Spanish Literature: Post-Civil War Poetry & Theater

Spanish Literature: Post-Civil War Poetry and Theater (1940-1970)

Poetry from 1940 to 1970

Introduction

The end of the Spanish Civil War dramatically altered the landscape of Spanish poetry. Some of the great poets died during the conflict, while others went into exile. Vicente Aleixandre, Dámaso Alonso, and Gerardo Diego remained in Spain and influenced post-war poets.

Poetry Scene Since 1939: Miguel Hernández

Miguel Hernández stands out as a leading figure, skillfully combining traditional techniques with avant-garde elements and popular tradition. His first book was *Perito en lunas*, and he reached his full poetic potential in *El rayo que no cesa*. His central themes are life, love, and death, often reflecting his status as a prisoner, his love for his wife and child, and the consequences of war.

The First Magazines and Trends

Two major poetic trends emerged in the 1940s: rooted poetry and uprooted poetry.

Rooted Poetry

This trend is represented by magazines like *Escorial* and *Garcilaso*. Their intentions were clear: a return to classical forms, discarding the pure poetry and total freedom of the Generation of '27, especially the avant-garde and surrealism. The dominant theme was religious.

Uprooted Poetry and Other Trends

The magazine *Espadaña* advocated for a less soft, less topical poetry, with more direct language and a harsher tone. The religious theme took on an existential tone. This poetry is considered the precursor to the testimonial poetry that would emerge in the next decade. Two notable books from this period are *Hijos de la ira* and *Sombra del paraíso*. Other trends included Postismo and the Cántico group.

Theater

Ramón Gómez de la Serna

Ramón Gómez de la Serna's theater is avant-garde. His best-known work is *Los medios seres*.

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán is a major figure in contemporary theater, known for his creative personality and original use of language. His work can be classified into three stages:

• Modernist Stage: *El yermo de las almas* is one of his most representative works of this phase.
• Intermediate Stage: This includes the trilogy *Comedias bárbaras*, *Romance de lobos*, and *Cara de Plata*.
• Maturity: He published four plays: *Farsa italiana del amor con la muerte*, *Farsa y licencia de la Reina Castiza*, *Divinas palabras*, and *Luces de Bohemia*. The first two mark the emergence of the *esperpento*, a degraded and vicious portrayal of a historical present. *Luces de Bohemia* is considered the ultimate expression of the *esperpento*.

The *esperpento* is an aesthetic of distortion, applying a degraded lens to characters and situations, interspersing the tragic and the burlesque. He also wrote other *esperpentos* under the title *Martes de Carnaval*. Valle-Inclán stands out not only for his fluency in Spanish but also as a theatrical innovator.

The Theater of the Generation of '27

The Generation of '27 contributed significantly to the renovation of theater.

• Max Aub: In his early period, he wrote *Narciso*. In his second phase, he wrote *San Juan* and *Morir por cerrar los ojos*.
• Rafael Alberti: He premiered two works: *El hombre deshabitado* and *Fermín Galán*. In his second stage, he wrote *Noche de guerra en el Museo del Prado*, reflecting the monstrosity of war.
• Alejandro Casona: He premiered his last work, *El caballero de las espuelas de oro*. He also wrote *Nuestra Natacha*, *La dama del alba*, and others.

Federico García Lorca

Federico García Lorca, along with Valle-Inclán, is the chief exponent of the renewal of Spanish drama in the first half of the 20th century. His first hit, *Mariana Pineda*, connects with the historical drama in verse of the time. He later wrote farces for puppets and farces for people. His surrealist play was *Poet in New York*. To this period belong *Doña Rosita la soltera* and the dramatic trilogy of Spanish soil, composed of three tragedies: *Bodas de sangre*, *Yerma*, and *La casa de Bernarda Alba*. Lorca's theater represents an extraordinary renovation.