Nicaraguan literature

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Nicaraguan literature can be traced to pre-Columbian times with the myths and oral literature that formed the cosmogonic view of the world that indigenous people had. Some of these stories are still known in Nicaragua. Like many Latin American countries, the Spanish conquerors have had the most effect on both the culture and the literature. The literature of Nicaragua has had many important literary figures in the Spanish language with internationally prominent writers such as Rubn Daro, who is regarded as the most important literary figure in Nicaragua. He is referred to as the "Father of Modernism" for leading the modernismo literary movement at the end of the 19th century.[1] Other important literary figures include Salomn de la Selva, Carlos Martnez Rivas, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Alberto Cuadra Mejia, Manolo Cuadra Vega, Pablo Alberto Cuadra Arguello, Ernesto Cardenal, Sergio Ramrez Mercado, Gioconda Belli, Jos Coronel Urtecho, Alfonso Corts, Julio Valle Castillo, and Claribel Alegra, among others.

History
El Gegense is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of post-Columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater.[1] The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest indigenous theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere.[2] It was passed down orally for many centuries until it was finally written down and published into a book in 1942.[3] A large portion of revolutionary leaders were also writers who had published works, two of the most notable include current President Daniel Ortega and co-founder of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, Toms Borge.[4]

Literary movements
Modernismo
The Modernismo literary movement was a Spanish-American literary movement, best exemplified by Nicaraguan Rubn Daro, who is respectfully referred to as the "Father of Modernism". In the late 19th century, Modernismo emerged, a poetic movement whose recapitulation was a blending of three European currents: Romanticism, Symbolism and especially Parnassianism. Inner passions, visions, harmonies and rhythms are expressed in a rich, highly stylized verbal music. This movement was of great influence in the whole Spanishspeaking world (including the Philippines), finding a temporary vogue also among the Generacin del 98 in Spain, which posited various reactions to its perceived aestheticism.

Modernismo was the first Latin American literary movement to influence literary culture outside of the region, and was also the first truly Latin American literature, in that national differences were no longer so much at issue. Though Modernismo itself is often seen as aestheticist and antipolitical, some poets and essayists, introduced compelling critiques of the contemporary social order and particularly the plight of Latin America's indigenous peoples.

Poetry after Modernismo

Twentieth-century poetry in Nicaragua has often expressed political commitment, particularly given the model provided by Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, and followed by such poets as the Nicaragua's Ernesto Cardenal.

The Vanguardia
The Vanguardia was a literary movement that started in Granada, Nicaragua between 1927 and 1929, the movement was led by the Nicaraguan poet Jos Coronel Urtecho. According to literary manifests which were published in 1931, one of Coronel's objectives were to "initiate a struggle to get the public attention through artistic expressions, intellectual scandal, and aggressive criticism".[5] The Vanguardia literary movement reflected several European movements, especially Surrealism. Vanguardia instituted a radical search for new, daring, confrontational themes and shockingly novel forms.[6] Nicaraguan Writers Claribel Alegra (1924), poet, she received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2006. Emilio lvarez Lejarza (18841969), writer Emilio lvarez Montalvn (1919), political writer Gioconda Belli (1948), poet Beltrn Morales (19451986) poet, essayist, critic and narrator. Yolanda Blanco (1954), poet and translator. Toms Borge (1930), writer, poet, and essayist. Mario Cajina-Vega (19291985), writer, poet, and essayist. Omar Cabezas (1950), writer Adolfo Calero Orozco (18991980), writer, poet Ernesto Cardenal (1925), poet Blanca Castelln (1958), poe

Panamanian literature
Panamanian literature comprises the whole of literary works written in Panama. Panamanian historian and essayist Rodrigo Mir (1912-1996) cites Gonzalo Fernndez de Oviedo y Valds as the author of the first Panamanian literary work, the story of a character named Andrea de la Roca, which was published as part of the "Historia General y Natural de Las Indias" (1535). However, the first manifestations of literature written in Panama come from the 17th century with the title of "Llanto de Panam a la muerte de don Enrique Enrquez" (Crying from Panama at the Death of Don Enrique Enrquez). Although this anthology was formed during the Colony, most of the poems in it were written by authors born in Panama. But it was not until the mid-19th century when the activity of Panamanian authors reached its maximum, and when literary production laid its foundations until the present time.

Poetry
During the Colony
Rodrigo Mir in his "Itinerario de la Poesa en Panam" (Itinerary of Poetry in Panama) talks about various Spanish authors: Mateo Rosas de Oquendo, author of an autobiographic romance; Juan de Miramontes y Zuzola, author of "Armas Antrticas" (Antarctic Weapons); Juan de Pramo y Cepeda, author of "Alteraciones del Dariel" (Alterations of Darien); etc. Also, in this period arose the author of "La Poltica del Mundo" (Politics of the World), Vctor de la Guardia y Ayala. "La Poltica del Mundo" is a "stage play" that was performed for the first time in 1809.[1] The importance of Vctor de la Guardia y Ayala is that he was born in Panama, contrary to others that came from Spain and, for this reason, for a while he was considered the "first Panamanian poet".[2] However, the discovery of some manuscripts which come from the 17th century caused the revision of this idea, because the first reference from this period which indicates a written production by Panamanian authors (in other words, born in Panama) dates from 1638 and it is an anthology called "Llanto de Panam a la muerte de don Enrique Enrquez" (Crying from Panama at the Death of Don Enrique Enrquez). This anthology groups works written for the death of Enrique Enrquez, governor of Panama. It was edited for the first time in Madrid (1642) and its author was Mateo Ribera (Panamanian); also he wrote many poems in this work. Although most of "Llanto de Panam"s poems were written by Panamanians, it has many works written by Spanish authors. This discovery was accomplished by the Spanish diplomat Antonio Serrano de Haro, who also studied these manuscripts. A new version of this anthology was published at 1984 in a combined job between the Universidad de Panam and the "Instituto de Cultura Hispnica".[3] This discovery confirms, in fact, that the first Panamanian literary manifestations (found until now) come from 17th century.

Romanticism
Panama was not isolated from revolutionary movements which were seeking the independence of colonies from Spain. The feeling of independence was growing up and it was accomplished with the Independence of Panama from Spain on November 28, 1821. Like the other colonies, in Panama the Romanticism was related to liberal and nationalist ideas and the literary works are influenced by these in this period. Although there was more participation of authors in this era, most of them are amateurs and not persons who spent their whole time in artistic creation.[1] Among the first romantic Panamanian poets we can mention are Manuel Mara Ayala (1785 1824) and Toms Mir Rubini (18001881). Subsequently appeared Jos Mara Alemn (1830 1887), Gil Colunje (18311899), Toms Martn Feuillet (18321899), Jos Dolores Urriola (18341883), Amelia Denis de Icaza (18361911), Manuel Jos Prez (18371895), Jernimo Ossa (18471907), Federico Escobar (18611912) and Rodolfo Caicedo (18681905). In conclusion, the cultivation of poetry was established (in fact) in Panama with the romantic generations and it acquired a nationalist character[1] that would be the main theme in poetic works until mid-20th century when avant-garde poetry arrived in Panama.

Modernism
In 1903, Panama separated from Colombia; this time saw the peak of modernism in Hispanic literature. The first modernist was Daro Herrera (18701914), friend and follower of Rubn Daro, whom he met in Buenos Aires. Another important poet was Len Antonio Soto (1874 1902), who died at a young age when tortured by the police for having championed the cause of Panama. Two literary magazines focused mainly on the dissemination of the modernist movement: El Heraldo del Istmo (19041906), directed by Guillermo Andreve (18791940), and Nuevos Ritos (1907), founded by Ricardo Mir (18831940). Ricardo Mir is perhaps the most prominent poet of Panamanian modernism. His poem "Patria" (1909) is also famous. At this time, Gaspar Octavio Hernndez (18931918), author of Melodas del pasado (1915) and La copa de amatista (1923), was also active. Other notable poets of the same generation were Mara Olimpia de Obalda (18911985) and Demetrio Korsi (18991957).

1930 to present
Since 1930, coinciding with the "Communal Action" (Accin Comunal) youth revolution, a new generation of poets, grouped around the magazine Antena, distanced itself from modernist rhetoric, instead approaching the avant-garde. The main reference for this transformation was Rogelio Sinn (Taboga, 1902 Panam, 1994), an author who had traveled in Europe and visited the surrealists in Paris. Onda (1929) shows the influence of pure poetry; other major works by Sinan include Incendios (1944) and Semana Santa en la niebla (1949), in which dreamlike elements show his surrealist affiliation.

Surrealism is also evident in the work of Ricardo J. Bermdez (1914), whose most famous work is Laurel de cenizas (1951). The work of Demetrio Herrera Sevillano (19021950) is also a part of this avant-garde movement; his work was greatly influenced by ultrasmo. Another poet of this era, who was also a short-story writer and journalist, was Mario Augusto Rodrguez (1917). In 1957, he published his poetry collection Canto de amor para la Patra novia, a poetic history of the Panamanian nation. Other major poets of this era include Stella Sierra, Roque Javier Laurenza, Ofelia Hooper, Tobas Daz Blaitry (19192006), Tristn Solarte (1934), Jos de Jess Martnez, Diana Morn (1932), Alvaro Menndez Franco (1932), Luis Carlos Jimnez Varela, Jos Guillermo RossZanet (1930), Jos Franco (1931), and Elsie Alvarado de Ricord (19282005). Major poets of the next generation included Benjamn Ramn (1939), Bertalicia Peralta (1939), Ramn Oviero (19392008), Moravia Ochoa Lpez (1941), Dimas Lidio Pitty (1941), Roberto Fernndez Iglesias (1941), Eric Arce (1942), Enrique Jaramillo Levi (1944), Jarl Ricardo Babot (1945), Giovanna Benedetti (1950), Manuel Orestes Nieto (1951), Viviane Nathan (1953), Moiss Pascual (1955), Consuelo Toms (1957), Hctor M. Collado (1960), and Pablo Menacho (1960). At the end of the 20th century emerged a new generation of poets, who began to publish after 1990. Major poets of this era include Javier Romero Hernndez (Chorrera, 1983), Sofa Santim (Panam, 1982), Javier Alvarado (Santiago de Veraguas, 1982), Salvador Medina Barahona (Mariab de Pedas, 1973), Eyra Harbar Gomez (Bocas del Toro, 1972), Porfirio Salazar (1970), Katia Chiari (Panam, 1969), and Alexander Zanchez (Panam, 1968).

Narrative
Modernism and the first Panamanian books
The short story in Panama can be said to have begun formally in 1903, when Daro Herrera (18701914) published the first book of stories by a Panamanian author, Horas Lejanas, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since this time, the short story has been the most important literary genre in Panama.[4] Nearly all modernist and postmodernist poets in Panama published stories during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of these, Salomn Ponce Aguilera (18681945), Guillermo Andreve, Gaspar Octavio Hernndez (18831940), and Ricardo Mir (18831940) stand out as poets whose short stories, often scattered and unpublished, were picked up and commented on by writer Mario Augusto Rodrguez in 1956. Other important authors of this period include Jos Mara Nez (18941990), Moiss Castillo (18991974), Gil Blas Tejeira (19011975) and Alfredo Cantn (1910-1967).

Themes of the countryside and the canal in narrative

One notable author of the next generation was Rogelio Sinn, author of the novel Plenilunio and the collections of stories A la orilla de las estatuas maduras (1946), La boina roja y cinco cuentos (1954), Cuentos de Rogelio Sinn (1971), and El candelabro de los malos ofidios (1982). Other authors of this generation included Lucas Brcenas (19061992), Csar Candanedo (19061993), Renato Ozores (19102001), Ricardo Bermdez (19142000), Mario Augusto Rodrguez (Santiago de Veraguas, 1917) (author of Campo Adentro (1947), Luna en Veraguas (1948), and Los ultrajados (1994)), Jos Mara Snchez (19181973), Ramn H. Jurado (19221978), Joaqun Beleo (1921), Carlos Francisco Changmarn (1922), Jorge Turner (1922), Tristn Solarte (1924) and Jos Guillermo Ros-Zanet (1930). In this generation, authors cultivated nationalistic themes, either from the point of view of the cities at each end of the Panama Canal and their relation to the Canal Zone, or from rural point of view from the interior of the country.

Universal themes
The next generation is that of authors born since 1932. Many of these authors are still producing literary works. Major authors of this generation include Ernesto Endara (1932), lvaro Menndez Franco (1932), Enrique Chuez (1934), Justo Arroyo (1936), Rosa Mara Britton (1936), Victoria Jimnez Vlez (1937), Pedro Rivera (1939), Benajamn Ramn (1939), Beatrz Valds (1940), Gloria Guardia (1940), Dimas Lidio Pitty (1941), Moravia Ochoa Lpez (1941), Mireya Hernndez (19422006), Enrique Jaramillo Levi (1944), Isabel Herrera de Taylor (1944), Ral Leis (1947), Giovanna Benedetti (1949), Lupita Quirs Athanasiadis (1950), Rey Barra (1951), Ramn Fonseca Mora (1952), Herastro Reyes (19522005), Claudio de Castro (1957), Consuelo Toms (1957), Yolanda Hackshaw (1958), Allen Patio (1959), Rafael Alexis lvarez (1959), Ariel Barra Alvarado (1959), Hctor Collado (1960), David Robinson Orobio (1960), Erika Harris (1963), and Rogelio Guerra vila (1963), Javier Stanziola (1971). This generation is notable for its abandonment of criollismo as a narrative theme in favor of universal themes, and in some cases, emphasizing dream and fantasy.

Twenty-first century narrative

Publishing for the first time after 1996, the newest generation of Panamanian storytellers has emerged. Among these writers are Carlos Fong (1967), Francisco J. Berguido (1969), Carlos Oriel Wynter Melo (1971), Jos Luis Rodrguez Pitt (1971), Melanie Taylor (1972), Roberto Prez-Franco (1976), Gloria Melania Rodrguez (1981), and Annabel Miguelena (1984). This generation is characterized by the use of short fiction, poetic and imaginative language, and human themes, in which the individual stands out above a chaotic, typically urban environment.