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Catalan Poetry: From the 1970s to the 1990s

9.A. At the beginning of the 1970s, Foix's work was recovered, and two books crucial to overcoming realism were published. These books tipped Catalan poetry: The Mirror by Peter Gimferrer and Trench Poetry by Joan Brossa. In Valencia, the new references were Joan Navarro and Salvador Jàfer. The anthology of Amadeus Fabregat (Fresh Meat) collected this change of direction that turned away from the preceding realism. Poetry is not realistic. In a few years, the following features became dominant:

• Practical rebellion: Connecting writing practices that had shaped the history of 20th-century poetry, poetry is regarded as freelance speech.
• The poetic word stops being used to narrate and becomes suggestive,

Federico García Lorca: Biography (1898-1936)

Born in Granada, Federico García Lorca studied Law, Philosophy, and Music. He moved to the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid and later traveled to New York. He returned to Spain and subsequently made a trip to Argentina.

Personality: Characterized by overwhelming vitality, overflowing sympathy, existential pain, and frustration.

Themes in his work: Key themes include love, death, and the marginalization of individuals (like gypsies or the oppressed). His work represents a synthesis of popular tradition and avant-garde aesthetics, masterfully employing imagery, metaphors, and symbols.

Lorca's Poetic Evolution

His poetry evolved from initial simplicity to the powerful expression found in "Gypsy Ballads"

Narrative Perspectives and Structure

The narrator is multiple, and the events are reconstructed from several perspectives. Sometimes it is a secondary character, a friend of Santiago Nasar, who recounts the facts in the first person. At other times, it is a third-person narrator, writing a chronicle from collected information. Often, different characters give varying versions of the same event. We also witness the omniscience of some individuals who know the thoughts of others. The town itself, finally, also appears as a narrator of events.

Temporal Dynamics and Narrative Flow

The time in this novel is treated retrospectively. This is a fundamental feature of the novel that renewed the sixties and an original technique employed by García Márquez.... Continue reading "Narrative Techniques and Thematic Depth in Gabriel García Márquez's Novel" »

Antonio Machado (1875-1939)

Machado belonged to a liberal family. At eight years old, he traveled to Madrid to study at the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. In 1899, he traveled to France where he met Rubén Darío. In 1907, he became a French professor in Soria. He married Leonor in 1910 and they traveled to France. Leonor died in 1912, making Machado's poetry more pessimistic. He spoke of Castile as a reflection of Leonor. His family advised him to return to Spain, but he soon returned to Segovia and later to Madrid. During the Civil War, he was persecuted and decided to take a boat to France, where he died in 1939. Some authors describe him as a modernist poet, while others place him in the Generation of '98 due to shared themes and attitudes.... Continue reading "Antonio Machado and Juan Ramón Jiménez: Spanish Literary Giants" »

Introduction

The post-Civil War era in Spain witnessed a significant shift. Under the dictatorship, the nation experienced hardship, and many intellectuals, including scientists, poets, and researchers, sought exile as freedom of expression became endangered. Those remaining faced restricted creative expression, aligning their work with the regime's ideology. This isolation further hindered Spain's intellectual growth and acceptance of new ideas.

The Forties: Repression and Censorship

The 1940s were marked by repression, poverty, and widespread censorship, both civil and ecclesiastical. Democracy was suppressed, and any expression contrary to the regime's political and religious views was stifled.

Poetry of the Seventies

In 1970, José M. Castellet'... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry Evolution: From Dictatorship to the 1970s" »

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was a tragic conflict that profoundly divided the 20th century. Despite the turmoil, Spanish literature experienced an era of grandeur, particularly in poetry. This period led some to speak of a second Silver Age or Golden Age, as authors from the Generations of '98 and '14 were still publishing, and the Generation of '27 was at its peak.

The War's Impact on Poets and Literature

The war brought death to some, like Federico García Lorca, and forced others into exile, including Juan Ramón Jiménez, León Felipe, Luis Cernuda, and Jorge Guillén. For those who remained, censorship became a pervasive reality.

"Rooted Poetry": Neoclassicism and Tradition

Among the poets who stayed in Spain, a logical "regulatory unity"... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry After the Civil War: A Literary Divide" »

Prepositions of Time: IN, ON, AT

• IN: *in the afternoon*, *in December*, *in summer*, *in 1998*
• ON: *on Friday*, *on the 12th of July*, *on my birthday*
• AT: *at 3 o'clock*, *at midday*, *at night*, *at New Year's*

Family Vocabulary & Possessive Nouns

• Family Members:
  • Cousins (primo/a)
  • Aunts (tía)
  • Uncles (tío)
  • Nieces (sobrina)
  • Nephews (sobrino)
• Saxon Genitive (Possessive 's):
  • *Charles's brother*
  • *The brothers' car*

Possessive Adjectives & Demonstratives

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • *His* (él)
  • *Her* (ella)
  • *It's* (it is) vs. *Its* (possessive)
• Demonstratives:
  • *This* (cerca, singular)
  • *That* (lejos, singular)
  • *These* (cerca, plural)
  • *Those* (lejos, plural)

Articles and Plural Noun Rules

• Articles:
  • *A* (singular, before consonant sounds)
  • *An* (singular, before vowel sounds:

Miguel Hernández: A Poetic Journey

First Poetic Stage (1933-1936)

During this period (1933-1936), Miguel Hernández's lyrical production is characterized by the pursuit of poetic language itself and the significant influence of Ramón Sijé. This stage includes notable works such as Perito en lunas and El rayo que no cesa.

Perito en lunas (1933)

Perito en lunas is Miguel Hernández's first published book (1933). It comprises 42 poems, primarily in octavas reales. This collection belongs to Hernández's neogongorist phase, transforming everyday objects into art and incorporating the genre of the riddle.

El rayo que no cesa (1936)

Published in 1936, El rayo que no cesa explores the central theme of an unfulfilled love. Moral standards prevent the... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Poetic Evolution and Key Works" »

Spanish Literature in the 1950s and 1960s

Poetry

The Decade of the 50: Most Representative Authors

• Blas Otero (1916-1979): Existential poetry, social poetry, new forms of expression
• Gabriel Celaya (1911-1991): Surrealist, intense and aggressive language

The Decade of the 60: Most Representative Authors

• Jose Hierro (1922-2002): Early works: search for happiness; later works: collective suffering and existentialism
• Claudio Rodriguez (1934-1999): Simple style, singular
• Angel Gonzalez: Social poetry
• Jaime Gil de Biedma: Intimate issues
• Jose Angel Valente: Secrecy

Novel

The Decade of the 50: Representative Authors

• Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio: Realistic approach, concentration of action
• Ignacio Aldecoa: Passion as a storyteller
• Jesus Fernandez Santos: Existential themes

The

Origins of Spanish Golden Age Theater

Italian Influence and Early Developments

The origins of Spanish theater in the sixteenth century were significantly influenced by Italian techniques and resources. Lope de Vega was well acquainted with the work of Italian companies and founded his own "theater cave" (teatro cueva). Juan del Encina introduced Mexican themes into Spanish drama by the end of the sixteenth century.

Structure of Golden Age Drama

Divisions of a Play

Plays were typically divided into three acts, or "days":

• Exposure (Exposición): The first act, introducing the characters and conflict.
• Knot (Nudo): The remainder of the first act, the second act, and part of the third, where the plot develops.
• Outcome (Desenlace): The resolution of the