Juan Ramón Jiménez: Poetic Evolution and Literary Realism

Juan Ramón Jiménez: Life and Poetic Vision

Juan Ramón Jiménez (1881-1959) was born in Moguer (Huelva) and lived by and for poetry. He received the Nobel Prize in 1956. He understood writing as a constant search for beauty and perfection, hence he permanently rewrote his work. He conceived poetry as a form of knowledge, a means to analyze and understand reality. Juanramoniana poetry authentically aims at deepening the sense of things in their intimate essence.

Stages of Poetic Perfection

This search for perfection consists of several stages:

• Sensitive Stage: From Bécquer-inspired poems, it results in a modernist period of formal brilliance. During this time, he wrote Platero and I (1917), which opened the way for the next epoch.
• Intellectual Stage: Poetry becomes more complex than before. These works are devoted, as stated by the author, to the "minority of always." Significant titles include Diary of a Newlywed Poet (1916), Eternities (1916-1917), and Stone and Sky (1917-1918).
• Sufficient Stage: Formed by works including Animal of Depth (1949) and God Desired and Desiring (1957). Juan Ramón appears obsessed with the issue of poetic life, specifically the desire for transcendence in his work.

The Evolution of the 19th-Century Novel

There are three ways to understand the novel during the second half of the nineteenth century:

1. Pre-realism

This approach starts from a dual vision of society, politics, and morality, presenting a Manichaean society. These works are often known as thesis novels, as there is a preconceived idea the author wants to express, manipulating reality to clarify that thesis. Full realism is not yet achieved.

2. Realism

Realism is more objective and offers a broader view of reality. For this type of work, the definition given by the French novelist Stendhal is valid: a mirror that is passed along the way and reflects what is found.

• Topics: They are varied, reflecting the entirety of the era.
• Narrative Technique: These works present detailed, well-drawn descriptions with special attention to the setting. Likewise, the language conforms to the social rank of the character.

3. Naturalism

Naturalism is an evolution of the realistic style, as it conveys a vision of the most sordid and unpleasant aspects of life, while the expression becomes harder and grittier regarding society. The influence of Determinism is remarkable.