Rubén Darío: vida y obra

Summary

This video provides an insightful overview of the life and works of Rubén Darío, the father of the modernist movement in Latin American literature. Born in Nicaragua in 1867, Darío was a child prodigy who published his first collection, 'Azul,' at age 21, marking the start of his influential career. The video covers his travels across Latin America, Spain, and Europe, his poetic evolution, and his bohemian lifestyle. It also explores his major works, including 'Prosas Profanas' and 'Cantos de Vida y Esperanza,' which reflect both personal and societal themes. Darío’s legacy continues to shape modernist poetry today.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rubén Darío's real name was Félix Rubén García Sarmiento; Darío was a pseudonym taken from his great-grandfather's surname.
• 😀 Darío was born in 1867 in Meta, Nicaragua, and had a difficult childhood due to his parents' separation, leaving him with his culturally enriched maternal uncles.
• 😀 From a young age, Darío was a child prodigy, learning to read at age 3 and composing poetry by age 12.
• 😀 At age 21, Darío began traveling across Latin America with limited resources, eventually achieving fame with his work 'Azul' in 1888.
• 😀 'Azul' is considered the first major work of the Modernist movement, which Darío is often credited with founding.
• 😀 Darío’s first trip to Spain in 1892 coincided with the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America, allowing him to connect with prominent Spanish intellectuals and artists.
• 😀 His second trip to Spain in 1899 occurred after the Spanish-American War, where he saw significant changes in Spain's intellectual and cultural landscape.
• 😀 Darío was a well-known public figure, respected as both a poet and a diplomat, with a bohemian lifestyle and a reputation as a womanizer.
• 😀 After the death of his first wife, Darío developed an addiction to alcohol that affected his life and work, contributing to his declining health.
• 😀 Darío's third and final trip to Europe occurred during World War I, after which he returned to Nicaragua, where he died in 1916 due to health issues exacerbated by his lifestyle.
• 😀 Darío is most famous for his poetry, with three key collections: 'Azul' (1888), 'Prosas Profanas' (1896), and 'Cantos de Vida y Esperanza' (1905), each marking different stages of his modernist evolution.
• 😀 'Azul' is divided into four parts representing different types of love: physical, nostalgic, instinctive, and worldly.
• 😀 'Prosas Profanas' showcases Darío’s more refined and sensual modernist style, featuring famous poems like 'Sonatina' and 'Era un aire suave'.
• 😀 'Cantos de Vida y Esperanza' reflects Darío's more political and social concerns, including his anxiety about America's influence on Nicaragua and his broader reflections on life and death.

Q & A

What was Rubén Darío's real name?

Rubén Darío's real name was Félix Rubén García Sarmiento.

Why did Rubén Darío choose the pen name 'Darío'?

He chose the pen name 'Darío' after his great-grandfather's surname, similar to how the poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer used his grandfather's surname.

How was Rubén Darío's childhood shaped by his family environment?

His childhood was challenging due to his parents' separation, but he was raised by cultured maternal uncles who had a large library and exposed him to a rich cultural environment.

What was significant about Rubén Darío's early intellectual development?

Darío showed exceptional intellectual abilities from a young age; by three, he could read, and by six, he was reading classical works. He began composing poetry at 12.

What was Rubén Darío's first major published work and when was it released?

His first major work, *Azul*, was published in 1888 in Chile and is considered a key piece in the modernist movement.

What role did Rubén Darío play in the modernist movement?

Rubén Darío is considered the father of the modernist movement in Latin America. His work *Azul* is regarded as the first significant piece of modernist literature.

How did Darío's travels influence his work and his reputation?

Darío's travels across Latin America and Europe, particularly his time in Spain, allowed him to connect with prominent intellectuals and artists, influencing his work and solidifying his international reputation.

What was the significance of Darío's first trip to Spain in 1892?

Darío's first trip to Spain in 1892 coincided with the fourth centenary of Columbus' discovery of America, allowing him to engage with the cultural and intellectual currents of the time.

How did the Spanish-American War affect Rubén Darío's second visit to Spain in 1899?

During his second trip to Spain in 1899, Darío witnessed the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, which had deeply affected Spain and its intellectual world, leading to a more disillusioned and reflective Darío.

What were the major themes explored in Rubén Darío's poetry collections?

Darío's poetry explored themes of love, nostalgia, and beauty in his early works (*Azul* and *Prosas Profanas*). Later, in *Cantos de Vida y Esperanza*, his work took on more political and social themes, reflecting his concerns about Latin America's future and the influence of the United States.