The Generation of '27: Spanish Literary Masters

The Generation of '27: A Literary Movement

The Generation of '27 was a highly influential group of Spanish poets who emerged in the 1920s. They are celebrated for their profound impact on 20th-century Spanish literature, blending traditional forms with avant-garde innovations. This collective, though diverse in style, was united by strong personal friendships, shared literary ideals, and a common vision for poetry.

Key Poets of the Generation of '27

• Pedro Salinas

  A university professor whose poetry was his very essence. A poet who, despite expressing deep emotional feelings, did so with a very rational form.

• Jorge Guillén

  Maintained a lifelong commitment to pure poetry, focusing on the beauty and precision of language.

• Gerardo Diego

  His work showcases great poetic variety, embracing virtually all avant-garde styles with the exception of Surrealism. His extensive work covers many subjects, notably El Alondra de Sows (The Lark of Sows).

• Vicente Aleixandre

  Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977. His poems express the world as a manifestation of its own inherent strength, where elements of nature behave as active, almost human beings.

• Federico García Lorca

  His work addresses the primacy of life's rights over social and moral norms rooted in tradition. Notable poetic works include Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballads, 1928). Besides poetry, he was a highly innovative playwright with a major influence on subsequent theater.

• Rafael Alberti

  A very prolific poet, cultivating poetic originality throughout his life. His subjects are as varied as his extensive work. He also wrote for the theater.

• Luis Cernuda

  Addresses the pain of impossible love and the loneliness of human beings in a world where cruelty and selfishness reign.

Characteristics of the Generation of '27

• Heterogeneity: While differing greatly in style and poetic inspiration, they formed a cohesive group through personal friendships, shared literary interests, publishing in the same journals, and a common concept of poetry.
• Experimental Approaches:
  • The Free Play of Images: Characterized by surprising and imaginative findings, utilizing free verse and experimenting with graphic layout.
  • Fusion of Avant-Garde with Neopopularism: Blending avant-garde imagery with forms inspired by traditional folk poetry, where poets recognized symbols full of mystery.
  • Synthesis of Tradition and Modernity: Blending classical Spanish poetry with avant-garde imagery to create a synthesis between tradition and modernity.
• Dehumanization and Artistic Purity: Poetry was seen as a free creation of imaginary worlds, often moving beyond direct human emotion to explore aesthetic purity.