Mexican Literature

Mexican literature is one of the most prolific and influential of Spanish-language literatures along with those of Spain and Argentina. Found among the names of its most important and internationally recognized literary figures are authors Octavio Paz, Alfonso Reyes, Carlos Fuentes, Sergio Pitol, José Emilio Pacheco, Rosario Castellanos, Fernando del Paso, Juan Rulfo, Amado Nervo, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Ramón López Velarde, and Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora, among others.

Introduction

Mexico's literature has its antecedents in the literatures of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica and the literary traditions of Spain. With the arrival of the Spanish, a new literature was produced through ''mestizaje'', which made way for a period of creolization of literature in the newly established Viceroyalty of New Spain. The literature of New Spain was highly influenced by the Spanish Renaissance, which was represented in all the Spanish literature of the time, and local productions also incorporated numerous terms commonly used in the vernacular of the viceroyalty and some of the topics discussed in the works of the period shaped a distinctive variant of the Spanish literature produced in Mexico.

During the colonial era, New Spain was home to Baroque writers such as Bernardo de Balbuena, Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora, Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Francisco de Castro, Luis Sandoval Zapata, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Diego de Ribera and Rafael Landivar. Towards the independence a new wave of writers gave the initial struggle for the emancipation of national literature from the literature of the Spanish peninsula: Diego José Abad, Francisco Javier Alegre and Friar Servando Teresa de Mier.

Towards the end of colonial rule in New Spain arose figures like José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi, ''El Periquillo Sarniento'' is considered as an emblem of the Mexican literature and the first modern novel written in the Americas. By the second half of that century, works like Los mexicanos pintados por sí mismos, a manners book that gives a rough idea of how intellectuals of the time saw the rest of his countrymen. Towards the end of the century, during the Porfirio Diaz government, Mexican writers inclined towards the dominant European trends of the time.

To celebrate the centenary of the Independence of Mexico, there was a literary project surged ''Antología del Centenario'' which aimed to collect authors of the first hundred years of Mexico. This was truncated and only the first volume was published in two volumes primarily consisting of collected poetry. The poets of the time that were included were Friar Manuel de Navarrete, Fernando Calderón, Ignacio Rodríguez Galván. Notable modernists of the time included Amado Nervo and Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera. Other notable authors of that time were Luis G. Urbina, Efren Rebolledo, José Juan Tablada, Enrique González Martínez and Ramón López Velarde.

The emergence of the Mexican Revolution favored the development of journalistic genre. After the civil conflict finished, the Revolution theme appeared as a theme in many novels, short stories and plays like those of Mariano Azuela or Rodolfo Usigli. This trend would be an antecedent for the flowering of 'revolutionary literature', which was embodied in the work of writers like Rosario Castellanos or Juan Rulfo. A literature of indigenous themes, which aimed to portray the thoughts and life of the indigenous peoples of Mexico surged along with this revolutionary literature, although ironically, none of the writers were indigenous. The most notable indigenist authors of the time included Miguel Angel Menendez Reyes, Ricardo Pozas and Francisco Rojas González.

In alternative to these mainstream literature, also other literary styles were developed in the country, less known movements being outside the main focus. Among them, the '' estridentistas'' (1920s) that included authors such as Arqueles Vela and Manuel Maples Arce. Another relevant movement to the literary history of the country was a group of intellectuals known as ''Los Contemporáneos'' (1930s), which unified figures such as journalist Salvador Novo and poets like Xavier Villaurrutia and José Gorostiza.

During the second half of 20th century, Mexican literature had diversified into themes, styles and genres. There were new groups such as '' Literatura de la Onda'' (1960s), which sought for an urban, satirical and rebellious literature; among the featured authors were Parmenides García Saldaña and José Agustín; another literary style surged called ''Infrarrealismo'' (1970s), which sought to "blow his brains out the official culture"; '' La mafia cultural'' (1960s), was composed of Carlos Fuentes, Salvador Elizondo, José Emilio Pacheco, Carlos Monsivais, Inés Arredondo, Fernando Benítez among others. In 1990, Octavio Paz became the only Mexican to date to have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Pre-Columbian literature

While the peoples of Mesoamerica developed systems of writing, these were not often used to preserve the literature of these peoples. Most of the myths and literary works of the indigenous peoples of Mexico were transmitted by oral tradition. We know, for example, that the activities that were to dominate the novices of priests among the Mexica was the memorization of lyrical works or mythology of their people.

Some of these productions were permanently fixed by writing them down using the Latin alphabet that the missionaries of the 16th century used to transcribe the information they received from the native inhabitants. Modern scholars such as Angel Maria Garibay K. and Miguel Leon-Portilla, have translated these works which were once dispersed in several texts and have reunited or reviewed these works in publications such as in "''Visión de los vencidos. Relaciones indígenas de la Conquista''" or "''Historia de la literatura Náhuatl.''"

The works of Spanish missionaries in central Mexico contributed to the preservation of the oral tradition of the Nahuatl speaking peoples by writing them down on paper using the Latin alphabet. In this regard the lyrical works of Acolmiztli Nezahualcoyotl (1402–1472), tlatoani of Texcoco, were preserved and passed down to posterity giving the author the title of ''Poet King''. His works, along with other nobles of the nahuatlaca peoples of the Altiplano such as Ayocuan of Chalco-Atenco, and Tecayehuatzin of Huexotzinco, constitute the largest sample of pre-Columbian works and philosophical lyrics preserved into the modern era.

There are also smaller stocks of Postclassic Era literature recovered among other peoples such as the Purépecha, the Zapotec and Mixtec. The Case of the Mixtec is special as four codices have been preserved which have led to an approach to the study of the history of these people under the imprint of Eight Deer, Lord of Tututepec and Tilantongo. In the Mayan world there are preserved fragments called Books of Chilam Balam.

Another well known pre-Columbian literature is that of the Quiché people who did not inhabit the current Mexican territory, but rather, lived in what is now Guatemala. The Popol Vuh (Book of Counsel) was written in the Quiché language and incorporates two Mayan cosmogonical myths: the creation of the world and falling of Hunahpu and Xbalanque into Xibalba which is the underworld of the Maya.

Outside of Mesoamerica, Arturo Warman forwarded the hypothesis that the verses sung by the Yaquis and Mayo musicians during the performance of the Danza del Venado have their origin in pre-Columbian times and have survived to this day with very little change since then.

Among the prehispanic literature which flourished are:

* Epic Poetry which chronicles the life of famous people such as Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the founding of cities and pilgrimages of tribes.
* Lyric poetry of religious, military or philosophical context.
* Dramatic poetry, which mixed elements of music and dance, as the feast of Tezcatlipoca.
* Historical Prose and didactic genealogies, also proverbs called ''Huehuetlatolli'' ("The sayings of the old").

Spanish colonial period

In the colonial literature of Mexico we can distinguish several periods. The first period is linked with the historical moment of conquest, it chronicles and letters abound.

16th century

The influence of indigenous themes in the literature of New Spain is evident in the incorporation of many terms commonly used in the common local tongue of the people in colonial Mexico as well as some of the topics touched in the works of the period which reflected local views and cultures. During this period, New Spain housed writers such as Bernardo de Balbuena.

In the colonial literature of Mexico we can distinguish several periods. The first examples of literature are linked with the historical moment of conquest, colonization chronicles and letters.
Works and writers:

* ''Itinerario de la armada del rey católico a la isla de Yucatán ..', probably by Juan Díaz (1480–1549)
* ''Relación de algunas cosas de las que acaescieron a Hernan Cortés ..'' by Andrés de Tapia (1498? -1561)
* ''Cartas de relación de Hernán Cortés'' (1485–1547)
* ''Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España'' by Bernal Diaz del Castillo (1492–1584)
* '' Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España'' Friar Bernardino de Sahagún (1499–1590)
* ''Historia de las Indias, Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias, Apologética historia ..', etc. Friar Bartolomé de las Casas (1484–1566)
* ''Historia general de las Indias, La Conquista de México'' by Francisco Lopez de Gomara (1511–1566)
* ''Antigüedades de la Nueva España'' by Francisco Hernández (1517–1578)
* ''Relación de las cosas de Yucatán'' Friar Diego de Landa (1524–1579)
* ''Crónica mexicana y Crónica mexicáyotl'' by Fernando Alvarado Tezozómoc (c. 1525 – c. 1610)
* ''Historia de Tlaxcala'' by Diego Muñoz Camargo (c. 1530 – c. 1600)
* ''Historia Chichimeca'' by Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxóchitl (1568? -1648)
* ''Historia general de las Indias occidentales y particular de la gobernación de Chiapa y Guatemala'' by Friar Antonio de Remesal
* Francisco Cervantes de Salazar (1514? -1575). Born in Spain, was professor of rhetoric and then rector at the University of Mexico, author of ''Crónica de la Nueva España'' and poems such as ''Túmulo Imperial" y Diálogos latinos'' (following the example of Juan Luis Vives) of Mexican themes for the teaching of Latin.
* Gutierre de Cetina (1520 – c. 1567). Born in Spain, lived and died in Mexico. His poetry predates his stay in Mexico, but is very likely the existence of many plays of his authorship.
* Bernardo de Balbuena (1562–1627). Born in Spain, graduated from the University of Mexico, author of ''Grandeza mexicana'' (Mexican Greatness).
* Friar Luis de Fonsalida, author of "Diálogos o coloquios en lengua mexicana entre la Virgen María y el Arcángel San Gabriel".
* Friar Luis Cancer, author of "Varias canciones en verso zapoteco".
* Plácido Francisco, tepaneca prince, author of "Cánticos de las apariciones de la Virgen María".
* Andrés de Olmos, playwright author, "Representación de fin del mundo".
* Gaspar Perez de Villagra (1555–1620). Born in Puebla, participated in the conquest of New Mexico. Author of the poem ''Historia de la nueva México'' (1610) and several printed memorials.
* Francisco de Terrazas. First known poet born in New Spain.

17th century

In this period flourished particularly the Mexican variant of the Baroque literature. Many of the most famous authors of the century reached varying success in the area of literary games, with works like anagrams, emblems and mazes. There were notable authors in poetry, lyric, narrative and drama. The Baroque literature in New Spain followed the rivers of Spanish writers Góngora and Quevedo. Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora, Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Diego de Ribera were major exponents of the Mexican literature of this period.

The most notable authors:

* Arias Villalobos. He wrote "Historia de México en verso castellano", a narrative poetry.
* Bernardino de Llanos. Born in Spain, was known for his plays and literary whims.
* Diego de Ribera. A descriptive poetry writer of nature and art.
* Juan Ortiz de Torres and Jerome Becerra. Playwrights.
* José López Avilés. He wrote "Payo Enríquez", a biography in verse.
* Matías Bocanegra, author of "Canción la vista de un desengaño".
* María Estrada Medinilla and Sister Teresa de Cristo, verse reciters in civil and religious ceremonies.
* Fernando de Córdoba y Bocanegra (1565–1589). He was born in Mexico city and died in Puebla. He wrote ''Canción al amor divino'' and ''Canción al santísimo nombre de Jesús''.
* Juan de Guevara, was born in Mexico, was an acclaimed lyric poet.
* Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (1581–1639).
* Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695).
* Miguel de Guevara (c. 1586 – after 1646). Augustinian friar from Michoacan, with knowledge of 'Indigenous language'. A manuscript of him dating back 1638 includes, among other poems, sonnets such as ''No me mueve mi Dios para quererte...''.
* Antonio de Saavedra Guzman (? -¿? Published in 1599). Author of the poem ''El peregrino indiano'', a praise of Hernán Cortés.
* Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora (1645–1700).
* Francisco de Terrazas (? - ?, he was alive between 1525 and 1600). Born Mexico, close to Cortés, his works were praised by Miguel de Cervantes, as in ''La Galatea''. Fragments of his poem ''Conquista y Mundo Nuevo'' are preserved.

18th century

Towards the end of the colonial period emerged important figures such as José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi, whose ''El Periquillo Sarniento'', is considered emblematic of Mexican picaresque alongside other of his novels such as ''La Quijotita y su Prima'' and ''Don Catrín dela Fachenda'' represented the first novels written in the Americas.

Illustrated writers and classicists included:

* Diego José Abad (1727–1779)
* Francisco Javier Alegre (1729–1788)
* Francisco Javier Clavijero (1731–1787)
* Rafael Landivar (1731–1793)
* José Mariano Beristain (1756–1817)
* José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi (1776–1827) also known as "The Mexican thinker"
* Friar Servando Teresa de Mier (1765–1827)

Writers of independent Mexico (19th century)

Due to the political instability of the 19th century, Mexico—already an independent nation—saw a decline not only in its literature but in the other arts as well. During the second half of the 19th century, Mexican literature became revitalized with works such as ''Los Mexicanos Pintados Por Si Mismos'', a book that gives us an approximate idea of how intellectuals of the period saw their contemporaries. Towards the end of the century Mexican writers adopted the common tendencies of the period. Two modernist poets that stand out are Amado Nervo and Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera.

During the 19th century there were three major literary trends: romanticism, realism-naturalism and modernism.

Romantic writers gathered around hundreds of associations; among the most important the Academy Lateran, founded in 1836 (José María Lacunza, Guillermo Prieto, Manuel Carpio, Andrés Quintana Roo, José Joaquín Pesado, Ignacio Rodríguez Galván (Ignacio Ramirez). Liceo Hidalgo, was another prominent literary association founded in 1850, (Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, Manuel Acuña, Manuel M. Flores). Unto whom it was labeled as neo-classical or academic, as opposed to the category of "romantic" that was given to the former authors. Other authors belong to this group such as José Manuel Martínez de Navarrete, Vicente Riva Palacio, Joaquin Arcadio Caspian, Justo Sierra and Manuel Jose Othon.

Later, during the rise of positivism aesthetic taste changed. Between realists and naturalists Mexican writers were Luis G. Inclán, Rafael Delgado, Emilio Rabasa, José Tomás de Cuéllar, Federico Gamboa and Ángel de Campo.

Within the modernist superman, original literary revolution in Latin America, there were numerous metrics and rhyming innovations, revival of obsolete forms and mainly symbolic findings. Between 1895 and 1910 Mexico became a core of modernist activity; among famous writers there were Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera, Enrique González Martínez, Salvador Díaz Mirón and Amado Nervo.

Essayists

* Lucas Alamán (1792–1853)
* Serapio Baqueiro Barrera (1865–1940)
* Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera (1859–1895).
* Antonio Menendez de la Peña (1844–1912).
* Rodolfo Menéndez de la Peña (1850–1928).
* Justo Sierra Méndez (1848–1912).
* José Vasconcelos (1882–1959).

Novelists and short story writers

* Ignacio Manuel Altamirano (1834–1893).
* Angel del Campo (1868–1908).
* Florencio María del Castillo (1828–1863).
* José Tomás de Cuellar (1830–1894).
* Rafael Delgado (1853–1914).
* Federico Gamboa (1864–1939).
* Gregorio López (1897–1966).
* Manuel Payno (1810–1894).
* Guillermo Prieto (1818–1897).
* Vicente Riva Palacio (1832–1896)
* José Rubén Romero (1890–1952).
* Victoriano Salado Alvarez (1867–1931).
* Justo Sierra O'Reilly (1814–1861).
* Francisco Javier Moreno (1895–1961).

Poets

* Manuel Acuña (1849–1873).
* Manuel Carpio (1791–1860).
* Salvador Díaz Mirón (1853–1928).
* Enrique González Martínez (1871–1952).
* Enrique González Red (1899–1939).
* Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera (1858–1895).
* Renato Leduc