Spanish Poetry Generations: Movements from the 1940s to the 1990s

1. Post-War Spanish Poetry (The 1940s)

Despite widespread poverty, poetry was the field that exhibited the greatest diversity and artistic wealth during this decade. Since many poets did not go into exile, Dámaso Alonso identified two basic approaches: rooted poetry (*poesía arraigada*) and up-rooted poetry (*poesía desarraigada*).

Key publications from this creative era include *Escorial*, *Caracol*, and *Garcilaso*.

Rooted Poetry (Poesía Arraigada)

This poetry is technically well-constructed and deliberately removed from existential problems and contemporary issues. It represents a perfect, beautiful world, often cultivating the sonnet form.

Poets grouped around two main magazines:

• Escorial (1940): Focuses on a return to everyday life, family themes, and praise of God.
• Garcilaso (1943): Predominantly aestheticism and the pursuit of formal perfection.

Authors: Leopoldo Panero and Luis Rosales.

Uprooted Poetry (Poesía Desarraigada)

Key works published in 1944 include *Hijos de la ira* (Dámaso Alonso) and *Sombra del paraíso* (Vicente Aleixandre). This movement is often contrasted with the aestheticism of rival publications.

Characteristics:

• Focus on the issue of God and a vision of the world as chaos.
• The individual (*hombre*) is portrayed as an anti-hero.
• Use of colloquial language.
• Blas de Otero emphasized the power of the word.

Other Movements of the 1940s

Postismo

An avant-garde movement founded by Carlos Edmundo de Ory. Influenced by Surrealism but characterized by a tone of humor.

Cántico Group

Focused on a vital vision of love and beauty. Author: Pablo García Baena.

2. Social Poetry (The 1950s)

Poetry shifted from existential preoccupation with individual problems to a collective concern. Although social realism dominates, the movement presents great diversity. This literature was addressed to the vast majority.

Key characteristics:

• Simple and colloquial language.
• Greater concern for content over form.
• Narrative character and a tendency toward *prosaismo* (prosaism).

Authors: Gabriel Celaya, Blas de Otero (*Canto Libero*, *Pido la paz y la palabra*).

3. The Generation of 1960 (The Group of 50)

This poetic generation consists of authors born between 1925 and the Civil War, including Ángel González, Jaime Gil de Biedma, and José Ángel Valente. Their poetics shift away from poetry as mere communication, viewing it instead as an experience or self-discovery.

Key themes and styles:

• The intimate presence of memory, often evoking childhood as a “broken paradise.”
• Themes of love and friendship.
• Use of irony and humor to distance themselves from raw emotion.
• Remarkable attention to language.
• Predominance of free verse alongside classical stanzas.

Influences: Luis Cernuda and Antonio Machado.

4. The Novísimos (The 1970s)

This movement showed a break with traditional forms, embracing automatic writing, collage, and exotic elements.

Authors: Luis Alberto de Cuenca and Guillermo Pérez Villalta.

5. The Poetry of Experience (The 1980s)

Miguel D'Ors identifies four major trends within this decade:

• Aesthetic Poetry (*Poesía Esteticista*)
• Intimist Poetry (*Poesía Intimista*)
• Neo-Surrealist Poetry (*Poesía Neosurrealista*)
• The dominant Poetry of Experience (*Poesía de la Experiencia*)

6. Contemporary Poetry (The 1990s)

This era sought credibility, sincerity, and clarity. The focus remained on the Poetry of Experience, addressing both literary and political perspectives.

Author: Vicente Gallego.