Key Spanish Literary Movements: Modernism to Vanguards

Modernism: A Will for Change

In the late nineteenth century, dissatisfaction arose among young people. That desire for change presented two options: Modernism or the Generation of '98.

French Influences

• Parnassianism

  The name comes from the title of an anthology published by a diverse group of poets. These authors advocated the concept of "art for art's sake."

• Symbolism

  It sought to reflect feelings and emotions.

• Impressionism

  In literature, the style presents terms of commonality through a succession of isolated observations.

Modernism: Primacy of Beauty

• The Lexicon

  Employs types of words that bring beauty and strangeness.

• The Metric

  Renews traditional forms; unusual lines are used.

• The Style

  It is clear in newspaper articles and novels.

• Scenarios

  They are exotic and unreal.

The Generation of '98

Themes and Style

Concern in Spain about its decline, alongside an interest in the landscape.

• History

  Their study sought the discovery of Spanish values and the roots of present-day problems.

• Literature

  They admired the Poem of the Cid, Berceo, and classic Cervantes.

Literary Genres

• The Essay

  This genre expressed doctrines arising from Spanish life around the Disaster of '98.

• The Novel

  It became more subjective and impressionistic.

• The Lyrical

  The most important author was Antonio Machado. Unamuno, in turn, wrote poetry difficult to categorize.

• The Theater

  Miguel de Unamuno, Azorín, and Valle-Inclán's works were relegated to the pages of books, valued only by an educated minority.

The Generation of '27

The Generation of '27 refers to a group of poets who shared certain characteristics. The authors in this group maintained a very close personal relationship, centered around the Residencia de Estudiantes and the Free Institution of Learning.

This generation includes Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, Gerardo Diego, among others.

Traditional forms of Castilian poetry were recovered.

Evolution and Stages

1. Period of exploration by young people trying to break with Modernism and impose Ultraism and Creationism.
2. Stage of pure poetry, coinciding with the centenary of Góngora.
3. Surrealism begins, and human and social issues were preferred.
4. Following the Civil War, some poets were murdered, others went into exile, and others remained in Spain.
5. Global success was achieved by these poets, including one representative, Vicente Aleixandre, who won the Nobel Prize in 1977.

Literary Vanguards

Vanguards refers to the movement that broke with traditional art forms and renewed literature.

• Futurism

  Appeared in 1909, founded by Marinetti, who stated that art should reflect the attitude toward life.

• Cubism

  Originated in painting (Apollinaire).

• Dadaism

  Emerged in 1916, created by Tristan Tzara.

• Surrealism

  It is the most important avant-garde movement and the only one that survived.