Spanish Literature: Novecento, Avant-Garde and Generation of '27

Novecento: A New Literary Era

Young writers of the period considered Modernism old-fashioned, while rejecting the dramatic and castizo style of the Generation of '98. The Noucentista movement is characterized by the following features:

• Europe: Europe embodies the values of rationality and modernity.
• Anti-romanticism: Writers prioritized a sense of balance over the sensitivity and emotions of previous generations.
• Artistic Purity: Writers rejected the superficiality of Modernism and the passion of the '98 generation.
• Intellectual Rigor: Writers were professionals with sound academic backgrounds, moving away from the bohemian café culture.

The Avant-Garde Movement

The Avant-garde emerged in Spain around 1920 as a result of two trends: the internal evolution of Spanish poetry and the influence of European contributions. These artists provocatively rebelled against the sentimentalism and rationalism of previous generations, though they lacked a homogeneous program.

The Generation of '27

Named after the tribute to Luis de Góngora held by a group of poets in 1927, this generation is defined by these key features:

• Heterogeneity: These poets differed greatly in inspiration and style, yet formed a cohesive group through personal friendships.
• Experimentalism: They were great innovators in poetic language, utilizing three main models:
  • The free play of images with enigmatic meanings.
  • Neopopularismo: A fusion of modernism with shapes inspired by popular poetry.
  • Classical experiments: Fusing traditional Spanish poetic forms.
• Dehumanization and Artistic Purity: Poetry became a vehicle for free creation of imaginary worlds rather than just expressing personal anecdotes like love or loneliness.

Key Authors of the Generation of '27

• Pedro Salinas: La voz a ti debida
• Jorge Guillén: Cántico
• Gerardo Diego: Alondra de verdad
• Vicente Aleixandre: La destrucción o el amor
• Federico García Lorca: The House of Bernarda Alba
• Rafael Alberti: Sobre los ángeles
• Luis Cernuda: La realidad y el deseo