Modernism, Naturalism, and Key Authors in Literature

Copulative Conjunctions

Y, E

Adversative Conjunctions

But, however

Explanatory Conjunctions

That is, namely

Alternative Conjunctions

O, U

Distributive Conjunctions

So, for instance, consequently

Modernism

Features

Modernism receives various influences:

• Parnassianism: Pursues the expression of beauty and formal perfection.
• Symbolism: Aims to find the true reality of things behind symbolism.

Key issues of Modernism:

• Recreating beautiful places and objects.
• Presenting sensations and emotions.
• An aristocratic rejection of reality.
• Evasion in space and time towards the past, distant, and exotic lands.
• Incorporating cultism and words chosen for their sound and ability to evoke feelings.
• Searching for musicality, recovering classical verse.

Rubén Darío

Born in Metapa, Nicaragua, his real name was Félix Rubén García Sarmiento. He started very young as a poet. He traveled to Chile and Argentina, where he learned about new European literary trends. He made several trips as a diplomat to America and Europe. He visited Spain twice, where he met Juan Ramón Jiménez and Valle-Inclán. He died in León, Nicaragua.

Key Works

• Azul (Blue)
• Prosas Profanas (Secular Prose)
• Cantos de Vida y Esperanza (Songs of Life and Hope)

Azul, composed of both verse and prose, includes short stories and poems. Prosas Profanas stands out for its metric and verbal innovation. Cantos de Vida y Esperanza signified a change in his literary approach.

Other Modernist Authors

• Manuel Antonio Machado
• Ramón María del Valle-Inclán
• Juan Ramón Jiménez

The Debate

An argumentative text in which two or more participants, led by a moderator, contrast their opinions or views on a topic.

Structure

• Presentation
• Body of Discussion
• Closure

Opinion Articles

Newspaper articles dealing with various topics: social, political, cultural, religious, etc.

The Column

A brief journalistic text that condenses information and tends towards a general reflection, as a minor argument compared to other newspaper articles and opinion pieces.

Naturalism

Features

• Application of scientific principles to literature, detailed observation.
• Determinism: Man is a result of genetic inheritance and social circumstances.
• Depiction of cruel aspects of reality and characters with defects.
• Harsh and sordid language.

Clarín (Leopoldo Alas)

Born in Zamora. He studied Law and earned a Ph.D. in Madrid. He was a law professor at the University of Zaragoza and then in Oviedo, where he developed his literary work. He wrote La Regenta.

Other Naturalist Authors

• Emilia Pardo Bazán
• Vicente Blasco Ibáñez