18th & 19th Century Spanish Literature: Styles & Trends

Neoclassicism

Prose

Narrative prose displays manners in works like Diego Torres Villarroel's Calendars and Forecasts. José Francisco de Isla bridges manners and prose stories with his reformist preacher character in The History of the Famous Preacher, Friar Gerundio de Campazas, Alias Zotes. Essayists include Feijoo with Teatro crítico universal and Erudite Letters, and Jovellanos (a key figure of the Enlightenment) with Report on Agrarian Law and Luzán Poetics. Also notable are J. Cadalso's Scholarly Letters and his dialogue-based work, Moorish Nights.

Lyrical Poetry

Poetry becomes more individualistic, featuring Anacreontic poetry like Valdés' The Dove's Phillies.

Theater

Leandro Fernández de Moratín's comedies, including The Old Man and the Girl, The Baron, The Maidens Consent, and The New Comedy, lay the groundwork for modern theater. Cadalso contributes Solaya or The Madmen of the Circus, and Valdés offers The Marriage of Camacho the Rich.

Analysis

Consider the text type (subjective or objective), language, purpose, leading role, structure (deductive or inductive), metaphors, comparisons, examples, vision or treatment of the subject, time (past tense), adjectives, subordination, coordination, language functions, and suggested meaning.

Romanticism

Prose

Realistic novels emerge with works like Estébanez's Andalusian Scenes, Serafín Calderón's The Solitaire, and Mesonero Romanos' Madrid Scenes. Larra stands out with his costumbrista articles like Come Back Tomorrow, Get Married Soon and You'll See, and Who's the Public and Where Are You?, as well as his political and literary articles, including November and Henry the Bereaved. Historical novels include Larra's Henry the Mourner and Espronceda's Sancho Saldaña. Adventure novels are represented by Manuel Fernández González's The Madrigal Pastry Chef, and social novels by Wenceslao Ayguals de Izco's María, the Laborer's Daughter.

Lyrical Poetry

Lyrical poetry features passionate expression, rhythmic language, symbolism, love, and nature themes. Stages include neoclassical influences, the Duke of Rivas' contributions, Espronceda's romantic exaltation, and the post-romanticism of Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro, who foreshadow realism.

Narrative Poetry

Long narrative poems include historical poems like the Duke of Rivas' The Moorish Foundling and philosophical poems like Espronceda's The Student of Salamanca and The Devil World. Short narrative poems draw on folk tradition, such as the Duke of Rivas' The Miraculous Lily and Zorrilla's A Good Judge, a Good Witness.

Espronceda

Espronceda, a key lyrical poet, also wrote social poetry like The Pirate's Song, The Beggar, and The Executioner. He explored themes of lost youth, revelry, politics, and created long poems like The Student of Salamanca and The Devil World.

Theater

Romantic theater features tragic love, historical settings, mixed prose and verse, elaborate costumes, and dynamic works like Martínez de la Rosa's The Conspiracy of Venice, Larra's Macías, the Duke of Rivas' Don Álvaro or The Force of Fate, Hartzenbusch's The Lovers of Teruel, and Zorrilla's Don Juan Tenorio.