Realism, Naturalism and Modernism in 19th Century Literature

Realism and Naturalism in the 19th Century

During the second half of the 19th century, two new literary movements emerged: Realism and Naturalism. These were driven by the consolidation of the bourgeoisie, the emergence of proletarian movements, and industrialization. Both movements aimed to expose the social reality of the time objectively.

Key Features of Realism

The main features of Realism include:

• Plausible arguments.
• Scientific analysis of reality.
• Critique of social vices and evils.
• Psychological interest in individual problems.
• Simplicity of existential style.

Naturalism and Its Differences

Naturalism, unlike Realism, considers that individual life and conduct are conditioned by genetic inheritance and the social environment. In Spain, authors accepted the literary techniques of Naturalism but rejected its theoretical underpinnings, as they were opposed to Catholicism.

Commonalities Between Realism and Naturalism

• Use of an omniscient third-person narrator.
• Setting in immediate reality.
• Use of language as a tool for social criticism.
• Realism: Characters are typically bourgeois or middle class.
• Naturalism: Protagonists are often workers or individuals living in marginal environmental conditions.

Major Themes

Both movements recreate the rural and urban worlds through their narratives.

Modernism: Aesthetics and Symbolism

Modernism is an aesthetic movement influenced by Parnassianism and Symbolism. It seeks new topics, moving away from Naturalist themes toward the mysterious, the exotic, and the oriental.

Frequent Themes in Modernism

• Time, sleep, loneliness, and disappointment.
• Love, performance, and sensuality.
• Evasion, cosmopolitanism, and existential angst.
• The Indian and Hispanic identity.

Lyric Style and Metrics

Lyric poetry was the preferred medium for Modernists. They utilized:

• Metrics: Sonnets, ballads, silvas, hendecasyllables, dodecasyllables, and Alexandrines.
• Rhyme: Alternating assonant and consonant rhymes, as well as internal monorhymes.
• Musicality: Rhythm and rhyme were used to create sound effects through verse accents.
• Style: Characterized by rich vocabulary, abundant adjectives, synesthesia, hyperbaton, alliteration, and metaphors.

Notable Authors

Key figures include:

• Rubén Darío: Azul, Prosas profanas, and Cantos de vida y esperanza.
• Manuel Machado: Apolo and Cante hondo.