Spanish Literature: Avant-Garde to Post-Franco Era

The Avant-Garde Movements

The avant-garde: A combination of movements that rejected traditional art forms and championed experimentation, adopting new themes and forms of expression. Key movements include:

• Literary Creationism: Sought to create an original reality within the work itself.
• Surrealism: Aimed to express the emotions and thoughts of the subconscious.

The New Novel of the Early Century

Key authors and works include:

• Marcel Proust (1871-1922): Author of In Search of Lost Time.
• Franz Kafka (1883-1924): Expressed the anguish of the human condition in novels like The Trial and The Metamorphosis.
• James Joyce (1882-1941): Wrote Ulysses, which transposes the plot of Homer's Odyssey to contemporary Dublin.

The Novecentismo

In the second decade of the 20th century, a group of writers emerged characterized by intellectualism, a pursuit of pure art, and a detachment from reality. This group is known as the Novecentismo. Key aspects include:

• A focus on intellectualism and Europeanism.
• A search for pure art, free from connections to reality.

The Novecentista Novel

Characterized by descriptive lyricism and the presence of essayistic passages. Works focused on reflection and description of characters and settings rather than action. Notable authors include:

• Gabriel Miró (1879-1930), author of Bishop Lepers and Our Father San Daniel.
• Ramón Pérez de Ayala (1880-1962), author of Belarmino and Apolonio and Tiger Juan.
• Ramón Gómez de la Serna (1888-1963), who introduced the avant-garde to Spain and created the greguerías.

The Novecentista Essay

Key essayists include:

• José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955), known for his ideas on the dehumanization of art.

The Generation of '27

This group is named to commemorate the tercentenary of the death of Luis de Góngora. These authors admired the poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez and the ideas of Ortega y Gasset. They incorporated new formal and thematic elements, blending the avant-garde with tradition. Key members include:

• Federico García Lorca
• Rafael Alberti
• Luis Cernuda
• Pedro Salinas
• Jorge Guillén
• Dámaso Alonso
• Gerardo Diego
• Vicente Aleixandre

Notable works include:

• Rafael Alberti (1902-1999): Marinero en tierra and Sobre los ángeles.
• Jorge Guillén (1893-1984): Cántico and Homenaje.

Literature During the Franco Regime (1939-1975)

The dictatorship established by Francisco Franco after the Civil War abruptly ended the so-called Silver Age. The 1940s saw the birth of social literature, addressing poverty, hunger, and inequality. The economic improvement of the 1960s led to a weariness with social literature and a search for new models. After Franco's death in 1975, authors continued to explore thematic renewal and formal experimentation.

Types of Poetry

• Rooted Poetry: Cultivated by authors like Leopoldo Panero and Luis Rosales, characterized by an optimistic tone.
• Uprooted Poetry: Expressed anguish and a sense of unease with life. Dámaso Alonso (Hijos de la ira) was a key figure.
• Social Poetry: Evolved from uprooted poetry, with Miguel Hernández as a precursor. Key authors include:
  • Blas de Otero (1916-1979), author of Pido la paz y la palabra.
  • Gabriel Celaya (1911-1991), author of La poesía es un arma cargada de futuro.
  • José Hierro (1922-2002), author of Tierra sin nosotros and Quinta del 42.

The Generation of '50

This group abandoned social poetry and appreciated a new group of poets, including Claudio Rodríguez, Jaime Gil de Biedma, José Ángel Valente, and Ángel González. They aimed to evoke memories and personal experiences.