Generation of '98 facts for kids
The Generation of '98 (which means Generación del 98 in Spanish) was a group of important Spanish writers, poets, and thinkers. They were active around the time of the Spanish–American War in 1898. This group wanted to bring new ideas and styles to Spanish culture and art.
The name "Generation of '98" was first used by a writer named José Martínez Ruiz, also known as "Azorín," in 1913. He used it to describe the big problems Spain faced after losing its colonies like Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam in the war. These writers were very concerned about Spain's future and wanted to see big changes.
These intellectuals were known for criticizing Spain's education and literature. They felt these areas were too old-fashioned, didn't encourage new ideas, and lacked true spirit. Their criticisms were also linked to their dislike of the "Restoration" movement, which was how the Spanish government was run at the time.
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Spain's History in the Late 1800s
The writers of the Generation of '98 grew up during a time of big changes and challenges in Spain. Most of them were born in the 1870s. They were especially affected by Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War in 1898. This war made many people feel sad and humiliated, and it led to new political ideas.
Before the war, Spain had gone through some unstable times:
- In 1868, there was a revolution called "The Glorious Revolution." Queen Isabella was overthrown, and the country tried to create a new, stable government.
- The First Spanish Republic was formed in 1873, but it only lasted for about two years.
- After this, the "Restoration project" began in 1874. This was an attempt to create a stable government with a king, similar to Britain. A system called turno pacífico (meaning "peaceful alternation") was set up. In this system, two main political parties would take turns controlling the government. However, this was often done through elections that were carefully managed. The Restoration brought some stability but ended in 1931.
Challenges to Education
During the Restoration period, some people in power wanted to strengthen traditional Spanish values, especially those related to Catholicism. In 1875, a minister named Manuel Orovio issued a rule called the Decreto Orovio. This rule made it harder for new, liberal ideas to be taught in schools and universities.
This led to problems for some professors at the Central University of Madrid. They were teaching ideas from a German philosopher named Karl Christian Friedrich Krause, who believed in intellectual freedom. Because of this, these progressive professors were dismissed from their jobs.
The Free Educational Institution
In 1876, the dismissed professors, led by Francisco Giner de los Ríos, decided to start their own school. They called it the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE), or The Free Educational Institution. This was a private school that was not controlled by the government or religious groups. It started with university-level classes and later included primary and secondary education.
The ILE was very different from the official schools of the time. It focused on intellectual freedom and helping students improve themselves morally. It was a way to show that education could be better and more open-minded.
A Call for Change
The writers of the Generation of '98 strongly disliked the way the Restoration government was organized. They saw it as corrupt and unfair. After Spain's devastating defeat in the Spanish–American War, which resulted in many deaths and the loss of its last colonies, these writers felt it was urgent to speak out. They believed Spain was in a very bad state and needed to be "rescued" through new ideas and actions, outside of politics.
These writers, poets, and playwrights shared many ideas. They were against the return of the monarchy in Spain and wanted to bring back old Spanish stories and myths. They also broke away from traditional writing styles and experimented with new forms. They often used old or forgotten Spanish words and frequently wrote about the ancient kingdom of Castile. Many of them supported the idea of Spanish Regionalism, which means giving more power to different regions of Spain.
Their literature often showed a longing for Spain's past glory, especially its traditions and beautiful landscapes. At the same time, they criticized the social and political problems of their era, trying to understand why Spain had declined. Their writing style was often simple, using third-person narration and a lot of dialogue instead of long descriptions to tell their stories. Some writers, like Miguel de Unamuno, even invented new literary forms, such as the nivola.
Many of their most important works were written after 1910. These writings often explored themes of radicalism and rebellion. For example, the later poems of Antonio Machado in "Campos de Castilla," the articles Miguel de Unamuno wrote during First World War, and the essays of Pío Baroja all show this spirit.
Some modern thinkers criticize the Generation of '98, saying that the group became too focused on themselves and felt a lot of frustration with Spanish society and politics.
Important Figures
Some of the most important thinkers and writers of the Generation of '98 include:
- Joaquín Costa
- Ángel Ganivet
- Miguel de Unamuno
- Ramón del Valle-Inclán
- José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín)
- Pío Baroja
- Antonio Machado
- Manuel Machado
- Ramiro de Maeztu
