Rubén Darío and the Literary Foundations of Modernism

Literary Foundations of Modernism

The literary movement known as Modernism (*Modernismo*) took various influences as its reference points.

Parnassianism

Born in France in the nineteenth century, Parnassianism owes its name to the magazine Le Parnasse contemporain. Its teacher and initiator was Théophile Gautier.

Characteristics of Parnassianism

• Style: Cult of formal perfection and preference for a poem submitted to strict meter.
• Themes: Contempt for sentimentality and preference for incorporating classical mythology.

Symbolism

The birth date of this school is generally considered 1886. This movement begins with the influence of Charles Baudelaire.

Characteristics of Symbolism

• Style: While maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the lines, it uses a less rigid rhythm than Parnassianism, focusing more on the psychological.
• Themes: Vision of the world as a network of secret symbols and hidden realities that the poet must discover and display.

Other Influences on Modernism

The syncretic spirit of Modernism hosted many influences, including:

• Pre-Raphaelite Movement: Appreciation of the values of this English artistic movement.
• Philosophical Writers: Influenced by thinkers like Arthur Schopenhauer.
• Spanish Mysticism: A return to the Spanish mystic yearning.

Themes and Style of Modernism

Key Modernist Themes

Modernist poets expressed a profound rejection toward vulgar and conventional reality.

• Evasion: Recreation of aristocratic and pagan settings, allowing the translation of an ideal haven in space and in time.
• Sensuality and Eroticism: Expression of instincts and passions, often manifested while attempting to conceal them from prevailing morality.
• The Woman: Forced incorporation into poems as literary incarnations of what is considered the "eternal feminine."
• Mythology: Superficial treatment of deities from different cultures.
• Social Interest: Interest in and confrontation with the bourgeoisie.

Modernist Style

• Phonetic Resources: Use of alliteration and strongly marked rhythm and accents.
• Lexicon: Use of foreign words and cultismos (learned words).
• Syntax: Impressionistic syntax, often using simple sentences and enumerating features using two adjectives.
• Synesthesia: Search for correlation between the sensible and the intelligible.
• Metrics: Frequent use of the sonnet and verses of varying length.

Rubén Darío: Life and Literary Career

Biography of Félix Rubén García Sarmiento

Félix Rubén García Sarmiento (Rubén Darío) was born in Metapa in 1867 and died in León in 1916. He lived in several Latin American countries, Spain, and France, serving as an ambassador, correspondent, and literary figure.

Major Works of Rubén Darío

Darío's training covered a wide range of authors, from his admired Victor Hugo to Parnassian and French Symbolist poets.

• Epístolas y poemas (1885): Early work where Romantic influence (e.g., Campoamor) is evident.
• Abrojos (Thistles): Represents a balance between classicism and romanticism; short poems expressing the poet's suffering.
• Prosas Profanas (Profane Prose): Embodies the fullness of formal Modernism.
• Cantos de vida y esperanza (Songs of Life and Hope) (1905): A more reflective work containing deeper symbolism. It introduces new themes, such as the defense of Hispanic American cultural values against external pressures.
• Poema de otoño (Autumn Poem) (1910): Written in a brooding tone and simple style, the author reflects on eroticism and death.

Darío also produced abundant prose work, including collections of newspaper reports, comments on his own creation, and novels.