Spanish Literary Movements: Generation of '27 and Magical Realism

The Generation of '27: Summary and Outline

(Unit 15 / 4)

Common Features of the Generation of '27

• Shared characteristics: Age, culture, ideology, and space.
• Admiration for Góngora.
• Synthesis of classic and modern elements.

Avant-garde Influences

• Metric freedom (free verse).
• Emphasis on sound and score (musicality).
• Use of metaphor.
• Illogical images (Surrealism).

Stages of the Generation of '27

1. Early Stage (Pre-1927): Pure poetry, dehumanized themes.
2. Stage of Rehumanization (1928–1936): Themes of anxiety and rebellion (influenced by Pablo Neruda).
3. Post-1936 Stage: Themes of exile and ethical and social concern.

Key Poetic Elements

• Irrational imagery.
• Free verse and blank verse.

Representative Authors and Themes

• Pedro Salinas: Love
• Jorge Guillén: Abstract concepts
• Gerardo Diego: The environment
• Federico García Lorca: The fatal/Tragedy
• Rafael Alberti: Social themes
• Luis Cernuda: Loneliness
• Vicente Aleixandre: Pessimism
• Dámaso Alonso: Anxiety
• Miguel Hernández: Death

The Literature of Isabel Allende

Biography of Isabel Allende Llona

Isabel Allende Llona (born Lima, August 2, 1942) is a renowned Chilean writer. She is considered the most popular Latin American novelist, having sold over 51 million copies. Her work has been translated into over 27 languages.

Key Work: The House of the Spirits

Magical Realism: Definition and Characteristics

Magical Realism is a literary and artistic genre that emerged in the mid-twentieth century.

Defining Magical Realism

The term was originally coined by the German art critic Franz Roh to describe painting that demonstrated an altered reality. It was later adopted by certain Latin American writers.

Magical Realism is defined by the stylistic concern and interest in presenting the unreal or strange as everyday and commonplace. While it is a magical literary expression, its primary purpose is not to arouse or express emotions, but rather to serve as an attitude towards reality itself.

Characteristics of Magical Realism

Themes

• Diversity of historic times.
• Essence of cultural miscegenation (mixing).
• Incorporation of values found in pre-Hispanic mythology.

Characters

Characters in works of this current often experience travel that is not just physical (unlike those suffered by characters in Criollista works, for example). Instead, they change space and time through their thoughts and dream states.

Time Structures

Four primary approaches to time are found in Magical Realism:

1. Chronological Time: Actions follow the logical course of time.
2. Rupture of Time Planes: A mixture of present tense with past tense (regressions) and future time (advances).
3. Static Time: Chronological time is halted; it is as if time does not transcend.
4. Subjective Time Perception: This is the most contradictory structure, where time units are distorted, for example, considering the night a day, as seen in phrases like:
   • "It was the dawn"
   • "It was night"