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The Spanish Novel in the Mid-20th Century: 1940s to 1960s

The Post-War Novel (1940s): Exile and Tremendismo

This period saw the rise of the social novel, committed to the political and social conflicts that culminated in the 1936 confrontation. This literary trend evolved independently and parallel to the narrative produced by writers who went into exile due to the Republican cause, continuing to write and publish from countries in America.

The Novel in Exile

The most prominent author of the novel in exile was Ramón J. Sender. His work is characterized by ideological commitment. A key work is Crónica del alba (1942).

Early Post-War Novel in Spain (Tremendismo)

The early post-war novel reflected the mood of existential pessimism in Spain:

• The Family

Ramon Llull: Pioneer of Catalan Literature

The earliest significant manifestations of Catalan literature are attributed to Ramon Llull (Mallorca, 1232/35-1316). As one of the first authors to extensively use a major Romance language, Catalan, he produced a vast body of work, comprising 234 titles. He also wrote in Latin, as it was the international language of culture; Arabic, to engage with non-Christians; and Old Provençal, in which he composed most of his poetic works. His prolific Christian work saw him complete 13 books in just four years.

Major Works by Ramon Llull

• Blanquerna (1278, 1294)

  This novel, one of the first significant works in a Romance language, depicts the ascending social forms of the bourgeoisie within a context of Christian

Francisco Quevedo

Francisco Quevedo y Villegas was born in Madrid in 1580. He became famous at a young age and participated in various political intrigues. He later retired, ill, to Torre Juan de Abad. He died in Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) in 1645 and is considered the highest representative of the conceptismo style.

His style is characterized by a masterful use of language, irony, parody, puns, and metaphors. He also uses vulgar and colloquial expressions, adopting a playful attitude towards language. His works include:

• Love poems, both idealized and torn visions of love.
• Moral and philosophical poems addressing the passage of time, the transience of life, and death.
• Satirical and burlesque poems, which caricature different aspects

Poetry of Modernism

Modernism is an aesthetic renovation. It is a synthesis of Parnassianism, with its taste for the refined, and Symbolism, with its taste for music, a tendency to incorporate symbols and sensory images.

In Spain, it began with Ruben Dario. It is characterized by the pursuit of beauty to escape everyday realities.

Characteristics:

• The creator is disturbed by society, is inclined to solitude and privacy, and moves away from reality.
• It has an anti-bourgeois, anti-realist stance, and tries to create an anti-vulgar, aristocratic, elegant, and exotic art.
• Favorite environments are classical antiquity, the medieval world, and the legendary.
• It has a formal cult of beauty.

Themes

Themes range widely from classical to modern and medieval romance.... Continue reading "Modernist Poetry and the Generation of '98 in Spain" »

Virgil's Eclogues: Pastoral Poetry and Themes

This is a series of songs inspired by the Greek Idylls of Theocritus, praising rural life and alternating narrative with dialogues between shepherds. Their discussions are often too sophisticated to come from men of the field, but this style is befitting a work intended for a demanding audience.

It is important to note that this model would be continued by authors of the Renaissance and Baroque periods to recreate the pastoral genre, featuring writers such as Garcilaso de la Vega and Cervantes himself. The genre also popularized the pose of the lover and the ungrateful beloved sufferer, themes so dear to court poets.

In 39 B.C., Virgil selected ten initial fragments and titled them the Eclogues. The... Continue reading "Virgil's Eclogues: Analysis and Summary of the Ten Pastoral Poems" »

Gabriel García Márquez: An Introduction to Chronicle of a Death Foretold

The following discussion focuses on Chronicle of a Death Foretold by the acclaimed Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez. This author is a pivotal figure in the literary movement known as the Latin American Boom, which emerged in the 1960s.

The Latin American Boom: A Literary Revolution

During this period, Spain and the rest of Europe witnessed the surprising development of Latin American literature, which had hitherto been largely marginalized and unknown, despite its inherent importance. This phenomenon primarily concerned the novelistic genre and garnered significant critical acclaim, attracting a vast readership.

Specialists often mark the launch of the Boom to 1963,... Continue reading "Gabriel García Márquez: Chronicle of a Death Foretold and the Latin American Literary Boom" »

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