Romantic Literature: Key Characteristics and Authors

Romantic Literature

Romantic literature is a movement that developed in the first half of the nineteenth century, characterized by an eagerness for renewal and the defense of creative freedom.

Key Characteristics

• Freedom: Romantics rejected all forms of neoclassical limitation and believed in mingling genres freely, such as prose with poetry and comedy with tragedy.
• Love: For the romantic, life is meaningless without love. To reach their beloved, they were ready for anything.
• Nature: Romantics often preferred wild, untamed landscapes over the city.
• Mystery: Romantic works are frequently filled with disturbing, supernatural events.
• Escapism: Fleeing from the everyday, romantics recreated the past and distant countries.
• Popular Traditions: Romantics believed that every culture has a unique identity expressed through its folklore.

Romantic Poets

The lyric is the favorite literary genre of the romantics, as it best allows poets to express their deepest sentiments. The most important poets are José de Espronceda and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.

José de Espronceda

Educated in the neoclassical tradition, Espronceda later became a leading romantic figure. His most important works include El estudiante de Salamanca and El mundo de Adán.

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Bécquer is the most important romantic writer of the second half of the 19th century. He excelled as both a poet and a prose writer. In 1871, his friends published his famous collection, Rimas.

Romantic Prose Writers

The most notable prose writers were Mariano José de Larra and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.

Mariano José de Larra

Although he explored other genres such as novels and theater, Larra is famous for his journalistic work. He wrote three types of articles:

• Literary articles: Critical views on publications and theatrical releases.
• Political articles: Texts where the author engaged with current events, attacking or defending government actions.
• Customs articles: Descriptions of picturesque and traditional Spanish customs.

Bécquer's Legends

Bécquer's legends often lead to real places in Spanish geography where extraordinary events occur.

The Romantic Drama

Romantic drama rejects neoclassical Aristotelian unities. The content is intended not just to convey a message, but to excite the spectators.

• Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino: Written by the Duke of Rivas, this play depicts the struggle between love and social convention.
• Don Juan Tenorio: A famous play written in 1844 by José Zorrilla.