Spanish Literature Evolution and Poets After the Civil War

Literature Since the Civil War

During the Civil War, an ideological propaganda literature dominated, in which literary quality was not the priority. Since the Civil War, literary evolution has been linked to a series of political and social transformations.

Key stages:

• Postwar Literature (1940s): Two orientations emerged: 1) Exaltation of the dominant ideas, and 2) Anxious reflection.
• Social Literature (1950s): Acceptance by international institutions and Spain's favored position fostered a certain ideological opening.
• Formal Renewal (1960s): Economic development brought about a change in customs and allowed the entry of foreign literary influences.
• Latest Trends (Since 1975): Authors began to speak freely, and different orientations emerged.

Miguel Hernandez

The main themes of Miguel Hernandez's poetry are love, death, and social commitment.

Poetic Career:

• Early Works: His production begins with Experto en Lunas (Baroque and avant-garde influence) and El Rayo que no Cesa (containing poems that express the suffering of unrequited love).
• Committed Poetry: Miguel Hernandez wrote about the dignity of people in the struggle and pessimism for death and war.
• Latest Poems: Written in jail, Cancionero y Romancero de Ausencias returns to the theme of love, now from the pain of absence.

Evolution of Lyrics Until 1975

Since the Civil War, the Spanish lyric evolved from Garcilaso and the rootlessness of the postwar period towards social poetry and formal renewal.

Jose Hierro

Jose Hierro follows two paths: The Story and Hallucinations.

• The Story: These are poems that reflect their time. They start from everyday situations or phrases.
• Hallucinations: Hallucinations create an unreal world, linking images with no apparent connection, and personifying things.

Latest Poetic Trends

Since 1975, the Spanish lyric has experienced abrupt breaks that do not involve the earlier poetic tradition.

Main Orientations:

• Experience Poetry: The poet contemplates their daily life, constructing reality, and incorporating personal feelings and meals.
• Neopurismo: These are short poems that tend to concentrate on the conceptual and invite suggestions.
• Other Trends: Poets pursue new ways of expression: narrative poems, the surreal world, impressionism, and the creation of cultural universes.