Spanish Poetry: Early 20th Century to Post-War Era

Spanish Poetry: From the Early 20th Century to the Post-War Era

The 19th century closed with the disaster of '98 and the loss of overseas colonies. The history of Spain from that time experienced a period of great activity. In these years, culture reached great splendor, quality, and the role of intellectuals. This period has become known as the *Silver Age* of Spanish culture.

The heroes of these years tend to be classified into generations: Modernism, the Generation of '98, Noucentisme, the Avant-garde, and the Generation of '27. The modernist innovators shared the desire and the need to show their displeasure with the reality that surrounded them. The members of the Generation of '98 had very different styles but had in common an awareness of the need to liberalize and modernize Spain.

Key Figures and Movements

• Ruben Dario was the introducer of the modernist school in Spain. His work is characterized by great originality in its imagery, rhythms, and rhymes.
• Manuel Machado and Francisco Villaespesa were closest to Hispano-American modernism.
• Antonio Machado and Juan Ramon Jimenez developed a more personal language.

In the second decade of the 20th century came a group of authors who shared a concern for Spain similar to the previous generation but were more pro-European-minded and rational. These are the *Novecentistas*: Ramon Perez de Ayala, Gabriel Miro, Ramon Gomez de la Serna (who was the leading exponent of modernism and literary expressionism in Spain), and Juan Ramon Jimenez, promoter of the avant-garde *poesia pura*.

The avant-garde entered Spain through de la Serna and acquired its biggest boost with Vicente Huidobro. Thereafter, two movements were established in Spain: Creacionismo and Ultraismo. The avant-garde's touch with current, the reading of classics, and traditional Castilian lyric enriched the language and vision of a brilliant generation of poets.

The Generation of '27

The best-known poet of this generation is Federico Garcia Lorca. Other outstanding poets of this generation are Pedro Salinas, Damaso Alonso, Jorge Guillen, and Rafael Alberti.

Halfway between the Generation of '27 is Miguel Hernandez. His poetic career and his friendship with the group of '27 place him among them. Born into a humble family, his lack of formal training did not prevent his rise as one of the most-read poets in Spain.

Love in the Poetry of Miguel Hernandez

With the publication of *El Rayo que no Cesa* (*The Ray that Does Not Stop*), Miguel Hernandez established himself as a poet who had fully assimilated the influence of Garcilaso de la Vega and the sonnet form. All of which served to express his passion for perfection in love. His love brought poetry, and Miguel was deeply concerned about the problem of human existence.

Love is the ray that lives in the poet and fills his heart with its "destructive rays." Love feeds the fire that emanates from the beloved. To steal a kiss there. In that sense, the lover is like the bull. Penalty is another central theme; this becomes a "hurricane of lava," a "lightning bolt," a "nest," or a "knife." And all because the final draft of the book was forged during a period of rupture in his relationship with Josefina Manresa. But sometimes, the inspiration for it is another woman.

The discovery of love for Miguel Hernandez is an extraordinary poetic adventure. Finding love and death are heads or tails. Hence arises the experience.