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Poets at the Turn of the 1960s to 1970s

The poets at the turn of the 1960s to 1970s adopted a more intimate, individualistic, and dualistic stance. They were more concerned with personal freedom and their own destiny. The end of Francoism, the creation of publishing houses, new literary prizes, the relaxation of censorship, and the recognition of linguistic rights facilitated the work of poets of the 1970s. This period involved social and cultural consequences suffered from the war, experiencing the culture of mass media and the youth of the 1960s, and revolting in the street fight against Francoism. They also had more information about European culture.

Characteristics

• Break with realism
• Culturalism
• Ideological and moral transgression
• Return to

Vocabulary Expansion: Uncommon Words and Definitions

Expand your vocabulary with this list of uncommon words and their definitions:

• Apocrypha (n/adj): The parts of the Bible called into question; of spurious authorship or intent; false.
• Arabesque (n): A sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or serpentine line or linear motif.
• Assiduous/Assiduity (adj/n): Constant, tireless, diligent, persistent.
• Balustrade (n): Railing or barrier.
• Banal (adj): Devoid of originality; clichéd or hackneyed.
• Celerity (n): Swiftness or speed.
• Clavichord (n): A soft keyboard or organ music instrument.
• Cloying (adj): Trying too hard to be nice and in the process evoking disgust.
• Coalesce (v): To grow together; to join together.
• Collude (v): To act together with a shared understanding;

Modernism in Visual Arts and Literature

Modernism is a movement that significantly impacted the visual arts (painting, sculpture, decoration, and architecture) and literature. Nicaraguan writer Rubén Darío (1867-1916) marked an important milestone in 20th-century Castilian poetry. His collection of short stories and poems, titled Blue (1888), initiated his modernist path under the influence of French poetry. This new aesthetic is emphasized in his verses in Profane Prose (1896), which features exotic, elegant, and sensual expression, colorful language, and rhythmic verse. Songs of Life and Hope (1905), his masterpiece, includes poems of great brilliance and a marked formal pace. However, it is more guarded in book form and more intimate and... Continue reading "Modernism in Visual Arts and Literature: Key Figures" »

Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno was born in Bilbao in 1864.

Work

Unamuno's work spans culture, poetry, plays, novels, and essays. His writings maintain continuity through the repetition of certain themes and a personal style.

Topics

• Early works reveal a juvenile stage dominated by concerns about regeneration and evolution.
• Later works transition toward existential and religious themes, reflecting maturity.

Style

His style is characterized by expressiveness, passion, vividness, and directness, often incorporating exclamations.

Theater

Unamuno's philosophical theater recalls classical tragedy. It directly addresses the existential issues that obsessed him.

Lyric Poetry

Two broad themes dominate his poetry:

• His reaction to scenery
• His existential and religious

Ramón Gómez de la Serna: Spanish Avant-Garde Pioneer

Ramón Gómez de la Serna was a main introducer of the avant-garde (vanguardia) in Spain, starting at only 20 years old. He founded the Prometheus magazine, where he defended new European trends. He created a body of work that broke with conventions due to its originality.

Characteristics and Ramonismo

As a major literary figure, Gómez de la Serna helped shape his own movement, Ramonismo. This way of understanding literature is conceived as a phenomenon transcending genres. Its key features include:

• Fragmentary vision
• Objectification and dehumanization
• Unusual associations
• Humor

Major Works

• Theatre: Seres y medios (approximate title based on original text 'beings means')
• Novel: El novelista
• Ramón:

The Generation of '27: A Defining Spanish Literary Movement

The Generation of '27 was a prominent group of Spanish writers born around the same time, deeply influenced by contemporary events. They faced similar challenges and reacted to them in comparable ways. Many came from the gentry, with a significant number residing at the famous Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, where they were mentored by intellectuals like Juan Ramón Jiménez and José Ortega y Gasset. The homage to Góngora is widely considered the pivotal event in the group's formation. Their collaboration in influential literary magazines such as Verso y Prosa, Litoral, and La Gaceta Literaria was also crucial to their collective identity.

Key Characteristics of the Generation

Avant-Garde Narrative: An Introduction

Vanguard Narrative: In the early decades of the twentieth century, avant-garde movements exerted great influence on narrative. From a refreshing perspective, the novel sought to break with traditional approaches and explore new forms.

Key Features of Avant-Garde Narrative

• Urban Environments: Avant-garde narratives reflect the changes in rural and urban life. Cities are modernized, and their conflicts are explored.
• Prevalence of the Intelligentsia: The narrative often prioritizes the problems and perspectives of intellectual characters.
• Inner Worlds: Principal characters express their innermost thoughts and feelings, drawing the reader into their subjective experiences.
• Use of Imagination: Imagination becomes

Mihura's Theatrical Universe: Humor, Surprise, and Social Critique

The Creative Process: An Adventure in the Unexpected

For Mihura, writing is an adventure. He confronts reality, seeking its hidden face and its inherent wonder. He himself confesses: "I have no idea what will happen in my works." And naturally, when he writes, he often takes an unexpected turn. That unusual, surprising character is the only one to be truly portrayed in his theatrical situations.

The Power of Surprise in Mihura's Plays

The true value of literature, for Mihura, lies in the unknown—in never knowing what will happen, in catching himself off guard with something unexpected. This, he states, is the only thing he finds enjoyable in his profession. He believes that if... Continue reading "Mihura's Theatrical Vision: Humor, Surrealism, and Social Critique" »

San Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591)

San Juan de la Cruz undertook to reform the Carmelite order, aiming for monks to return to a more austere and contemplative lifestyle. His reform efforts led to his imprisonment.

Major Works

• Dark Night of the Soul
• Spiritual Canticle
• Living Flame of Love

Literary Style and Influence

His literary style was influenced by Italian metrics (like the lira) and biblical texts. He expressed the union of the soul with God as a loving relationship, where the soul (the beloved) seeks Christ (the Beloved). He utilized symbols drawn from nature, such as the night and fire.

Lasting Relevance

Centuries later, his work influenced the poetic current known as Symbolism, which recognized San Juan de la Cruz as an important forerunner.

Spanish