LITERARY MODERNISM: HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CHARACTERISTICS, THEMES, AUTHORS AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

The literary modernism was a literary movement that developed in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth. It was characterized by its precious aesthetics, the exaltation and refinement of the senses and the use of exotic images and places.

In addition, the modernist movement stood out for evading political and social themes in its works, focusing mainly on the perfection of language and the creation of magical and distant worlds. Likewise, human feelings and passions were also a topic of interest to the writers of this literary phenomenon.

Rubén Darío is considered to be the father of modernism. Via wikimedia commons.

Some authors consider that modernism was born with the publication of the collection of poems Azul (1888) by the author Rubén Darío. This work was chosen because of the impact it caused in its time; The collection of poems served as inspiration for other great authors of the moment such as Amado Nervo and Manuel Díaz Rodríguez.

Literary modernism was born as a consequence of the dominant positivism of the time, a form of thought whose scientific and commercial approach rejected subjective manifestations. In other words, modernist literature arose as a rejection of this philosophical trend because artists felt asphyxiated by the industrial processes and excessive pragmatism of the time.

In general terms, modernism meant a change in the way of perceiving language, beauty and meter. It was an aesthetic renovation that notably impregnated Ibero-American culture.

This literary trend was so important in the history of literature that many critics still dedicate themselves to studying and analyzing it. In addition, it constitutes a fundamental part of the subjects taught on literature in schools and universities.

Historical context of literary modernism

According to renowned writers such as Octavio Paz, the modernist style was born as a response to positivism; the latter consisted of a philosophical stance that defended scientific, useful and verifiable knowledge above any other method or discipline.

Faced with this rigor, several artists decided to create a style that would recover the sensitive and subjective manifestations of man; the aim of modernism was simply to create beauty and shock the reader through words, eliminating any utilitarian sense.

The evasion of reality as part of the modernist consciousness

The exotic and distant places were one of the themes preferred by the modernists. Painting by John Frederick Lewis.

Modernism emerged at a historical moment where the Spanish American nations were building their identity. However, contrary to the other aesthetic currents, the modernist style separated itself from the political and social approach to dedicate itself to the creation of a magical, sensitive and bucolic atmosphere (that is, related to nature and the countryside).

In addition, this current was inspired by the French style to develop its own; This turned modernism into a strange phenomenon within the Spanish language, since the usual thing at the time was for literature in Spanish to be dedicated to representing the realities of the Americas or the Iberian Peninsula.

For example, from a similar period was the famous Generation of '98, made up of a group of writers and essayists who were mainly characterized by their concern for the Spanish social and political reality.

For this reason, it is affirmed that modernism was a strange movement that, instead of representing social and political crises in its works, preferred evasion as an ideological approach.

Modernist writers, disillusioned with their reality, chose to create a space full of distant places and exotic nature. In addition, in his texts there is also a search for preciousness (a literary trend that seeks to refine and beautify expressions) and human feelings accompanied by certain erotic nuances.

Why the term "modernism"?

It was Rubén Darío who coined the term “modernism” in the current during his training. When the poet referred to this trend, he said that it was "the new spirit of letters."

The term "modernism" is alluded to to highlight that what is written under this literary style is in accordance with what is lived in the historical moment. To strengthen the roots of literary modernism, something tangible was necessary, to go beyond the words on the air.

Having understood this reality, Rubén Darío published his book Azul in 1888. Not satisfied with this, in 1896 the Nicaraguan poet consolidated the modernist movement with his book Prosas Profanas.

Characteristics of literary modernism

Literary modernism was characterized by the following:

- Breaking of previous rules

Literary modernism came to break with the stereotypes of rhyme and meter that had prevailed for so long after the Spanish colonization.

This gives an air of freedom and emancipation to the lyrics, allowing greater expressiveness and giving rise to what would later become known as "antipoetry."

- Opposes the centralization of thought

It opens up to the world, openly opposing regionalism. It considers the poet a "citizen of the world", therefore every subject has a place, every culture, there is no tie to a particular custom.

This characteristic made him deserve the disgrace of many conservatives of the time.

- Advocates for the poetic independence of the individual

Each poet has his own unique style, as it is a language of the human soul. Each individual has their appropriate sound, their appropriate letter.

If there is something that unites the representatives of this literary movement, it is the passion with which they approach their themes: either they are very pessimistic (the clear case of Rubén Darío), or they are very happy (like Martí), and so on. There are no middle terms, but a resounding surrender to feel.

- Reject reality

As mentioned earlier, modernist writers preferred to evade the social and political events of their time. Consequently, their poems or writings generally made no reference to the historical context or the reality they were facing.

- Use a precious style

The modernists were inspired by French preciousness to develop their style; This current was focused on the search for beauty and the refinement of forms and images. This is seen in the following example:

“(…) He no longer wants the palace, nor the silver spinning wheel, Neither the enchanted hawk nor the scarlet jester, Not the unanimous swans on the azure lake (…) ”(Sonatina, Rubén Darío).

- Introduce musicality in poems and other writings

The modernist aesthetic was characterized by its musical phrases; the writers achieved this effect from very marked rhythms and other resources such as alliteration (repetition of sounds) and synesthesia (joining two sensations or images from very different meanings. For example: "Sonora solitude").

The musicality can be appreciated in the following verses by Rubén Darío:

“Youth, divine treasure, You left never to return!

when I want to cry, I do not cry

and sometimes I cry without meaning to. "

- Use exotic places and images

Modernist texts are mainly inspired by exotic places and ancient cultures; That is why it is common to find landscapes that describe regions of the East (such as India), jungles full of exuberant nature, mythological places, among others.

- Compete with Romanticism

The representatives of modernism manifested a continuous competition with Romanticism. They considered romantic poetry as a manifestation overloaded with logic and reason, aspects that imprisoned the imagination and the poet himself.

Romanticism was considered a tie for the true feeling of the poet.

- Religious syncretization

Modernist poets took what they considered the best of every religion in the world: Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and put it together in a kind of perfect treatise on the coexistence of beings.

Literary modernism sought to bring men together through letters, it focused on those common and related things. She tried to unify the criteria and give rise to true coexistence.

Themes of literary modernism

The most recurrent themes within modernist aesthetics were the following:

- Loneliness and melancholy

The search for beauty and escape did not prevent modernist writers from adding a sad, melancholic, and lonely hue to their works. This demonstrated the disappointment of these artists with the reality and the society of their time.

This is seen in the following poem by Amado Nervo:

Look at the moon: tearing the veil

from the darkness, to shine begins.

So it rose above my sky

the funeral star of sadness. " (Black pearls V)

- Mythological stories

Modernism was characterized by implementing references to tales and mythological narratives. For this reason, it is common to find characters drawn from Greco-Latin culture. This is seen in the poem Venus by Rubén Darío, which refers to the goddess of love.

Mythological stories and female figures were widely used by the modernists. Painting by Paul Rubens showing a feast for the goddess Venus.

- Love and eroticism

Love and eroticism were recurring themes in modernist texts. These elements were generally manifested through the image of women.

These elements can be found, for example, in the aforementioned poem: Venus, by Rubén Darío. They are also found in the poem Soñé que tú me leading, by Antonio Machado.

- Exotic and distant places

Nature and strange places were also recurring elements for modernist writers. Therefore, it is usual to find references to oriental civilizations, luxurious palaces, princesses, sultans, among others.

Castles, palaces and princesses were recurrent in modernist texts. Painting by Andreas Leonhard.

- Exuberant nature and indigenous themes

Generally, the images of nature were inspired by American fauna and flora. This can be seen, for example, in the poem Estival by Rubén Darío.

Likewise, although the modernist current was influenced by the French style, modernism writers had a preference for local landscapes and for pre-Hispanic civilizations. In fact, on many occasions they defended and vindicated the figure of the native American Indian.

Authors and representative works

The modernist style was used by many writers throughout history. However, some of the most prominent were:

- Rubén Darío (1867-1916)

Ruben Dario. Via wikimedia commons.

Considered by critics as the father of modernism. In addition to his emblematic work Azul (where there are not only poems, but also short stories), the Nicaraguan writer was also acclaimed for his poetry book Cantos de vida y esperanza, los cinemas y otros poemas (1905) and for his book Los raros (1896), where he made a compilation of his favorite authors.

- Amado Nervo (1870-1919)

Loved nerve

The Mexican Amado Nervo was one of the most important modernist representatives. Nervo didn't just write poetry; he also made novels and essays. Among his most famous works, Los Jardines Interior (1905) stands out, where the author uses a precious language and many elements related to nature.

- Manuel Díaz Rodríguez (1871-1927)

He was a Venezuelan writer, who was notoriously sympathetic to the modernist style. This can be seen in his work Broken Idols (1901) where the author raises the problem faced by intellectuals and artists of the time in an increasingly capitalist and superficial society.

- José Asunción Silva (1865-1896)

José Asunción Silva. Via wikimedia commons.

He was a Colombian poet, remembered for having been a forerunner of the modernist movement. In fact, he was part of the first generation of poets who dedicated themselves to this literary trend. His most famous text is The Book of Verses, of a precious but melancholic and gloomy character. This is seen in the verses:

"In a narrow cold grave, Far from the world and crazy life, In a black four-plate coffin

With a lot of dirt in his mouth "

- Antonio Machado (1875-1939)

Antonio Machado. Source: Unknown (it does not appear in the sources or in the National Theater Museum, where it is cataloged with the code FT03071, with the "anonymous author" file appearing)., via Wikimedia Commons

Actually, the Spanish poet Antonio Machado was a member of the Generation of '98, so many of his poems were related to the Spanish reality.

However, some of his texts were influenced by the modernist style; this can be seen in his collection of poems Soledades (1903), a work imbued with serenity and nostalgia.

- José Martí (1853-1895)

Jose Marti. Via wikimedia commons.

He was a Cuban journalist, poet and thinker, also considered by critics as one of the precursors of modernism. One of his most acclaimed texts is the essay titled Our America (1891), in which the author reflects on the problems of the continent.

Although Martí did not practice evasion from reality in this essay, the way in which he used language and images has a modernist nuance.

- Julián del Casal (1863-1893)

Julián del Casal. Via wikimedia commons.

He was a poet of Cuban nationality, remembered for being one of the most emblematic figures of modernism. In fact, he maintained a close friendship with Rubén Darío. One of his most outstanding works was the poetry book Leaves in the Wind (1890), where the poet makes reference to love, melancholy and exotic places.

References

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