Literary Evolution of Aleixandre, Alberti, and Jiménez

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Vicente Aleixandre: Surrealism and Poetic Stages

Vicente Aleixandre brought Surrealism to its highest aesthetic level in world literature. His poetic career is divided into three distinct phases:

  • Surrealist Phase: Defined by works such as Swords as Lips and Destruction or Love.
  • Memory Phase: Sombra del Paraíso reflects on childhood and the years preceding the Civil War, concluding with History of the Heart.
  • Final Phase: Characterized by meditation on old age, the passage of time, and a retrospective vision of life.

Rafael Alberti: From Painting to Political Poetry

Rafael Alberti was born in Cádiz but moved to Madrid at age 15. Initially dedicated to painting, he turned to poetry after falling ill and discovering classic poets. During the Civil War, he supported the Republic, leading to exile before his eventual return to democracy.

His literary evolution includes:

  • Popular Lyrics: Works such as Sailor on Land.
  • Avant-garde and Surrealism: Concerning the Angels, which captures his internal crisis of ideas and feelings.
  • Political Poetry: Works where he prioritized addressing the political problems of the time over aesthetic quality.

Juan Ramón Jiménez: The Obsessive Poetic Vocation

Juan Ramón Jiménez possessed an obsessive and exclusive talent for language. His career was shaped by three major influences:

  1. The sudden death of his father, which instilled an obsessive fear of death and a desire for immortality.
  2. A sensitive character that fostered resentment toward those who did not appreciate his work.
  3. His mastery as a prose writer, most notably in Platero and I.

The First Period

Characterized by great inspiration, romanticism, and modernist formal perfection used to express melancholy, loneliness, and dreams. Estío marks his transition toward simplicity.

Age of Creative Fullness

In 1916, during a boat journey to New York to marry Zenobia, he entered a stage of "naked poetry," focusing on expressing feelings in an easy and concise manner.

American Stage

At the start of the Civil War, Jiménez and Zenobia moved to the USA. There, he wrote Animal of Depth, showcasing a more hermetic style.

Final Years

He wrote Space, a poem utilizing free association to surface memories and sensations. His final book, God Desired and Desiring, was a declaration of love for his ailing wife, Zenobia.

Style

His writing is defined by the use of abstract terms, detailed sensations, beautifying adjectives, and the perfect application of synesthesia.

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