Big Picture
-
Just like the novels of the period, the poetry
is influenced by what’s going on in Europe. Thus, movement away from Baroque
and into neoclassicism and romanticism.
-
Neoclassicism:
o
Greek and roman influences
o
Emphasis in order and balance (aka: tres
unidades)
o
Didactic purpose (“instruir deleitando”)
o
Enlightenment ideas – freedom and rationalism,
some secularity
o
Emphasis in form and objectivity, rather than
emotions and subjectivity
-
Some changes in neoclassicism due to new
context:
o
Preoccupation with social and political
realities
o
Patriotism (concern with national identity)
o
Exaltation of heroic figures
o
Interest in the indigenous
o
Look towards future instead of remaining in
present
-
Examples of neoclassicism:
o
José
Joaquín Olmedo (“Victoria de Junín: Canto a Bolívar” – 1825)
o
Andrés
Bello (“A la agricultura de la Zona Torrida” – 1825)
-
Romanticism
o
Focus on individual (yo)
o
Free expression of emotion and feelings
o
Negative, dark tone
o
Nature (reflects emotion)
o
**Establishment of national identity
-
Examples
of romanticism:
o
Andrés
Bello (“A la agricultura de la Zona Torrida” – 1825)
o
José
María Heredía
o
Gertrudis
Gómez de Avellaneda
Andrés Bello (Venezuela) – “A
la agricultura de la Zona Tórrida” (1825)
-
Calls for fellow citizens to work the ground and
take advantage of the abundance of nature
-
Neoclassicism: objective and patriotic tone;
concern with order, progress, and harmony with nature; eye towards future
-
Romanticism: concern with the development of a
national identity
José Joaquín Olmedo (Ecuador)
– “Victoria de Junín: Canto a Bolívar” (1825)
-
Long poem written to celebrate the military
actions of Bolívar; glorifies him
-
Neoclassicism
o
Based in classic models, classic Greek influence
– mythological elements
o
Interest in indigenous (reflects Latin American
neoclassicism)
o
Preserves unidad de tiempo (through use of
Huayna-Capac as a clarividente)
-
Romanticism: desire to create/establish a national
identity
José María Heredía (Cuba, 1803-1839)
“En el teocalli de la cholula”
-
Neoclassicism:
didacticism, moral tone
-
Romanticism:
lyrical descriptions of nature
“En una tempestad”
-
Addressed to hurricanes
-
Romanticism: greatness of nature, strong
emphasis on la voz del yo, dramatic/passionate tone (exclamations)
“Niágara”
-
Addressed to the huge waterfall
-
Romanticism: greatness of nature, strong
emphasis on la voz del yo, dramatic/passionate tone (exclamations)
Gertrudis Gómez de
Avellaneda (Cuba)
“Al partir” (1836)
-
Summary: Her sadness when she left Cuba for
Spain; her love of Cuba and emotions when she had to leave; idealization of
Cuba as a utopia
-
Romanticism: very emotional, dramatic
(exclamations), nighttime setting, affiliation of pain with sadness, national
identity (positive image of Cuba)
“A él”
-
Summary: She’s in nature somewhere and has a
vision of her old lover (Ignacio de Cepeda). Her pain due to the end of their
relationship.
-
Romanticism: very emotional, dramatic,
hyperbole, sense of fatal destiny, melancholic tone, nature, impossible love
José Hernández (Argentina) – Martín
Fierro (1872, 1879)
-
Epic,
gauchesque poem
o
Appropriates
regional language
-
Two
parts: “Ida” y “Vuelta”
-
Summary: Gaucho forced to work in army, defending
Argentine inner frontier against indigenous natives. Deserts and becomes a
political outlaw. Was then imprisoned by the indigenous for a time. Unclear ending,
no set resolution.
-
Theme of civilization vs. barbarism
(civilization IS barbaric)
-
Romanticism: the romantic hero (gaucho), idealization
of nature and rural life
o
Fusion of European and Latin American
romanticism
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