Spanish Literature: Romanticism to the Generation of '98

Romanticism

Romantic poets had as their themes: rejection of the environment, emotional excitement, liberated longing, and communion with nature.

• Poetry: Intimate lyric poetry that expresses the frustrations of the poet.
• Narrative: Collected legends and historical themes.

José de Espronceda

He is a romantic liberal prototype, exalted. His poetry is a passionate hymn to freedom, with a brilliant, musical, and effective style.

Works: Sancho Saldaña, Blanca de Borbón, El Estudiante de Salamanca, El Diablo Mundo, Hymn to the Sun.

Style: Pompous and emphatic, brilliant musicality.

Late Romanticism

Intimate romantic lyricism reached its climax late, with Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro. Both favor a simple, lyrical, and introspective style.

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Contemporary poetry is characterized by its intimacy, purity, sensitivity, and authenticity. It is modeled on German Romantic poetry and Andalusian folk songs.

Works: Rhymes and Legends.

The Prose Romance

Their genres were the historical novel, the legend, and journalistic manners.

Mariano José de Larra

He adapted the newspaper article to the stupidity of the newspaper.

Works: Custom articles, political articles, literary articles.

The Romantic Drama

The predominant genre was drama, which aims to move. Classical forms prevail, as does the author's freedom.

Themes: The dispute between love and freedom in the environment leads to a tragic end.

Authors: Ángel Saavedra and José Zorrilla.

Realism and Naturalism

Lyric: The most representative poet is Ramón de Campoamor. Realism is characterized by its anti-romanticism.

Theater: Around 1868, writers like López de Ayala and Manuel Tamayo y Baus cultivated high comedy.

Narrative: Melodramas, social issues, serialized novels, etc.

Naturalism came to Spain accompanied by a heated controversy.

Benito Pérez Galdós

Works: Above all, the novel. Thesis novels: Doña Perfecta. Contemporary novels: Fortunata y Jacinta. Spiritualism: Misericordia.

Novels of the first period: Thesis novels criticized intolerance and fanaticism.

Contemporary Spanish novels: Spiritual matters.

Significance of Galdós's work: Contemporary history of Spain.

Leopoldo Alas, Clarín

Works: As a critic, literary criticism. As a narrator: Adiós Cordera, Su único hijo, and La Regenta.

Characteristics: The psychology of the characters, the exhaustive description of the city of Vetusta, the perfect structure, and narrative technique.

Modernism

A rebellious attitude, the bohemian world of lyrical and poetic prose, shows a new poetic language and intimate and romantic themes.

Writers: Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, and Rubén Darío.

Themes: Rejection of this uprooting and existential concerns.

Generation of '98

A deep degradation and need for social, cultural, and aesthetic regeneration, reflecting the existential pessimism and subjectivism characteristic of the time.

Genre: The essay to achieve a personal style.

Authors: Miguel de Unamuno, Azorín, Pío Baroja, and Ramiro de Maeztu.