The Generation of '27: Spanish Poetry and Modernity

The Generation of '27 consists of an innovative group of poets who linked tradition and modernity through their personal relationships, largely fostered by their residency at the Residencia de Estudiantes. The group includes prominent figures such as Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, Vicente Aleixandre, Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Luis Cernuda, Gerardo Diego, Emilio Prados, Manuel Altolaguirre, and Juan Larrea.

Characteristics and Influences

All members possessed a strong cultural background, characterized by a deep respect for both classical and popular traditions alongside the bold use of metaphor.

Core Themes of the Generation of '27

• The City: Viewed as a modern cosmos with futuristic treatment, but also as a problematic reality that alienates human beings and imposes dehumanizing loneliness.
• Nature: Traditional landscapes disappear, replaced by a symbolic nature associated with recollections of childhood, love, and purity.
• Love: A rejection of mere sentimentality; love appears as a vital projection that enriches the individual and provides the tools to impose order on chaos.
• Popular Tradition: The expression of the people's feelings through customs, songs, and popular ballads.
• Commitment: A recurring theme involving commitment to the arts, to humanity, or to explicit political causes. These poets did not remain indifferent to the events of their time.

The Three Stages of Poetic Evolution

First Stage: Until 1927

During this period, the group adopted Juan Ramón Jiménez's concept of "pure poetry." This stage is marked by the removal of sentimentality, the supremacy of intelligence, and the refinement of language. Consequently, these poems are often secretive and difficult to interpret.

Second Stage: 1927 to 1936

Influenced by Surrealism, poets began to express existential questions and personal struggles. With the arrival of the Second Republic, the focus shifted toward social problems and political commitment. Group cohesion began to fracture as some members, like Salinas and Guillén, remained faithful to pure poetry, while others, such as Lorca, Alberti, and Aleixandre, sought new expression through the avant-garde.

Third Stage: The Period of Exile

Following the Spanish Civil War, the group's paths diverged. While Gerardo Diego and Vicente Aleixandre remained in Spain, and others like Lorca and Miguel Hernández fell victim to the conflict, the rest went into exile. Their later work is dominated by nostalgia for what was lost and a sense of revolt against destiny.