Literary Modernism in Spain: Poetic Transformations

Modernism in Spanish Poetry (Up to 1915)

The Modernist movement marks the development of lyric poetry up to approximately 1915. Its initiator was Rubén Darío. Modernism synthesizes the influences of two French movements: Parnassianism and Symbolism. Darío's career reflects the movement's evolution: from formal brilliance and sophisticated, elusive subjects to greater intimacy and deeper reflection on American themes.

Key Figures in Spanish Modernist Poetry

Spanish Modernist poetry was more Symbolist than Parnassian. Its main representatives include:

• Eduardo Marquina
• Francisco Villaespesa
• Manuel Machado: He combined a French-influenced style with Andalusian folk themes and reflections, often frivolous, disillusioned, and somewhat skeptical. His notable works include Alma, Cante hondo, and Ars moriendi.

Other Influential Spanish Modernists

Other significant figures of this movement in Spain adopted Modernism in a nuanced way during its early stages and later moved away from it. These include:

• Antonio Machado
• Ramón del Valle-Inclán (known for his Sonatas)
• Juan Ramón Jiménez (though more commonly associated with Noucentisme)

Antonio Machado's Poetic Evolution

The poetry of Antonio Machado is divided into three distinct stages:

1. Machado's Early Poetic Stage

   In his first stage (e.g., Soledades, Galerías. Otros poemas), Machado practiced a nuanced, intimate Modernism, influenced by Symbolism and Bécquer, often employing inner monologue. The basic themes include the experience of time, associated with sleep, childhood memories, and the search for God and love. His language is simple, with sparse adjectives and subtle imagery, preferring varied metrics, assonance, and arte menor (short verse).

2. Machado's Castilian Period

   The second stage (Campos de Castilla) reflects his identification, though not without criticism, with the landscape and people of Soria and Castile. His ethical and social concerns align closely with the Generation of '98.

3. Machado's Later Philosophical Works

   The third period (Nuevas Canciones) shows a certain decline in poetic output, commensurate with his growing philosophical concerns, often expressed in Proverbios y Cantares. In his later years, besides Canciones a Guiomar and the Poetry of War (republished due to his commitment to the Republican cause), his most prominent work was Juan de Mairena.

Miguel de Unamuno: Beyond Modernism

Miguel de Unamuno, a prominent member of the Generation of '98, completely escaped Modernist influence. He wrote poetry more concerned with content than form, not disdaining traditional forms like the romance or the sonnet. His sincere and tender poems revolve around the immortality of the soul (including themes of death, God, and identity) and the essence of Spain and the Spanish people. Notable works include El Cristo de Velázquez and Cancionero.

Juan Ramón Jiménez: Early Poetic Stages

Juan Ramón Jiménez is usually studied within Noucentisme. Here, we will focus on his first stage, classified as 'sensitive' (Arias tristes). This period covers topics such as nature, solitude, or identity, expressed with symbolic language, a melancholy tone, and a preference for octosyllable verse. Later, in works like La soledad sonora, he adopted a more refined Modernism, predominantly using Alexandrine verse.