Twentieth-Century Hispanic American Poetry: Movements & Masters

Twentieth-Century Hispanic American Poetry

The first major literary movement in Latin America was a native mode of Modernism. The influence of Modernism in Hispanic America was enormous, forming the basis for the continent's literary development. However, by 1920, modernist innovations were insufficient, and new poets sought fresh approaches. Generally, Latin American poetry of the twentieth century navigated between two ideological poles, similar to European aesthetics.

Ideological Currents in Latin American Poetry

• The tension between the cosmopolitan trend, linked with universal issues and themes, and the need to reflect American reality.
• The contrast between a concept of poetry as pure art, in line with European avant-garde principles, and the defense of poetry as an art committed to human problems, and the social and political rights of American people.

Major Poetic Movements of the 20th Century

In the years following Modernism, we can establish three trends:

• Postmodernism: Intimate Voices

  Among the trends explored during those years was an intimate poetry, which extended some features of Modernism but eliminated the superfluous. Notable poets include Gabriela Mistral and Leopoldo Lugones.

• The Avant-Garde: Innovation & Experimentation

  The most important 'ism' was Creationism, promoted by the Chilean Vicente Huidobro, who influenced a school in Spain. The Argentine Jorge Luis Borges participated in Ultraism during his stay in our country. For its part, Surrealism was embraced by many poets as the most appropriate mode of expression to investigate aspects of American reality. Pablo Neruda is a key figure.

• Black Poetry: Identity & Social Commentary

  In the West Indies, a poetic movement emerged, inspired for the first time by Black people descended from African slaves. This movement blended social content, exposing the marginalization of Black people, with the allure of early avant-garde and folk customs. Nicolás Guillén is a prominent example.

Key Hispanic American Poets of the 20th Century

• César Vallejo: Protest & Rootlessness

  His book Trilce features poems of contemporary inspiration, characterized by disjointed and seemingly meaningless language, yet beneath which a protest against the world's pain and a sense of rootlessness still beat.

• Jorge Luis Borges: Time, Philosophy & Intellect

  His literature, highly refined and intellectual, explores themes such as the passage of time, philosophy, and more. His works include The Maker.

• Pablo Neruda: Love, Combat & American History

  Known for works like Twenty Love Poems, he became an advocate and promoter of more combative poetry. The result of this vision is the long poetic work Canto General, which aims to provide a poetic and political vision of all American history.

• Octavio Paz: Symbolism & Surrealism

  Octavio Paz's particular union of Symbolism and Surrealism is evident in his most famous book: Parole.