Argumentation & Spanish Modernism: Unamuno, Baroja, Machado

Argumentative Texts: Structure and Techniques

An argumentative text is one that presents certain ideas through reasoning.

Argumentar: To provide reasons to advocate for an opinion.

The ultimate objective of an argument is to convince others of our ideas about a given subject. What distinguishes an argumentative text from an explanation is, therefore, the intention of the person generating it.

Structure

Follow a logical order to ensure proper understanding of the expressed ideas:

• Introducción (Introduction): Introduces the topic and captures interest.
• Exposición de la tesis (Thesis Statement): Argumentative texts often contain an explanatory part setting out the fundamental idea.
• Argumentación (Argumentation): Justifies the thesis (main idea) with various arguments.
• Conclusión (Conclusion): Recalls the most relevant points and the fundamental idea.

Types of Arguments

• Authority: Citing an expert to support an opinion.
• Quality: Valuing good over abundant.
• Quantity: Using what the majority thinks or does as an argument.
• Aesthetic: Judging based on beauty versus ugliness.
• Personal Experience: Using personally seen or experienced events as an argument.
• Fact: Based on verifiable evidence.
• Hedonistic: Justifying an opinion based on the need to enjoy life.
• Justice: Arguing that what is just should prevail over what is unjust.
• Moral: Using socially accepted ethical beliefs to justify an opinion.
• Progress: Valuing novelty and originality against tradition.
• Health: Assessing based on what is healthy versus harmful or detrimental.
• Similarity (Analogy): Defending something because it is very similar to something else that confirms our ideas (the antithesis of the progress argument).
• Utility: Valuing what is useful and necessary against what is useless or dangerous.

Note on Compound Sentences: A syntactic structure containing more than one independent sentence or proposition.

Spanish Modernism (Late 19th Century)

In the late 19th century, aesthetic tastes changed, largely due to a shift in artistic mentality retrieving principles of Romanticism, originality, and creative freedom.

Origins

In the Spanish case, it is linked to the literary movement of the Generation of '98. The "Disaster of '98" is key to this period, known as Modernism.

Attitudes

• Attitude of Evasion: Writers take refuge in a formalist and dazzling aesthetic (supporters of "art for art's sake").
• Attitude of Complaint/Critique: Focuses on analyzing the origin of society's evils.

Key Authors

Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936)

Born in Bilbao, Miguel de Unamuno was a professor of Greek and rector of the University of Salamanca. He had an intense life, which included exile during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. He is considered one of the most important writers, focusing on themes like the meaning of life, religion, and the "problem of Spain".

Pío Baroja (1872-1956)

Pío Baroja was born in San Sebastián. His childhood was marked by frequent relocations. He studied medicine with little conviction and ended up working various jobs, from a rural doctor to managing a bakery. In 1935, he was elected to the Real Academia Española. Baroja was a solitary, honest, pessimistic, and withdrawn man. He focused on the novel, writing over sixty, including notable works like Camino de perfección and La busca.

Antonio Machado (1875-1939)

Born in Sevilla, Antonio Machado moved to Madrid at age eight. He was a professor of French in Soria, residing there until the early death of his wife. He later lived in Baeza, Segovia, and Madrid. Machado was a strong supporter of the Republic and went into exile in Collioure (France), where he died in 1939. His works include lyric poetry, plays, and prose.