Spanish Literature: Novecento, Vanguardism, and the Generation of '27

Novecento: The New Intellectual Movement

Novecento represents a Spanish intellectual movement where authors prioritize form and the pursuit of pure art. Key aspects include:

• Essay: The most cultivated genre. José Ortega y Gasset, known for his clear and careful style, explored diverse topics such as art, daily life, and the dehumanization of art.
• Novel: Authors moved away from sentimentality to focus on reality. Notable works include Gabriel Miró's El obispo leproso and Ramón Pérez de Ayala's Tigre Juan.
• Poetry: A departure from Modernism. Juan Ramón Jiménez evolved from his early intimacy (Arias tristes) to "nude poetry" (Diario de un poeta recién casado).

Vanguardism: European and Spanish Movements

European Avant-Garde

• Futurism: A break with previous culture, embracing modern mechanics and technology, led by the Italian Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
• Cubism: Focused on the autonomy of the artwork and capturing reality through new perspectives, championed by the Frenchman Guillaume Apollinaire (notable for his calligrammes).
• Dadaism: Aimed to demonstrate the absurdity of life, founded by the Romanian Tristan Tzara.
• Surrealism: A total revolution of the human being, seeking to transform reality through imagination and poetry, led by the Frenchman André Breton.

Spanish Avant-Garde

• Creationism: The poet breaks with existing reality. Key figures include Gerardo Diego, Juan Larrea, and Vicente Huidobro.
• Ultraism: Emphasized the importance of imagery and metaphor. Notable authors include Pedro Garfias (Ala sur) and Guillermo de Torre (Hélices).

The Generation of '27

This group blended avant-garde elements with traditional Spanish poetry.

Key Features

• Formal Renewal: Use of a refined, cultured lexicon.
• Metric Reworking: Embracing metrical liberty.
• Thematic Stages:
  • Early Stage: Influenced by European avant-garde, striving for "pure poetry" by eliminating human and sentimental elements.
  • Commitment: Feelings and social awareness come to the forefront.
  • Rupture: Following the Civil War, the group separated.
  • Exile: Themes shifted to lost paradise, memories, and nostalgia for Spain.
  • Spain: Poetry focused on social and political commitment.

Notable Authors

• Pedro Salinas (The Poet of Love): His formal simplicity contrasts with the complexity of his meaning (e.g., La voz a ti debida, Razón de amor).
• Gerardo Diego (The Eclectic Poet): His work is a mixture of tradition and renovation, spanning from Creationism to traditional forms (e.g., Versos humanos, Versos divinos).
• Federico García Lorca (The Poet of Frustration): Blended cultured and popular styles. His work reflects the frustration of the human condition, moving from intimacy to solidarity (e.g., Poema del cante jondo, Poeta en Nueva York, Sonetos del amor oscuro).
• Rafael Alberti (The Poet of Variety): His early work highlights traditional tones (Marinero en tierra), followed by Surrealism (Sobre los ángeles), and later, politically committed poetry (El poeta en la calle).
• Luis Cernuda (Between Reality and Desire): Explored themes of solitude and desire, often using colloquial language (e.g., Donde habite el olvido, La realidad y el deseo).