Literary Movements: Enlightenment, Realism, and the Shift in Narrative

The Enlightenment: Reason, Progress, and Empiricism

The Enlightenment was a movement that extolled reason and critical thinking and promoted the idea of progress. It had philosophical overtones of rational empiricism and was framed in a century marked by scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and important political and social change.

Critical qualities and the egalitarian spirit of all men—ideals reflected in the motto of the French Revolution—were central. In literature, this era saw:

• Encyclopedic works.
• Travel narratives.
• Texts focused on human behavior and customs, aiming to discover and characterize knowledge.

During this epoch, scientific academies and societies were created.

The 18th-Century Chronicler and Social Satire

This figure is one of the most representative literary figures of the 18th century. The core of his work is a kind of annotated diary and satire spanning sixty volumes. He strove to record events that occurred around him, taking notes directly in the field, much like a journalist today.

It is written in a colloquial language full of Castilianisms that reflects the popular speech of Barcelona at that time. This work has a lasting value, providing a historic overview of 18th-century everyday life.

Customs Narrative (Costumbrismo)

Customs narrative meant the discovery of fictional reality as subject matter. The process of industrialization led to a series of transformations affecting different areas of society during this era. Authors were aware they lived in a world about to disappear.

Their descriptive interest focused on the surface of everyday scenes and typified life in neighborhoods or rural settings.

Realism: The 19th-Century Literary Reaction

Realism appeared in Europe in the 19th century as a reaction against Romanticism. The movement was based on the scientific knowledge and reason typical of the time, rejecting the need to escape reality and moving far from rhetoric.

The main purpose of Realism was to describe reality accurately. Reality, according to this movement, is what the author knows and can describe accurately.

Naturalism's Impact on Literature

Naturalism transformed literature.

Shifts in Chivalric Novel Structure

Realistic Chivalric Novels

These are not traditional books of chivalry. The protagonist is a knight, still strong and courageous, but possessing a human dimension. His actions proceed in a logical manner, without the intervention of miracles, wonderful, or magical elements. These novels were inspired by the verisimilitude of real life of the era.

Traditional Chivalric Romances

These narratives recount the adventures and exploits of a knight-errant of exaggerated value and strength. The action always takes place in distant and exotic locations, often in ancient times, featuring improbable characters, which produced an environment of fantasy and dream.