Evolution of Juan Ramón Jiménez's and Antonio Machado's Poetry

Juan Ramón Jiménez: On the Path of Poetry

The poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez, which spans until the mid-twentieth century, has undergone a profound evolution.

Early Works (Intimate or Sensitive Period)

The first stage is characterized by a feeling of melancholy. Aestheticism and decadence are present in his early works, such as Nympheas and Almas de Violeta (1900), with themes such as nostalgia, the presence of death, and the pursuit of something mysterious. Symbolism is evident in Arias Tristes (1903) and Jardines Lejanos (1904). Modernism influenced him after his return to Moguer. Notable works include: Las Hojas Verdes (1905), La Soledad Sonora (1911), Poesía Mágica y Doliente (1911), and Laberinto (1913).

The Change (Intellectual Era)

Two factors were decisive in the change that occurred in Jiménez's literature: returning to Madrid and meeting Zenobia Camprubí, who would become his wife. In this second stage, melancholy becomes vitalism. Key works include: Sonetos Espirituales (1917), Diario de un Poeta Recién Casado (1917), Eternidades (1918), and Piedra y Cielo (1919).

Later Work (Sufficient Time)

In his latest production, he seeks consciousness as the path to everything and welcomes the findings of his search. This period includes: Estación Total (1946), Romances de Coral Gables (1948), Espacio (1943-1953), and Animal de Fondo (1949).

Antonio Machado:

Antonio Machado transcended the poetic tradition through innovative procedures and created a symbolist poetry of intense emotion and great insight. Machado defined poetry as the dialogue of a man with his time. Time, love, and dreams are his main themes, the latter two with a common root: the concern for temporality.

Soledades. Galerías. Otros Poemas.

Soledades, published in 1903, was later expanded in the second edition to include Galerías. This book shows the influence of Verlaine in the preference for certain environments: shady gardens, autumn melancholy, and so on. The themes of this book are consistent with Machado's overall poetic production: the passage of time, dreams, and lost youth.

Campos de Castilla (1912-1917)

This work has a more direct referentiality than symbolism. Although everything is expressed with deep emotion, the images now correspond to a real landscape. The subject matter includes the decadence of Spain, the character of its inhabitants, and the enigma of life. It contains: proverbs and songs, poems dedicated to Eleanor's death, and "La Tierra de Alvargonzález."

Later Production:

Includes: Nuevas Canciones (1924) and De un Cancionero Apócrifo, with the "Canciones a Guiomar."