Basque Literature in the 19th Century: Mogel and Astarloa

The Historical Context of 19th-Century Basque Literature

The Carlist Wars in the 19th century, which culminated in the abolition of the fueros (charters), served as a catalyst for the Basque nationalist movement. During this period of political transition, the northern regions sought to establish new political organizations. This era also saw a significant focus on literature written in Bizkaiera, characterized by the Apologisten tradition and a defensive stance against external cultural pressures.

Literature in Bizkaiera

Writers of this period primarily focused on predikazio (preaching) and the preservation of the Basque language. These authors are generally divided into two regional groups:

• Eastern: The Markina-aldekoak group.
• Western: The Mendebaldekoak group.

The primary distinction between these groups lies in their orthography.

Juan Antonio Mogel (1745–1804)

Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Mogel served as a priest in Markina, where he eventually passed away. His most significant contribution to Basque literature is the work Peru Abarka.

Analysis of Peru Abarka

Although written in 1802, Peru Abarka was not published until 1881. It is written in Bizkaiera and deviates from traditional novel structures through:

• The introduction of six distinct sections to develop dialogue.
• Interviews and dialogues between clergy members.

Core Themes and Structure:

• Character Dynamics: The work features a dialogue between Master John, an uneducated villager, and Peru, who is educated in the village school.
• Worldview: The text offers a deep analysis of time, space, and character habits, reflecting an idealization of rural life.
• Literary Value: Experts highly value the work for its ethnological insights, stylistic elements, and balanced narrative structure.

Mogel’s influence on subsequent Bizkaian writers was profound, particularly through his religious sermons, which are often associated with the Romantic movement.

Paulo Astarloa

Astarloa was a prolific author whose work focused on the linguistic philosophy of the Basque language. His key theories include:

1. The belief that the Basque language is the direct descendant of the original human language.
2. The assertion that Euskara possesses unique accuracy, logic, and balance.
3. The theory that every letter in the Basque alphabet carries its own intrinsic meaning and value.