Argentinian literature

Author: Sheng Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-07-01
Features: The distant Americas have slept for a thousand years, that land on land is poetry, waiting only for the good singers to chant. The poet of the La Plata River region was Father Miranda de Villafa?e, who came with the Mendoza expedition in 1536. His Elegies are the epic of the conquerors. "Argentina" first existed in poetry, then became a historical reality. It was a long poem by Martin del Barco Centenera titled "Argentina"—a chronicle of the conquest of the La Plata River region—that gave that land a poetic name. Argentine literature during the colonial period was not noteworthy. The only Baroque-style poet worth mentioning in the 17th century was Luis de Tejada. Literature in the 18th century was equally unremarkable. In the early 19th century, Argentina erupted in the May Revolution, and a generation of poets emerged to celebrate independence and freedom. After independence, Argentina strove to break free from the shackles of the colonial power. The "Generation of 37" Romantic writers bore the historical responsibility of forging national spirit with language. In the period of national construction, the "Generation of 80" writers made significant strides in exploring language and literature. The 19th century was also the heyday of Gaucho poetry, from Hidalgo to Hernández. Generations of Gauchos planted the roots of Argentine literature. At the beginning of the 20th century, modernist poets like Lugones made bold attempts to transform language and literary styles, paving the way for the poetic revolution of the "Martin Fierro" school in 1922. The most brilliant part of Argentine literature is contemporary literature. Masters like Borges and Cortázar not only made revolutionary contributions to Argentine literature but also to Latin American literature and even world literature. Argentine literature has finally emerged, becoming a vibrant literature that combines global and national identities, fuses the entire Western civilization, and dares to innovate.