The Catalan Renaixença: Shaping Identity Through Literature

The Catalan Renaixença: Identity & Revival

The Renaixença (revival movement) is defined by the recovery of Catalan identity. It expressed a desire to reconstruct a time of great historical and cultural vitality. The Catalan language was used as a unifying element for the people. The idea was to rebuild from the history of literature, fostering a sentiment of political nationalism.

Spreading the Renaixença: Media & Impact

The Renaixença diffused through two main channels: the press and the book industry. The Jocs Florals (Floral Games) became very successful, helping to discover important writers such as Jacint Verdaguer, Narcís Oller, and Àngel Guimerà.

"La Pàtria" by Aribau: A Nation's Concerns

Bonaventura Carles Aribau's text, La Pàtria (The Homeland), captured the fundamental concerns of 19th-century Catalan society. It evoked a feeling of nostalgia for a landscape, language, and a world tied to childhood memories. The intention was to restore the sensitivity of the language, incorporating romantic elements and aspects related to the Renaixença. It was published on August 24th in El Vapor magazine.

The Jocs Florals: A Literary Platform

Bofarull was a protagonist in the restoration of the Jocs Florals, which had a major role, including in Balaguer, as a public platform for Catalan literature.

Verdaguer's "Canigó": An Epic of Catalan Origins

Jacint Verdaguer's Canigó, an epic poem, explores the national origins of Catalonia. It features a medieval narrative rhythm, incorporating elements of song and romance. It also treats the geography of the Pyrenees mountains, applying it to the contemplation of the natural environment.

The Catalan Novel: Early Developments

Regarding the novel: Antoni de Bofarull i de Brocà's L'Orfeneta de Menàguens (The Orphan Girl of Menàguens) features historical elements that initiated the recovery of the novelistic genre in Catalan. The Catalan language, however, did not yet possess the social prestige that would allow for a widely accepted novelistic language.

Narcís Oller: Realism in Catalan Literature

Narcís Oller's technique fought against the romantic tendency that diverted objectivity, leading the narrative into sentimentality and moralism. His notable works include:

• "La Papallona" (The Butterfly)

  The "AM" (unclear, possibly a publication or group) and its guiding critics, such as Yxart and Sard, advocated for the novel's concept. They valued its subjective viewpoint, which was still novel at the time. It achieved great success and a positive reception.

• "L'Escanyapobres" (The Usurer)

  This novel, set in Provence, maintains a sentimental edge while striving for objectivity. It refers to the industrialization of society and attempts to portray its contemporary era.

• "La Febre d'Or" (The Gold Rush)

  Oller's most ambitious novel, it portrays bourgeois society making fortunes through gambling and stock market speculation. It depicts the Liceu (opera house) where bourgeois individuals gathered to listen and organize grand parties.

• "La Bogeria" (Madness)

  A short novel with a witness narrator, it contributes to a significant novelistic corpus (a set of interrelated novels proposing an overall intent).

Àngel Guimerà: Patriotism & Dramatic Art

Àngel Guimerà, a Catalan nationalist, achieved significant impact through his patriotic intentions, thanks to the Jocs Florals. He wrote very argumentative and narrative poetry. He also wrote a collection of historical tragedies and dramas, including:

• "Mar i Cel" (Sea and Sky)

  This work demonstrates artistic ambition.

• "Maria Rosa"

• "Terra Baixa" (Lowlands)

• "La Filla del Mar" (The Daughter of the Sea)

  These dramas are based on a realistic prose style and contemporary themes that revolve around the theme of possessive love.