Realism and Naturalism in 19th Century Spanish Novels

Realism in 19th Century Novels

Realism in the nineteenth-century novel: It was an artistic movement that aimed to represent reality as faithfully and realistically as possible. It originated in France with writers such as Balzac, Stendhal, and Flaubert, as well as Dickens and Tolstoy. In Spain, it emerged after the Glorious Revolution and reached its peak in the 1880s, influenced by the Romantic genre.

Narrative Techniques

Observation of reality and a nearly scientific approach were used to extract necessary documentation. Accurate descriptions of the environment and the characters' nature were employed to lend credibility to the story. Objective narration, usually in the third person, was used, with the narrator acting as an omniscient witness to the characters' vicissitudes and behavior. An austere style and language were used by the narrator, presenting no difficulty to the reader while reflecting the speech of different social groups.

Key Authors and Works

• Juan Valera: Pepita Jiménez, Juanita la Larga, Doña Luz, Morsamor
• Pereda: Peñas arriba, Sotileza, El sabor de la tierruca, Pedro Sánchez
• Galdós:

Galdós' Novels

The National Episodes

Thesis Novels

La audaz, La familia de León Roch and especially Doña Perfecta.

Contemporary Novels

La desheredada, El amigo Manso, Fortunata y Jacinta, Miau, Tormento, La de Bringas and Tristana.

Spiritual and Symbolic Novels

Torquemada, Nazarin, and El abuelo.

Leopoldo Alas Clarín

Highlights include a collection of articles (Solos de Clarín), tales and short stories such as ¡Adiós, Cordera!, Doña Berta, but especially La Regenta and Su único hijo. La Regenta is the story of adultery.

Naturalism

(Zola)

Naturalism aimed to describe and analyze human beings as determined by their environment, historical moment, and biological inheritance. In Spain, biological determinism was rejected, and free will was emphasized. Humor was incorporated, along with naturalistic themes and techniques: detailed and documented descriptions, less intervention by the narrator, a greater presence of the characters' words and thoughts, and the influence of the environment, from the physiological, educational, and familial aspects.

Emilia Pardo Bazán

La Tribuna, Los Pazos de Ulloa, Madre Naturaleza, Insolación, and La Quimera.

Blasco Ibáñez

Thesis Novels: La araña negra. Regional Cycles: Arroz y tartana, La barraca, Cañas y barro. Literature for the public's interest: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.