Spanish Civil War poetrySpanish Civil War poetry

Death of a Militiaman, Robert Capa

““The literature of political The literature of political engagement” -- Traversengagement” -- Travers

the role of the writer/artist in the face of rising the role of the writer/artist in the face of rising fascismfascism

the writers’ survey of 1937the writers’ survey of 1937 M. HernM. Hernández: “all theater, all poetry and all art ández: “all theater, all poetry and all art

has to be, today more than ever, a weapon of has to be, today more than ever, a weapon of war.”war.”

Stephen Spender: “an obligation to save the Stephen Spender: “an obligation to save the world from fascism”world from fascism”

Camus: “It was in Spain that men learned that Camus: “It was in Spain that men learned that one can be right yet beaten, that force can one can be right yet beaten, that force can vanquish spirit, that there are times when vanquish spirit, that there are times when courage is its own recompense.”courage is its own recompense.”

On the rightOn the rightSong for the Desired SpainSong for the Desired Spain

I want a Spain the same as that SpainI want a Spain the same as that SpainThat 200 years ago fell asleep on us…That 200 years ago fell asleep on us…A perfect and generous Spain, compendiumA perfect and generous Spain, compendiumOf constant efforts and supreme conquests.Of constant efforts and supreme conquests.A Spain, like that one, fruitful and beneficentA Spain, like that one, fruitful and beneficentAnd, like her, hated and attacked;And, like her, hated and attacked;Made from dreams of virtue and from love,Made from dreams of virtue and from love,And with the rigor of effort and discipline…And with the rigor of effort and discipline…Captains of Flanders, seamen of Lepanto,Captains of Flanders, seamen of Lepanto,Heroes and missionaries of the Indies,Heroes and missionaries of the Indies,Teachers of Alcalá and Salamanca, Teachers of Alcalá and Salamanca, Painters and sculptors of Seville…!Painters and sculptors of Seville…!Theologians of Trent, craftsmen of the Escorial,Theologians of Trent, craftsmen of the Escorial,You poets who sang to the Eucharistic God,You poets who sang to the Eucharistic God,You saints who felt and taught You saints who felt and taught The internal laws of mysticism...!The internal laws of mysticism...!All you who enjoyed that eternal toil,All you who enjoyed that eternal toil,All you who felt that restless life,All you who felt that restless life,Give us your swords and your bright pens,Give us your swords and your bright pens,Your faith, your efforts, your rhymes.Your faith, your efforts, your rhymes.And join us in the toil of combatAnd join us in the toil of combatTo know our venture and enjoy our day…!To know our venture and enjoy our day…!Spaniards of today, Saints and Martyrs,Spaniards of today, Saints and Martyrs,Heroes of independence and reconquest.Heroes of independence and reconquest.Spaniards of today. The clock of timeSpaniards of today. The clock of timeHas struck the hour of the immortal watchword:Has struck the hour of the immortal watchword:Let us make a Spain like that SpainLet us make a Spain like that SpainThat 200 years ago fell asleep on us …!That 200 years ago fell asleep on us …!

Miguel Martínez del Cerro, Miguel Martínez del Cerro, Antología poética del alzamiento, 1936-1939Antología poética del alzamiento, 1936-1939, 1940, 1940

Nationalists (fascists)Nationalists (fascists) culture for the eliteculture for the elite use of traditional forms (rejection of use of traditional forms (rejection of

fragmentation): unity, totalityfragmentation): unity, totality order, geometry, classical formorder, geometry, classical form extalled: discipline, hierarchy, paternalistic extalled: discipline, hierarchy, paternalistic

authorityauthority the Churchthe Church traditional Spanish womanliness: motherhoodtraditional Spanish womanliness: motherhood cult of violencecult of violence war as a sport, a game to be enjoyed, a crusade war as a sport, a game to be enjoyed, a crusade

cult figures: the Cid, Santiago, Virgin cult figures: the Cid, Santiago, Virgin & saints& saints

Look at the following Look at the following poem:poem:

1.1. ““The fire”The fire”2.2. ““I’ll explain a few things” I’ll explain a few things”

(131-133)(131-133)3.3. ““The battle of Jarama The battle of Jarama

River” (136-7)River” (136-7)4.4. ““Short Prayer for a Hero Short Prayer for a Hero

of the Republic” (141) & of the Republic” (141) & “Mass” (145-146)“Mass” (145-146)

5.5. ““Like an AmadLike an Amadís of Gaul” ís of Gaul” & “Women” (142-143)& “Women” (142-143)

6.6. ““Ultima Ratio Regum” Ultima Ratio Regum” (153)(153)

7.7. ““Fall of a city” (157)Fall of a city” (157)8.8. ““A Letter from Aragon” A Letter from Aragon”

(259-260)(259-260)

Discuss:Discuss: The characterization of: The characterization of:

– the warthe war– education/cultureeducation/culture– the massesthe masses– the fasciststhe fascists– role of womenrole of women– the past and the futurethe past and the future

uses of religious imageryuses of religious imagery other imageryother imagery In your opinion, does the political In your opinion, does the political

message detract from its artistic value? message detract from its artistic value?

PolaritiesPolarities democracy / fascismdemocracy / fascism communism / communism /

CatholicismCatholicism innovation / innovation /

traditiontradition civilization / chaoscivilization / chaos east / westeast / west light / darknesslight / darkness good / evilgood / evil life / deathlife / death

Characteristics of Republican Characteristics of Republican poetrypoetry

war waged for & by war waged for & by the peoplethe people

purpose: a new societypurpose: a new society religious imagery religious imagery

announcing a modern announcing a modern day Christday Christ

Christian values of Christian values of brotherhoodbrotherhood

education / literacyeducation / literacy popular culture for popular culture for

benefit of all & social benefit of all & social improvementimprovement

CharacteristicsCharacteristics importance of role of importance of role of

womenwomen innovation in poetic forminnovation in poetic form influence of surrealisminfluence of surrealism idealization of the idealization of the

massesmasses collective love of collective love of

mankindmankind war as a painful war as a painful

necessitynecessity death as a source of new death as a source of new

lifelife