Literary Movements: Dialogue, Jovellanos, Romanticism and Realism

Dialogue

Dialogue is the reproduction of a conversation between two or more persons. It expresses thoughts and relates events. Highlights include literary dialogue or theatrical narration, while non-literary dialogue is best represented by the interview.

Jovellanos

His best-known works include tragedy plays such as El Pelayo or the comedy The Offender Honored. Most of his writings were political and legal reports aimed at carrying out major reforms:

• Reports on Public Entertainment: Advocates for theater reform to make it an entertaining, useful, and educational show.
• Reports on Public Education: Argues that culture should be free, open, and accessible.
• Reports on the Farm Bill: Attempted to apply economic ideas circulating in Europe to the Spanish reality.

Romanticism

A literary movement that dominated European literature from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century. It is characterized by its focus on imagination, subjectivity, freedom of thought, and the idealization of nature.

The term romantic was first used in England in the 17th century to denigrate the fantastic elements of chivalric romances.

Features of Romanticism

• Rejection of reality and escape through imagination.
• Analysis of privacy.
• Importance of landscape and environments.
• Claim of popular and national elements.
• Creative freedom.

Realism

Realism marked a break with Romanticism in both ideological and formal aspects. Writers shifted their focus from the self to society, objectively observing and describing social problems. They aimed to accurately reflect reality, primarily through the novel, using a simpler, sober, and precise style that incorporated colloquial speech and dialogue.

Key Realist Authors and Works

• Pedro Antonio de Alarcón: The Three-Cornered Hat, The Scandal
• Juan Valera: Pepita Jiménez, Juanita la Larga
• José María de Pereda: Sotileza, Peñas Arriba
• Benito Pérez Galdós: National Episodes, Doña Perfecta, Fortunata and Jacinta
• Leopoldo Alas 'Clarín': La Regenta, His Only Son
• Blasco Ibáñez: Rice and Tartan, Cañas y Barro