Thinking up an essay question in relation to the Spanish Civil War's literature...

[lucy2231]

Right, I'm doing a project which requires me to write an essay about ANYTHING in the world... and have decided to base it somehow upon the Spanish Civil War and the associated literature. I'm trying to think up something original, and basically came here to see if anyone had any ideas.

Two ideas so far...
• Were the ‘intellectuals’ the driving force behind the Spanish Civil War?
• If León Felipe, ‘the poet of justice’, had not been confined to exile, would he have been more respected today?
I like Lorca too, but can't really think of anything unique to write about... hmm. Are there also any controversial issues regarding Spanish literature of this time which I could research and discuss?

I love reading in Spanish, and will be open to any ideas people have (if there are any answers, mind you :smilewinkgrin:).

[Whifflingpin]

"Were the ‘intellectuals’ the driving force behind the Spanish Civil War?"

I very much doubt it, but it might be fun trying to demonstrate that they were. I'm lamentably ignorant of Spanish literature, but there are three books by Arturo Barea that give the background from one (non-"intellectual") republican's point of view - These might contrast neatly with Malraux' novel.

Of course, the republican government was the existing and legitimate government at the start of the civil war, so to find the driving force behind the war you'd have to look at what drove the falangists to rebel.

[Paulclem]

If you can do anything then why don't you do an essay on something that you already know well? Is the task to demonstrate your essay writing skills? I would think so, given the open nature of the task. If this is the case then the Tutor will be looking at structure/ argument/ writing skills/ rather than content.

I'm sorry if this is no help.

[lucy2231]

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I'm going to study English and Spanish at university, so I really need something that has elements of both literature and Spanish in it. It's worth half an A2 level and can really improve your chances of getting to uni in these... turbulent times ;) And I'm interesting about this, so hopefully I'll think up something eventually :smilewinkgrin:

[Patrick_Bateman]

I know about the Spanish Civil War

But aside from works by Hemingway and Orwell I don't know much of the literature of the tumultuous time

[kelby_lake]

Auden wrote some poems about the Spanish Civil War- I think Spender did too...

[Whifflingpin]

La Forja, La Ruta, La Llama (The Forge, The Track, The Clash) - Arturo Barea. Barea was a broadcaster during the siege of Madrid, the three books are his autobiography up to that point and give a vivid picture of the state of Spain prior to and during the civil war. (He also wrote a book about Lorca)

L'espoir (published as "Days of Hope" in Penguin) - Andre Malraux - The action also centres around the siege of Madrid, if I remember correctly. Malraux was a French intellectual and one of the many foreign volunteers in the Republican forces, so there is probably material for an essay in comparing/contrasting La Llama with L'Espoir.

[stlukesguild]

There was a whole school of Spanish poets working at the time. Many ended up silenced or exiled. Look at Miguel Hernandez (who died in prison), Rafael Alberti, Vicente Aleixandre, Jorge Guillén, Miguel de Unamuno (who openly stood up against both Franco and the leftist Republic and as a result ended under house arrest where he also died).