Glossary
Aliteración
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together, used to create a musical effect or emphasize certain words.
Example:
The phrase 'silenciosa serpiente silba' uses aliteración to evoke the sound of a slithering snake.
Apóstrofe
A literary device where the speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object as if it were capable of understanding.
Example:
When the poet cries out, 'Oh, mighty storm!', he is employing an apóstrofe to directly engage with the natural phenomenon.
Consonant rhyme
A type of rhyme where the consonant sounds are the same, but the vowel sounds are different (e.g., 'bill' and 'ball').
Example:
While not as common as perfect rhyme, consonant rhyme can add subtle musicality to a poem without being overtly melodic.
El individuo en su entorno
A theme that examines the relationship between a single person and their surrounding environment, often exploring feelings of insignificance, connection, or conflict.
Example:
The poet's feeling of being small and vulnerable amidst the vast storm illustrates the theme of el individuo en su entorno.
El tiempo y el espacio
A literary theme exploring how the setting (time and place) influences the narrative, characters, and overall meaning of a work.
Example:
The immediate, intense present moment of the storm emphasizes the theme of el tiempo y el espacio in the poem.
Endecasílabo
A line of verse consisting of eleven syllables, commonly used in Spanish poetry for more formal, solemn, or reflective tones.
Example:
The majestic descriptions of the storm's power are often conveyed through the stately rhythm of an endecasílabo.
Geographic Context
The specific physical location and natural environment where a literary work is set or where its author lived, often shaping its imagery and themes.
Example:
The powerful Caribbean storms are integral to the geographic context of 'En una tempestad,' making the natural imagery particularly vivid.
Heptasílabo
A line of verse consisting of seven syllables, often used in Spanish poetry to create a sense of speed or lightness.
Example:
The poet might use a heptasílabo to quicken the pace, mirroring the rapid approach of a hurricane.
Historical Context
The social, political, economic, and cultural conditions of the time period in which a literary work was created, influencing its themes and meaning.
Example:
Understanding the historical context of Latin American independence movements helps explain the revolutionary spirit in Heredia's poem.
Hyperbaton
A literary device involving the inversion of the usual or natural word order in a sentence, often for emphasis or poetic effect.
Example:
When a poet writes 'Darkness, profound, enveloped the land' instead of 'Profound darkness enveloped the land,' they are using hyperbaton.
José María Heredia
A prominent Cuban Romantic poet (1803-1839) known for his passionate and descriptive style, often reflecting on nature and human insignificance.
Example:
Students often analyze how José María Heredia's personal experiences with exile influenced the themes of freedom and nature in his poetry.
La naturaleza y el ambiente
A central theme focusing on the depiction of the natural world and its relationship with human experience, often highlighting its power, beauty, or destructive force.
Example:
The overwhelming force of the hurricane in 'En una tempestad' is a prime example of the theme of la naturaleza y el ambiente.
La trayectoria y la transformación
A theme that explores the path or journey of a character, idea, or event, and the changes or evolution that occur as a result.
Example:
The storm's destructive path and the poet's internal shift from fear to awe demonstrate the theme of la trayectoria y la transformación.
Metonimia
A figure of speech where a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it, rather than by its own name.
Example:
Referring to the king as 'the crown' is an example of metonimia, where the symbol stands for the person.
Poema no estrófico
A poem that does not follow a fixed stanza pattern, allowing for greater fluidity and creative expression in its structure.
Example:
The unpredictable nature of the storm is mirrored by the poem's form as a poema no estrófico, lacking regular stanzas.
Prosopopeya
A literary device where human qualities or actions are attributed to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas; also known as personification.
Example:
Describing the wind as 'howling with rage' is an instance of prosopopeya, giving human emotion to a natural force.
Romanticism
A literary and artistic movement emphasizing emotion, individualism, the glorification of nature, and often the sublime or awe-inspiring aspects of the natural world.
Example:
The intense emotional response to the storm in 'En una tempestad' is a hallmark of Romanticism.
Silva
A Spanish poetic form consisting of an indeterminate number of hendecasyllables (11-syllable lines) and heptasyllables (7-syllable lines), without a fixed rhyme scheme.
Example:
The flexible structure of the silva allows Heredia to mimic the unpredictable and varied intensity of the storm.
Societal Context
The prevailing social norms, values, class structures, and cultural beliefs of the society in which a literary work is produced or set.
Example:
The poem's subtle critique of oppression can be understood by examining the societal context of colonial Cuba with its inequalities.