Latin American Literary Movements and Key Authors

Historical and Cultural Context of Latin American Literature

The literary landscape of Central and South America, alongside Spain, has been shaped by significant historical events:

• 1825: Independence movements across many Latin American nations.
• 1898: Independence of the last Spanish colonies.
• 20th Century: Characterized by military dictatorships, widespread poverty, and a persistent defense of cultural identity, often regardless of economic conditions.

Anti-Modernist Poetics: The Plain Language Movement

A significant stylistic shift emerged as a reaction against Modernism, advocating for plain, even simple colloquial language. Key figures in this movement include:

• Gabriela Mistral
• Alfonsina Storni
• Juana de Ibarbourou

Visual resources, such as Apollinaire diagrams, also influenced this period.

The Avant-Garde in Latin American Literature

The avant-garde movements fostered innovation and experimentation:

• Creationism: Emphasized responding to the creative impulse and the joy of inventing new forms.
• Ultraism: Focused on themes related to modern life, including contemporary activities and objects like machines and sports.
• Surrealism: Combined cutting-edge features with profound concerns and issues relevant to human experience.

Prominent Latin American Poets

César Vallejo

César Vallejo received significant critical recognition for his groundbreaking work. His notable works include:

• The Black Heralds
• Trilce

Vallejo's poetry broke with traditional synthesis, inventing words and employing a modernist aesthetic of language and poetic processing. For example, the title Trilce itself is a neologism, blending "sad" and "sweet."

Octavio Paz

Octavio Paz was influenced by literary traditions from Spain, India, and Japan. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990. His major works include:

• Libertad bajo palabra (Freedom Under Parole)
• The Salamander

Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971. His diverse body of work includes:

• Crepusculario
• Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair: These poems explore love as a theme of passion and drama.
• Canto General: A monumental tribute to America, its nature, and its people.
• Residence on Earth: A surrealist collection.
• Elementary Odes: In these works, the poet celebrates simple, everyday things.

Evolution of the Latin American Novel

1930s: The Realist Novel

The 1930s saw the rise of the realist novel, which aimed to depict the Latin American countryside and its wild, untamed nature.

1940s: Renewal and Magic Realism

The 1940s brought significant renewal to the novel, incorporating:

• Interior monologue
• Time jumps
• Multiple points of view

This period also saw the emergence of Magic Realism, where fantasy seamlessly merges with reality. Key works from this era include:

• Mr. President by Miguel Ángel Asturias
• The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier
• Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo

1960s: The Latin American Boom

The 1960s marked the "Boom" of Hispanic American narrative, characterized by its international diffusion and the prominence of magic realism. Seminal works include:

• Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar
• The City and the Dogs by Mario Vargas Llosa
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
• The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes

Post-1960s Authors

Notable authors who emerged after the 1960s include:

• Alfredo Bryce Echenique
• Isabel Allende

Notable Short Story Writers

The short story genre also flourished with masters such as:

• Jorge Luis Borges
• Julio Cortázar