Miguel Hernández and Spanish Poetry Evolution (1936-1975)

Miguel Hernández

The poetry of Miguel Hernández is defined by profound themes of love, death, pain, and deep social and political commitment. As a pivotal figure, he befriended the poets of the Generation of '27, exerting a decisive influence on the literary landscape.

When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Hernández enlisted in the Republican army, traveling to various fronts to recite poems and plays. Following the war, he was imprisoned.

Poetic Career

Early Works

His early writing shows the influence of Baroque and avant-garde styles, exploring unrequited love through surreal images and symbols.

Committed Poetry

Hernández wrote about the dignity of people in struggle, creating songs of exaltation and praise, while also expressing deep pessimism regarding the horrors of war.

Last Poems

His final works revisit themes of love, the pain of separation from his wife and child, and the lack of freedom. This intense emotion is expressed through neopopularismo resources.

Evolution of Spanish Poetry Until 1975

Since the Civil War, Spanish poetry evolved from the traditionalism of Garcilaso and the "rootedness" of postwar poetry toward significant social and formal innovation.

Main Stages of Postwar Poetry

• Rooted Poetry: Focused on love, nature, religion, and the exaltation of the country.
• Uprooted Poetry: Characterized by pain and suffering, expressed through highly subjective free verse.
• Social Poetry: Served as a witness to the reality of the era. Poets discussed the situation in Spain, solidarity, the fight for freedom, and social injustice using simple, colloquial language. Key figures include Blas de Otero (Pido la paz y la palabra) and José Hierro (Cuanto sé de mí).
• Poetry for Social Renewal: In the 1960s, a formal and thematic renewal occurred, regarding poetry as an act of knowledge. By the end of the decade, a new generation of poets incorporated modern language from cinema, comics, and television.

José Hierro

In his work, José Hierro—a recipient of the Cervantes Prize—follows two distinct paths: the reportaje (reportage) and alucinaciones (hallucinations).

Key Themes

• Reportage: Poems that reflect his time, everyday situations, or common phrases.
• Hallucinations: Works that create an unreal world, rich in subjectivity.