Machado's Tribute to Federico García Lorca

Analysis of The Crime Was in Granada

The Crime Was in Granada is a text that may be related to the literary movement mentioned above, as the author criticizes the social environment in which they live. The topic discussed in the text is that of death, which some would say is the main character. Although Machado speaks in different ways about death throughout his works, this poem specifically addresses the death of his friend and colleague, Federico García Lorca. His thoughts about death are the logical derivation of his concerns about time, which he regarded as the great destroyer of life.

Poetic Evolution and the Civil War

This poem is a perfect example of the poetry from the last stage of the poet's life, which is more devoid of modernist decorations and was deeply influenced by the Spanish Civil War.

Symbols of Life

The symbols used by Machado in this poem are water, power, and light, which serve as symbols of life in his poetry.

Metrics and Structure

With regard to the literary text, the poem features assonance rhyme and combines heptasyllabic verses (seven syllables) with heroic hendecasyllabic verses (eleven syllables). Therefore, it is a silva arromanzada, one of the metric forms frequently used by Machado. This type of metric is very common in Spanish poetry.

Stylistic Devices and Personification

Its most important stylistic devices are metaphors and personifications. Such resources can be seen when he writes, "about a source where the water cries, and endlessly says." This is recognized as a personification because water does not speak or cry; these lines are found in verses five and six. The crying and flowing water in the poem suggest that Machado promises and calls for a life for Lorca, especially if we consider that flowing water is the author's poetic symbol of life.

Grammar and Linguistic Style

The verb tense used by the author in this poem, such as "saw" in the indicative mood, indicates the text's objectivity and a third-person perspective, though there are also imperatives like the presence of "style." As far as the poem's pace is concerned, it is slow and utilizes a nominal style because there are many nouns and specified adjectives, which also provide great detail to the poem.

Lexicon and Semantic Fields

The use of a popular lexicon is present in the text, indicating that Machado does not give much importance to the recovery of archaic or rural vocabulary. Referring to the semantic field, one can see specific areas or places such as:

• Alhambra
• Source
• Granada

Literal and Connotative Language

Finally, Machado uses language that clearly demonstrates he employs words in a literal sense. However, you can also appreciate the connotative use of language in the symbols and personifications previously explained.