Spanish Literary Realism and Naturalism: Core Concepts

Realism: Philosophical and Cultural Foundations

The early Realism art movement began to dominate, heavily influenced by philosophical Positivism. For Positivism, reality is limited to perceived facts and empirical study; other forms of research are not considered empirical. During the second half of the century, Marxism also gained significant influence.

Main Features of Realistic Literature

• Observation and accurate description of reality.
• Focus on factual representation.
• Frequent purpose of social and political criticism.
• Simple and sober style, rejecting romantic rhetoric.
• Clarity and accuracy.
• Preference for the novel form.

Characteristics of the Realistic Novel

• Likelihood: Stories are based on everyday experiences.
• Individual or Collective Protagonists: Protagonists are connected to their contemporary social environment, offering an overview of society.
• Omniscient Narrator: The narrator fully controls the narrative, knowing future events and the characters' thoughts.
• Didacticism: Authors aimed to provide moral or social lessons through their novels.

Facts unfold along a linear structure, often accompanied by detailed descriptions and an approximation of colloquial language.

Naturalism: A Scientific Approach to Literature

Naturalism is a literary movement primarily driven by Émile Zola, who posited that literature should function as a science studying the social environment. It advocates for the scientific analysis of human behavior based on observation and experimentation. Naturalism posits that individuals are determined by biological and social factors.

Poetry in the Realist Period

Poetry during this period often had a moralizing tone, conventionally celebrating family and religious values. Three main poetic tendencies emerged:

Anti-Rhetorical Poetry

This lyrical, realist poetry employs anti-rhetorical language and prose to convey new ideas. Its main figure is Ramón de Campoamor.

Grand Realistic Poetry

This civic-minded poetry is concerned with societal construction and well-being. Its main representative is Gaspar Núñez de Arce.

Post-Romantic Intimate Poetry

With Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer as its central figure, this poetry sought to transcend Romantic rhetoric through formal simplification. Rosalía de Castro, alongside Bécquer, is a prominent figure in this intimate poetic style. Her poetry is deeply personal and expresses profound subjectivity.

Prose and the Realist Novel

Most prose writers of the era were involved in journalism. As the realist novel gained prominence, journalistic styles began to be replaced by narrative forms, particularly the short story. Another characteristic of the realist novel that emerged from these journalistic roots was the regional novel.

Among Spanish Realists, two main ideological groups emerged: conservatives or traditionalists, and liberals or progressives. This ideological opposition was evident in the portrayal of town and country. Each group presented distinct perspectives on these two settings. This led to the development of thesis novels, written by narrators from both sides to defend their respective ideologies.