🛶Latin American Literature – Before 1900 Unit 1 – Intro to Pre-1900 American Literature

Key Themes and Concepts

• Exploration of identity, including national, cultural, and individual identity in a colonial context
• Conflict between indigenous traditions and European influence, often resulting in syncretism (merging of cultural elements)
• Resistance against colonial oppression and the struggle for independence, as seen in revolutionary literature
• The role of religion, particularly Catholicism, in shaping societal norms and values
• The importance of oral traditions and folklore in preserving indigenous cultures and histories
• The influence of the Enlightenment on Latin American intellectual thought and political movements
• The representation of nature and the landscape as a symbol of national identity and a source of pride
• The concept of "civilization vs. barbarism," which was used to justify colonial domination and the subjugation of indigenous peoples

Historical Context

• Pre-Columbian era: diverse indigenous civilizations with rich cultural traditions (Maya, Aztec, Inca)
• Colonial period (1492-1800s): marked by Spanish and Portuguese conquest, establishment of colonial rule, and the imposition of European culture and religion
  • The impact of the Catholic Church in spreading Christianity and suppressing indigenous beliefs
  • The introduction of the encomienda system, which exploited indigenous labor and resources
• The Age of Enlightenment (18th century): spread of liberal ideas and the questioning of colonial authority
• The Latin American Wars of Independence (early 19th century): led to the formation of independent nation-states and the rise of nationalist literature
• The aftermath of independence: political instability, caudillismo (rule by strongmen), and the struggle to define national identities
• The influence of the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution on Latin American political thought and revolutionary movements

Major Literary Movements

• Baroque (17th century): characterized by elaborate, ornate language and a focus on religious themes
  • Influenced by Spanish Golden Age literature and the Catholic Counter-Reformation
• Neoclassicism (18th century): emphasized reason, order, and the imitation of classical models
  • Reflected the influence of the Enlightenment and the desire for social and political reform
• Romanticism (early 19th century): celebrated emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature
  • Influenced by European Romantic movements and the search for national identity post-independence
• Costumbrismo (19th century): focused on depicting local customs, traditions, and everyday life
  • Served as a means of asserting national identity and preserving cultural heritage
• Modernismo (late 19th century): marked by a renewed emphasis on aesthetics, innovation, and cosmopolitanism
  • Reflected the influence of French Symbolism and Parnassianism
  • Represented a break from traditional forms and themes in favor of artistic experimentation

Influential Authors and Works

• Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695): Mexican nun, poet, and scholar known for her intellectual prowess and defense of women's rights
  • "First Dream" (1692): a long philosophical and scientific poem exploring the limits of human knowledge
• Esteban Echeverría (1805-1851): Argentine poet and political activist, considered a pioneer of Argentine Romanticism
  • "The Slaughterhouse" (1838): a short story critiquing the brutality and corruption of the Rosas regime
• José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi (1776-1827): Mexican journalist and novelist, known as the "Mexican Thinker"
  • "The Mangy Parrot" (1816): a picaresque novel satirizing colonial society and advocating for social reform
• Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda (1814-1873): Cuban-Spanish writer, considered one of the leading Romantic poets of the 19th century
  • "Sab" (1841): an abolitionist novel exploring the themes of slavery, race, and love
• José Martí (1853-1895): Cuban poet, essayist, and revolutionary, known as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence"
  • "Simple Verses" (1891): a collection of poems celebrating Cuban identity and calling for independence from Spain

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Use of allegory and symbolism to convey political and social messages, often to evade censorship
• Incorporation of indigenous myths, legends, and oral traditions into written literature
  • Reflects the influence of indigenous cultures and the desire to preserve cultural heritage
• Experimentation with form and language, particularly in Modernismo, to create new modes of expression
• Use of satire and irony to critique social and political issues, as seen in the works of Fernández de Lizardi
• Emphasis on the beauty and power of nature, especially in Romantic literature, as a symbol of national identity
• Incorporation of colloquial language and regional dialects to represent the diversity of Latin American cultures
• Use of the picaresque novel format to depict the lives of marginalized individuals and critique social hierarchies

Cultural and Social Influences

• The legacy of indigenous cultures and their resistance against colonial domination
  • The preservation of indigenous languages, traditions, and belief systems in literature
• The impact of the Catholic Church on Latin American society and culture
  • The role of religious institutions in education, social welfare, and the arts
• The influence of African cultures, particularly in the Caribbean, as a result of the transatlantic slave trade
  • The emergence of Afro-Latin American literature and the representation of African diaspora experiences
• The effects of colonialism on social hierarchies and the distribution of power and wealth
  • The critique of colonial structures and the advocacy for social and political reform in literature
• The impact of independence movements and the formation of nation-states on Latin American identity
  • The search for a distinct Latin American voice and the assertion of cultural autonomy in literature
• The influence of European intellectual and artistic movements, such as the Enlightenment and Romanticism
  • The adaptation and transformation of these movements in a Latin American context

Critical Analysis and Interpretation

• Postcolonial theory: examines the cultural, political, and economic legacies of colonialism in Latin American literature
  • Explores issues of identity, power, and resistance in the context of colonial and post-colonial societies
• Feminist criticism: analyzes the representation of women and gender roles in Latin American literature
  • Examines the works of women writers and their contributions to the literary canon
• Marxist criticism: focuses on the representation of class struggles and the critique of capitalist structures in Latin American literature
  • Explores the relationship between literature and social, economic, and political conditions
• New Historicism: situates Latin American literary works within their historical and cultural contexts
  • Examines the ways in which literature both reflects and shapes the social and political realities of its time
• Ecocriticism: studies the representation of nature and the environment in Latin American literature
  • Analyzes the relationship between humans and the natural world and the ecological implications of literary works

Legacy and Impact on Modern Literature

• The influence of pre-1900 Latin American literature on the development of 20th-century literary movements, such as the Latin American Boom
• The continued exploration of themes such as identity, colonialism, and social justice in contemporary Latin American literature
• The recognition of pre-1900 Latin American writers as pioneers of the Latin American literary tradition
  • The inclusion of their works in the literary canon and their influence on subsequent generations of writers
• The role of pre-1900 Latin American literature in shaping the cultural and political identity of Latin American nations
  • The use of literature as a tool for nation-building and the assertion of cultural autonomy
• The contribution of pre-1900 Latin American literature to the global literary landscape
  • The translation and dissemination of Latin American literary works beyond the region
  • The influence of Latin American literature on writers and literary movements around the world
• The ongoing relevance of pre-1900 Latin American literature in addressing contemporary social, political, and cultural issues
  • The continued study and reinterpretation of these works in light of new critical approaches and historical perspectives