Neopopularismo and the Generation of '27: Key Poets and Works

Neopopularismo: Traditional Spanish Lyric Influence

Neopopularismo is characterized by the use of brief compositions, short verses with choruses, and great lyrical intensity achieved through repetition, parallelism, and the elimination of superficial elements. Representative works include Marinero en tierra, The Lover and the Dawn of Dust by Rafael Alberti, and Gypsy Ballads by Federico García Lorca.

Key Works

• Marinero en tierra (1925): Rafael Alberti received the National Prize for Literature for this work, which expresses nostalgia for the poetic voice having to abandon their home to live inland. It reflects the lost paradise of childhood, the sea of Cádiz, and freedom.
• Gypsy Ballads (1928): A collection of eighteen romances focusing on the Roma people, who were socially marginalized. These characters are dominated by dissatisfaction, love, and death.

Rafael Alberti (1902–1999)

Born in Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Alberti's work evolved significantly:

• Surrealism: Seen in Sobre los ángeles (1928).
• Civic and Social Concerns: Evident in works such as Street Poet (1924–1934).
• Exile: His production in exile includes Among the Lost and Spain Evokes the Carnation and the Sword (1941).

Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)

Born in Fuente Vaqueros, Granada, Lorca blended popular literature with Andalusian literary traditions:

• Revitalization of Tradition: Incorporation of surrealism in A Poet in New York (1929).
• Search for Equilibrium: Notable works include Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías (1935), Divan of Tamarit (1940), and Sonnets of Dark Love (1986).

Classical Influence and Pure Poetry

The influence of classical Spanish poets like Góngora and Bécquer, alongside Juan Ramón Jiménez, shaped the era. Poets utilized traditional forms such as the hendecasyllable, the tenth, the eighth, and the sonnet.

Key Influences

• Bécquer: His presence is felt in the love poetry of Pedro Salinas.
• Pure Poetry: Juan Ramón Jiménez influenced the works of Jorge Guillén and Dámaso Alonso.
• Pedro Salinas: His trilogy—Voice Due to You, Reason for Love, and Long Lament—explores the meaning of existence and the self.
• Jorge Guillén: His work Canticle exalts the joy of existence, everyday objects, and the perfection of nature.

Pedro Salinas (1881–1951)

Born in Madrid, Salinas's career is divided into three stages:

1. Avant-garde Influence: Seguro azar (1929) and Fable and Sign (1931).
2. Great Production: Voice Due to You (1931), Reason for Love (1936), and Long Lament (1939).
3. Exile: Reflections on human existence in The Contemplated (1946), All Clear (1949), and Confidence (1955).

Jorge Guillén (1893–1984)

Born in Valladolid, Guillén was an academic who went into exile in the U.S. After Franco's death, he settled in Málaga and received the Cervantes Prize in 1967. He conceived his work as a unified whole composed of Air Our Song, Clamor, and Tribute.