The Spanish Literary Movement: Generation of '27 Poets and Rhetoric

The Generation of '27: Poets, Themes, and Literary Context

Key Authors of the Generation of '27

Pedro Salinas (1892–1951)

• Early works aligned with the pure poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez, featuring abundant futurist elements.
• His poems reflect the anguish and inquietude caused by war.

Jorge Guillén (1893–1984)

• Maintained faith in life despite the world's difficulties.

Vicente Aleixandre (1898–1984)

• His poetry expressed a desire for fusion with nature, which he considered the only existing reality.

Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)

• Early books cover themes like love, pain, and frustration.
• Poems composed in the U.S. denounced capitalist society, which he saw as subordinate to money and power.
• A great dramatist who sought to renew Spanish theater through: puppet theater, avant-garde theater, and realistic theater.

Emilio Prados (1899–1962)

• Early works depict a contemplative poet seeking fusion with nature in a desire for eternity.

Rafael Alberti (1902–1999)

• Four distinct stages: initial books, the avant-garde period, poetry during the Republic, and the long period of exile.

Luis Cernuda (1902–1963)

• Key themes include loneliness, boredom, and the longing for a more habitable world.

Manuel Altolaguirre (1905–1959)

• Two periods: the first often lacks rhyme; the second uses classical verses, such as the sonnet.

Miguel Hernández (1910–1942)

• Themes focus on life and nature, utilizing classical verse and the sonnet.

Literary and Rhetorical Concepts

Stages of the Generation of '27

1. Youth Stage: Search for a unique poetic style.
2. Second Stage: Publication of the first important books.
3. Third Stage: Progressive rehumanization of poetics.

Surrealism: Focus on the Subconscious

Surrealists showed special interest in the subconscious, dreams, and aspects of human thought not subject to logic and reason. Surrealism aims to release thought from the shackles of logic and reason.

Rhetorical Argumentation Types

The following are types of arguments used in rhetoric:

• Factual Arguments: Based on facts, figures, or personal/anonymous examples.
• Rational Arguments: Relying on the logical relationship between two ideas; if one is accepted, the other must logically follow.
• Analogical Arguments: Based on finding similarities between two ideas; if one is accepted, the other is accepted due to shared similarity.
• Argument of Authority: Citing the words of a knowledgeable person in the field to support a thesis.

Grammatical Connectors (Links)

Common grammatical links and their functions:

• Causal Links: Because, since, as, that.
• Final Links (Purpose): So that, in order that, with a view to.
• Conditional Links: If, provided that, on the condition that.
• Concessive Links: Although, despite, even if.