Spanish Novel Evolution: Postwar Eras and Literary Forms

Understanding Literary Concepts and Spanish Postwar Novel

Key Literary Definitions

• Context: The set of words that precede or follow a text word or phrase, influencing its meaning.
• Location: The set of circumstances in which a language message is issued, affecting the determination of its meaning.

The Spanish Novel: Evolution and Characteristics

The novel is the literary genre that has most stood out in recent decades. Spanish narrators were divided into two groups: those in exile and those on the mainland. Among the authors in exile, the predominant theme was the Civil War and its aftermath. The novel evolves over decades, similar to the progression of other genres, with authors like Miguel Delibes and Carmen Martín Gaite.

The Novel in the 1940s

The thematic and aesthetic renovation introduced by this novel was confirmed with the appearance of others which, with the same pessimistic tone, detailed personal reflections about existence. Notable novels include: Nada (1944) by Carmen Laforet.

The Novel in the 1950s

Narrators shifted from personal concerns to collective ones. The social realism movement was initiated in Spain, bringing together the most important works of these years. Examples include: El Jarama by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio, Entre visillos by Carmen Martín Gaite, and Pequeño teatro by Ana María Matute. The style is characterized by great simplicity of expression, and the viewpoint is subjective, reflecting on what is seen, sometimes offering an objective opinion.

The Novel in the 1960s

This period marked a renewal in the style of Spanish authors, who began using non-traditional narrative techniques such as the combination of interior monologue or different perspectives on the same story. Some of the most representative works of this period, known as experimental, include: Señas de identidad by Juan Goytisolo and Últimas tardes con Teresa by Juan Marsé.

The Novel from the 1970s to the Present

The novel La verdad sobre el caso Savolta marks a return to the traditional novel. The Spanish narrative scene presents a variety of themes and styles, including: thriller, fantasy novel, and experimental novel. Spanish narrative has many representatives, from the early postwar years to the present.

Prominent Spanish Novelists

Camilo José Cela (1916-2002)

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1989, his novels showcase lexical richness, characteristic black humor, and accuracy in character portrayal. There are different moments in the Spanish novel: existentialism, social realism, and experimentalism. Camilo José Cela's most representative novel, La colmena, is situated in the period of social realism.

Miguel Delibes (1920-2010)

The main characteristic of this author's style is simplicity and clarity of expression. His works predominantly feature rural environments and characters lacking resources. Miguel Delibes explored several stages of the Spanish novel:

• El camino is situated in social realism.
• Cinco horas con Mario in experimentalism.
• El hereje is a historical novel.

Other Literary Forms

Argumentative Text

Scientific Argumentation: Aims to prove, defend, or refute a thesis or argument with solid reasoning. Argumentative text is usually accompanied by an exposition that presents the subject to be discussed.

The Essay

The essay is a short prose piece where the author, in a pleasant way, expresses their personal and subjective view on various topics. The essay is a literary genre with an educational and interpretive purpose.