GENERATION OF 27: CHARACTERISTICS, STAGES AND AUTHORS - LITERATURE - 2025

The Generation of 27 was an intellectual and cultural movement that took place in Spain in 1927. The men and women of this generation had an excellent university academic training. They were brave and warrior students who wanted to change the language used by some writers.

This generation expressed their rejection of sentimental writing from the beginning, so the struggle was to maintain a harmony between the intellectual character and the feelings. Renewing, but at the same time preserving the traditional, was one of the fundamental objectives; universalize Spanish without losing its essence.

The death of Federico García Lorca in 1936 had great significance for the movement. Its outstanding authors, the historical context, as well as the most representative works are topics that will be presented below.

Historic context

The Generation of '27 was born after a series of social and political changes. These led to the appearance of some young writers who did not agree with the literary trends and movements existing at that time, so they decided to meet at strategic points to develop their ideas.

This movement began to make its first contacts in the different academic venues of its time. The beginning of the group coincided with the tribute that was paid to the Spanish writer Luís de Góngora, on the occasion of the three hundred years since his death.

The Spain prior to this generation went through several events that determined the course of its history as a society. Those events changed the thinking of the new men. Hence the need to create changes that make a difference.

The Spain of the Generation of 27 came from the reign of Alfonso XIII, whose attempt to restore and modernize society encompassed the birth of the group of writers in question. In the same way, there were the aftermath of the First World War, from 1914 to 1918.

In addition to what was previously described, the country was subjected to the causes and consequences of the actions of the workers' struggles and of the wars with the African countries. On the other hand, there was the challenge that characterized the regionalist moose in the provinces of Catalonia and the Basque Country.

For the Generation of 27 that series of events were decisive in order to stop making a sentimental literature. This series of events fostered the determination of the writers to present their points of view with precision. The training they shared allowed them to agree on ideas, projects, and thoughts.

characteristics

Same line of thoughts and ideas

One of the characteristics that stands out the most about the so-called Generation of 27 is the fact that many of its members were born some fifteen years apart. That made them grow up in a similar historical context, and, therefore, that their way of thinking was similar.

A good number of members were part of the cultural institution called Residencia de Estudiantes. That allowed them to have a shared line of thought. They felt a preference for more human or humanized poetry; with an emphasis on love, nature, religion and country.

Writing as a political and social expression

They were part of the political life of the country. In such a way that they carried out through their works a kind of social protest as a way to achieve a better society, with guaranteed rights. The development of the Spanish Civil War was the reason for this.

Tradition and innovation

Another of the features of the Generation of 27 was the search for innovation, without losing the essence of the traditional, so they managed to unify classical poetry with new movements. The avant-garde and surrealism were predominant in the works of the members of the movement.

They sought balance and center

The fact of finding balance and center also predominated, through intelligence and emotions. In turn they sought opposition in the ideas they had. The generation made possible the exposition and treatment of subjects that were banned until then, such as homosexuality.

Poetic freedom

The Generation of '27 had the peculiarity of writing freely, both in style and in meter. The cultured language, and at the same time beautiful, was typical of his style. The metaphor was often used to give delusional or surreal touches to texts. In addition, free verse was felt in each work.

Stages

The Generation of '27 went through three fundamental stages. These included different historical settings that influenced the ideas of the writers who were part of this movement.

From 1918 to 1927

This first stage coincides with the end of the First World War and culminates with the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

Images of the First World War. Source: John Warwick Brooke

The use of unadorned poetry was given, devoid of extreme sentimentality. Therefore, it was called pure poetry, because rhetoric or argumentation was totally absent or little used. The writer Juan Ramón Jiménez is an example of this type of poetry.

The rescue of classical poetry was part of the efforts of the movement, without leaving behind the characteristics of popular poetry. Luis de Góngora's work was the starting point. The first representatives experimented with Modernism, Vanguardism and the stelae of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.

From 1927 to 1936

The maturity of its members gave them an interest in obtaining individuality and highlighting their personality traits. From that they sought to make a more human poetry; In other words, they wanted to take away part of the "purity" that it had in the first stage. The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was a source of inspiration.

In this second stage surrealism began to make its appearance in Spain; movement that was born in France in 1920.

The Generation of '27 took advantage of the moment of tension before the war to expose the different problems that affected humanity. In addition, they expressed their dissatisfaction with the society in which they lived.

After the civil war

The duration of the Civil War, specifically three years (36-39), left serious political, social and economic consequences. For this reason many of the writers who belonged to the Generation of 27 were forced to leave Spain and live in exile.

Plane during the Spanish Civil War. Source: Victoria Tarrida Lecha, from Wikimedia Commons

Given the above, the third and last stage of the movement meant disintegration. The death of Federico García Lorca was added to the aftermath of the war, so that each writer developed personally and poetically in a different way. They wrote about pain, loneliness, the lost homeland and abandonment.

Authors and their representative works

-Rogelio Buendía

He was a Spanish writer and poet. According to his date of birth, February 14, 1891, he is considered the first member of the Generation of 27. Although he studied medicine, he felt inclined towards writing. His talent allowed him to direct intellectual media such as Renaissance.

The poet's literary ability allowed him to constantly collaborate with the avant-garde movement. There were three his peak poetic works, which were incorporated into Modernism; The Poem of my Dreams (1912), Of Good and Evil (1913) and Nácares (1916).

Buendía's work is not exactly extensive; however he managed to write transcendental works. After his sixth book of poetry, he continued to write, but did not publish any more. His poetry was characterized by being neopopular, and also by strolling through manners. He died on May 27, 1969 in Madrid.

Among his most prominent titles, apart from those mentioned in previous lines, are: The Color Wheel (1923), Shipwreck in Three Guitar Strings (1928) and Guide to Gardens (1928). Here are excerpts from some of his most important writings:

The Poem of my Dreams (1912)

"In sad moments of madness, with the breath transform wanted

your cold substance in blood and nerves

and I wanted to give a soul to your beauty.

When I woke up I contemplated you by my side;

of your beautiful sibyl eyes

I touched an eyelid… And it was frozen! ”.

-Pedro Salinas

He was a Spanish writer born in Madrid on November 27, 1891. His essays and poetic works earned him recognition and his performance during the Generation of 27 gave him a place among the best poets. His primary education was divided between the Colegio Hispano Francés and the Instituto de San Isidro.

Although he began studying law at the University of Madrid, two years later he decided to retire to study literature and philosophy. From a very young age he began to write; some of his poems were published in the magazine Prometheus. He stood out as a professor at the University of Seville.

Salinas developed his own concept of poetry. He described it as "an adventure into the absolute…". He made it clear what he liked about poetry: naturalness, beauty and wit. Her poems stood out for being short and lacking rhymes. Besides that they were simple enough.

His work was prolific; in addition to poetry, he wrote plays, essays, narrative, some letters, as well as translations. Of the latter, he highlighted his translation of the work of the Frenchman Marcel Proust. He lived in exile in the United States and died on December 4, 1951 in the city of Boston.

His most important works

As for the style of García Lorca, it was characterized by the style and obsessions of the author for some themes, such as desire and love. The poet used many symbols to refer to death. Blood, the moon, the horse and the bull were frequent in his poetry.

Of the varied range of García Lorca's writings have special mention: Book of Poems (1921), Poema del Cante Jondo (1921), Gypsy Ballads (1928), Poet in New York (1930), Seis Poemas Galegos (1935), Diván del Tamarit (1936) and Sonnets of Dark Love (1936).

Gypsy romance

This work by Federico García Lorca is made up of eighteen romances or octosyllabic verses of assonance rhyme. They refer to the gypsy culture; the symbols used by the poet were death, the moon and the sky. Mysticism and metaphors play an essential role in this work.

The plot or argument of the work is based on a locality that is far from society, and whose inhabitants feel subjected by the authorities. On the other hand, the narrative and the verses are present, without each losing its essential characteristics.

Fragment:

"The moon came to the forge

with his bustle of tuberose.

The child looks at her, looks

the boy is looking at her.

In the air moved

move the moon its arms

and teaches, lewd, and pure,

her hard tin breasts… ”.

References

1. Generation of 27. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org
2. Generation of 27. (2018). Spain: Enforex. Recovered from: enforex.com
3. Gullón, R. (2018). The Fourth "Canticle" by Jorge Guillen. Spain: Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library. Recovered from: cervantesvirtual.com
4. Generation of 27. (2018). Cuba: Ecured. Recovered from: ecured.cu
5. Aunión, J. (2017). The Generation of 27 turns 90 years old. Spain: The Country. Recovered from: elpaís.com.