Spanish Poetry Generations: Movements from '27 to Post-Franco Era

Influences and Lines of Spanish Poetry

The process of rehumanization converged in several poetic lines, extending influences from the past:

• Romanticism: Drawing back to Bécquer and Garcilaso.
• Surrealism: Exemplified by poets like Aleixandre, Lorca, Cernuda, and Alberti.
• Social and Revolutionary Poetry: Influenced by Neruda, Alberti, and Miguel Hernández.
• Transcendent Poetry: Which sought to emulate the artistic quality of the poets of the Generation of '27.

Spanish Poetry in Exile: Three Main Groups

Poetry written in exile from Spain is generally grouped into three categories:

1. The Generation of '27.
2. The Generation of '14.
3. A third group whose work was constructed entirely while in exile.

The Generation of 1936: Rooted and Uprooted Poetry

Dámaso Alonso distinguished two main streams of expression within this generation:

1. Rooted Poetry (Poesía Arraigada)

This stream intended to reflect a coherent worldview, often characterized by strong religious beliefs and traditional themes. It was associated with two key magazines:

• Escorial (Phalanx): Initially conservative, it later acquired a more liberal air, returning to intimacy, classical formalism, and simple language.
• Garcilaso: Sought to create an official poetry line with political interests, though it welcomed poets from other trends.

2. Uprooted Poetry (Poesía Desarraigada)

In opposition to the previous stream, this poetry reflects a tragic tone and a chaotic world. Key examples include:

• "Sons of Rage" (Hijos de la Ira) by Dámaso Alonso, which served as a cry of protest in the broadest sense.
• In "Shadow of Paradise" (Sombra del Paraíso), Vicente Aleixandre reconstructed the myth of paradise lost.
• The magazine Belfry embodied the reaction against Garcilaso.

Dissenting Voices

Minority movements were also common:

• Postismo: A movement inheriting characteristics from various "isms."
• The Surrealist current, in which Miguel Labordeta stands out.
• The Cántico group, associated with a Córdoba magazine.

Social Poetry of the 1950s: Realism and Commitment

This period allowed for attitudes and commitments stemming from the tragic experience of the Civil War, reflecting the social divide between winners and losers. Characteristics include:

• Realistic conception of literature.
• Narrative tone.
• Simple style.

The Generation of the 1960s: Shifting to the Personal

This generation consisted of poets formed around the Civil War era. In 1960, Castellet published the anthology Veinte años de poesía española (Twenty Years of Spanish Poetry). Key features:

• Moving beyond the strict budgets of social poetry towards the personal.
• Influences from Cernuda, Machado, Neruda, and Vallejo.
• Dignifying of poetic language.
• Themes of childhood and adolescence, the passage of time, and love.

The Novísimos: Culturalism and Avant-Garde Revival

Castellet unveiled a new generation with his anthology Nueve novísimos poetas españoles (Nine Newest Spanish Poets). Characteristics included:

• Culturalism and aestheticism.
• Metapoetry.
• Incorporation of "camp" sensibility.
• Recovery of 20th-century avant-garde tradition.

Post-Franco Poetry (1975 Onward): New Currents

The death of Franco in 1975 marked a new era for poetry. Since then, two important post-war poetic currents have flowed:

1. Poetry of Experience (Poesía de la Experiencia): Associated with figures like Luis García Montero.
2. Neopurism (Neopurismo): Associated with Andrés Sánchez Robayna.