Spanish Literary Realism and Modernism: Key Authors and Characteristics

Spanish Literary Movements: Realism

Realism: It was a new way of narrating that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century.

General Features of Realism

• Reflection of Life: Sought to reflect contemporary everyday life.
• Characters: The characters belong to the middle class (bourgeoisie), and the author usually delves into psychological aspects.
• Narrative Technique: The narrative technique generally presents an omniscient, third-person narrator.

Benito Pérez Galdós

Galdós is characterized by his openness to irrational elements, as well as by a sharp, Cervantine wit.

Narrative Techniques Used by Galdós

1. Frequent dialogues reflect the everyday speech of the time.
2. Use of free indirect style, which allows capturing the thoughts of the character in the third person.

Galdós's Novels

Galdós's works are often categorized into:

• Thesis Novels
• Contemporary Novels
• Spiritual Novels

Leopoldo Alas "Clarín"

Clarín is primarily known for his masterpiece, La Regenta.

Structure of La Regenta

The novel is divided into two main parts:

Chapters I–XV

Presents the setting in which the action takes place and introduces the different characters.

Chapters XVI–XXX

Takes up the narrative thread and dominates the action.

Spanish Literary Movements: Modernism

Modernism: The literary movement characteristic of the Hispanic sphere, linked to the end of the 19th century (fin de siècle).

Rubén Darío: Leading Representative

Key characteristics associated with Darío and Modernism:

1. Rejects the present.
2. Expresses boredom, melancholy, anxiety, or vital dissatisfaction due to the meaninglessness of existence.
3. Frequent use of symbolism.
4. Importance of eroticism and sensuality.
5. Renewal of poetic language.

Antonio Machado

The most important works are Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas and Campos de Castilla.

Sections of Campos de Castilla

Campos de Castilla consists of different sections:

• A series of narrative poems.
• A long narrative poem.
• A collection of short poems.
• A cycle of compositions in which the poet recalls excitedly his wife, Leonor.

Juan Ramón Jiménez (JRJ)

JRJ is considered the bridge between Modernism and the Generation of '27.

Stages of Juan Ramón Jiménez's Poetry

His poetic output is generally divided into three stages:

Modernist Poetry

Poems from this first stage typically express Modernist moods.

Pure Poetry

In these works, the author postulates the existence of two planes of reality: the material reality (perishable appearances) and an invisible reality (immutable, essential) that the poet must name and discover.

Last Book Stage

In these compositions, the poet senses the arrival of death.