Florals, Verdaguer's Poetry, and Guimerà's Theater" »

20th Century Hispanic American Literature

Poesía Hispanoamericana: Breaking with Modernismo

This movement marked the break with Modernismo approaches, favoring plain, simple, and even colloquial language.

Pablo Neruda: Poet, Diplomat, and Nobel Laureate

The Chilean poet and diplomat resided in Madrid until the Spanish Civil War. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best-known book is Twenty Love Poems and a Desperate Song.

Octavio Paz: Surrealism and Global Influences

The Mexican diplomat lived in France, where he encountered Surrealism. His travels to Spain, India, and Japan allowed him to become familiar with the poetry and thought of these countries. Important works include Freedom under Parole and East Slope.

The 20th Century Novel:

Avant-Garde Movements and Isms

The vanguards: In 1910 the picture emerging in the avant-garde artistic and literary scene was of a series of isms that rejected traditional art forms and advocated experimentation. Not every movement had the same impact; together they formed a set of approaches that challenged conventions and promoted new expressive possibilities.

Key isms and characteristics

• Creationism (Creacionismo): of Hispanic origin; it sought reality within the word, often using language games and inventive linguistic forms.
• Surrealism: of French origin; it intended to express emotions and thoughts of the subconscious, making frequent use of irrational images and unexpected juxtapositions.

Romance of the New Century

At the beginning of the twentieth... Continue reading "Avant-Garde Movements and Modernist Literature 1910–1930" »