José María Eguren facts for kids
José María Eguren Rodríguez (born July 7, 1874, in Lima; died April 19, 1942, in Lima) was a talented Peruvian writer. He is best known for his amazing poetry. But he was also a journalist, a painter, and even a photographer! He even invented things.
Eguren was a "post-modernist" writer. This means his style was new and different for his time. Some of his most famous poetry books are Simbólicas (from 1911) and La canción de las figuras (from 1916).
About His Life
José María Eguren was born in Lima on July 7, 1874. His parents were Eulalia Rodríguez Hercelles and José María Eguren y Cáceda. He was a weak and often sick child.
When he was young, he spent a lot of time outdoors. He stayed at ranches like Chuquitanta and Pro. His family went there to avoid problems from the War of the Pacific. This war led to the Occupation of Lima. Being close to nature helped him notice small details. These details later appeared in his poems.
Eguren started school a bit later than most kids. In 1884, at age ten, he began studies at the Colegio de la Inmaculada. He also went to the Scientific Institute of Lima. But he soon left regular school. Instead, his older brother Jorge, who was also his mentor, taught him at home.
In 1897, both of his parents passed away. His family then separated. José María moved to Barranco with his older sisters, Susan and Angelica. They lived together for the rest of their lives. Barranco was a quiet town by the sea, near Lima. Eguren lived there peacefully for over thirty years. Friends and young poets, like Martín Adán, would often visit him there.
How He Learned and What He Read
Because of his health, Eguren could not always go to school. So, he read many books on his own. First, he read romantic and modernist writers. Later, he discovered European poets. These included French symbolists like Baudelaire and Mallarmé. He also read Edgar Allan Poe.
He also enjoyed children's stories, like those by the Brothers Grimm and Andersen. He studied art movements too, such as Preraphaelism. All these different writers and artists influenced him. They helped shape his unique ideas about beauty and art.
What is Symbolism?
José María Eguren is a very important poet for symbolism in Peru. Symbolism was a style of art and writing. It used symbols and feelings instead of clear descriptions.
Here are some key features of symbolism in his poetry:
- Musicality: Words were chosen for their sound, not just their meaning. They made the poems sound like music.
- Suggestion: Poems did not always say things directly. Instead, they hinted at ideas and feelings. This made readers think more deeply.
- Exoticism: He used ideas and images from faraway or unusual places. This made his poems feel mysterious and unique.
- Free Verse: He often wrote poems without a strict rhyme or rhythm. This gave him more freedom to express himself.
- Poetic Symbol: He used objects or ideas to represent something else. For example, a color might stand for a feeling.
See also
In Spanish: José María Eguren para niños
- List of Peruvian writers
