"Walking around" – Pablo Neruda
Elijah Ramirez
10 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers Pablo Neruda's poem "Walking Around", focusing on its significance for the AP Spanish Literature Exam. It explores the poem's historical and societal context, analyzes the disillusioned protagonist, and explains key literary devices (free verse, enumeration, symbolism, imagery, asyndeton, polysyndeton, paradox, juxtaposition) and their effects. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips covering themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for authenticity.
#AP Spanish Literature Study Guide: "Walking Around" by Pablo Neruda
This poem is a frequent topic on the AP exam due to its rich themes and literary devices. Understanding it well is key!
#📚 Context Behind "Walking Around"
#👤 Author Background
Pablo Neruda (pen name of Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto) was a Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician. He was a Nobel laureate known for his passionate and emotionally charged poetry, often centered on love, nature, and social justice. His deep political involvement also influenced his work.
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#🕰️ Time and Place
📜 Historical Context: Mid-20th century, a period with rigid gender roles, increasing industrialization, and urbanization. This era saw social upheaval and changing perceptions of masculinity and femininity.
🗺️ Geographic Context: While not explicitly stated, the imagery suggests landscapes of Chile, with its diverse mountains, lakes, and coastline, which often served as a backdrop for Neruda's poetic exploration of nature and human emotions.
#🌍 Societal Context
👑 Political: Neruda was a leftist, associated with the Communist Party of Chile. His poetry often contained subtle political messages advocating for social justice and criticizing oppression.
🧑🏽🤝🧑🏻 Socio-economic: The poem reflects urban life and consumerism, with the protagonist encountering tailor shops, movie houses, barbershops, and stores, highlighting the commodification of human existence and the pressures of conformity. There's a hint of economic disparities, symbolized by the "half-frozen" warehouse with corpses.
🎭 Cultural: Chilean culture has a strong literary tradition, and Neruda is a celebrated figure. The poem explores universal themes of existential angst and the search for authenticity, transcending specific cultural boundaries.
#📝 Need to Know About "Walking Around"
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