Pablo Neruda I.O. #1

By: Sophia Hu, Alexa Christianson, Shruti Karanth, Ashmi Chakraborty, Swapna Vasudevan,

and Shreenu Sivakumar

Pablo Neruda and Modernista Movement

Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto

1904-1973

● Born July 12, 1904 in Parral, (small town) Chile● Spent most of his childhood in Temuco, Chile; inspired by the natural

beauty of small town.● Began writing for “La Mañana” at the age of thirteen. ● Alias: “Pablo Neruda” to write works in 1920 for the

journal “Selva Austral”o father opposed poetry/writing

● Influential and widely read poets of his time o universal themes → appealed to all audiences

Biography cont. ● Exiled twice: ● 1. Trotsky misconduct 2. Videla ● University of Chile: to major in French → teacher

o freedom for poetry o school organizations for workers

● 1927-1935: honorary consulships; his inspiration to write “Residencia en la Tierra”

● Impacted by the Spanish Civil War and the death of Gael Garcia Lorca. ● Nobel Peace Prize, Stalin and Lenin Peace Prize ● Died of heart failure days after Pinochet took power in 1973; suffering from

cancer.o final days in Isla Negra

Importance/Effect

● Esoteric poems: about events of world history ● Wrote Accessibly through odes about common

objects● Importance on how his writing sounded

o ex. rhythm, “musical intelligence”

Modernista Movement

● ~ 1880 to 1910● First to expand beyond region● Initially a reaction to naturalism & realism in Europe● Promoted personal independence of the creator

o Wanted to be separate from social/political activistso Social commentaries evident in many workso (i.e. plight of indigenous peoples)

Characteristics of Modernista Literature

● Cultural maturity● Pride in Latin American identity● Internationalism● Exoticism● Blend of European-“isms”

o i.e. Romanticism, symbolism● La voluntad de estilo:

o “will of style”o Subject matter comes from creator’s identity & style

Neruda’s Involvement

● First 2 poetry books did not reflect many modernista elementso Focused on nature & women/love

● Focused on modernism in the context of human consciousnesso Addresses, style and content changedo Rooted in both personal & political events

Interactive Activity ● Find a partner at your table● Describe the candy/chocolate that you ate using

only “sound” diction/imagery● See if your partner can guess what

candy/chocolate you ateDiscussion:

How effective is sound in conveying settings, characters, emotions etc. in

literature?

Major Themes of Musical elements in Writing and Neruda

in ModernismNeruda focuses on structuring his poems in a manner that they would flow “musically” if read orally. However, his modernista works do not reflect the same regard for aesthetics as his previous works. What do you know about Neruda and Modernism to conclude about why this shift occurred?

Pablo Neruda’s Political Works and

Influences

Political Involvement ● Chilean Communist Party

○ Chilean senate as rep. for Chilean communist party○ President nominee-Allende ○ President Videla + Cursed Law → exile

● Never disillusioned○ Stalinism ○ idealism

● Communism: did not reiterate Marxism in work○ “lives of daily people” ○ Canto General

Social Class

● Father railroad worker ● Mother was teacher- died young● Childhood: not poor ● College/adults years: struggled financially

o Despite his fame he was still very pooro Cut off from father for poetry o Economy down: high unemployment and

starving people; Chileans turn to government for help

o 1918 and 1919 protestso Government suppressed the protests; did not

help

Religion

● Atheist ● Brought up Roman Catholic ● God is unreliable ● Religious leaders deceive ● Religion embellished and “sold” to

people

How Were His Works Political?

★ Many of his poems were political commentaries

★ Reflected his:○ Political beliefs○ Reactions to Latin American history

Canto General

★ Main political work★ Neruda’s tenth book of

poems★ Wrote it in exile★ Hispanic-American take

on the history of the “New World” (American Western Hemisphere)

Themes within Canto General

★ Neocolonialism★ Struggle for Social Justice★ Ideal Communism★ Culture Clash

Neocolonialism

★ “Practice of using capitalism, business globalization, and cultural imperialism to influence a country…”

Struggle for Social Justice

★ Highlights conflict between indigenous population and colonizers

★ Supports Latin American Independence Movements

Ideal Communism

★ Uses downfalls of capitalism to encourage spread of Marxism

★ Believes that communism can bring social equality

Culture Clash

★ Juxtaposes indigenous culture to the culture of colonization

Political Poetry ● Poems we are reading in class:o “And then on the ladder” from

“Heights of Macchu Picchu”o “The United Fruit Company”o “To everyone, to you”o “The Great Tablecloth”

Interactive Activity: Neruda’s Communism

● First Split: Among table group in a way that illustrates Neruda’s idea of communism

● Second Split: Among table group in a way the illustrates reality of communism

● How would Neruda react with 2nd split?

Pablo Neruda’s Odes and Nobel Peace

Prize

What is an Ode?

An ode is a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular

meter

Purpose of Neruda’s Odes● “Neruda exhibits rapture (ecstasy),

tranquility, and immense beauty in many of his odes”o Hand in hand with his emphasis on natureo Juxtaposed to Neruda’s writing about the

history of wars● Neruda’s aim, through his odes, was to

speak to ordinary people about ordinary things using the colloquial language

Neruda and the Ode

● Odes were about: o Daily objects o Relatable to the common man

ex. Lemons, Cats, Artichokes, etc. ● Odes were considered the lowest forms

of poetry as they lacked a “plan” and definite structure

Neruda’s Odes“The 225 odes he [Neruda] composed

are, collectively, an astonishingly intimate diary about the state of our

complicated world. In them he [Neruda] pays tribute to items that accompany us

daily yet we seldom notice: a pencil, shoelaces, tomatoes, the waves, a

decrepit movie theater”

Odes and Their Specific Subjects

● Titles of odes hint at subjects being disclosed in Neruda’s poems

● What subjects you think the following odes will address?o “Ode with a Lament”o “Ode to a Chestnut on the Ground”o “Ode to the Book II”o “Ode to a Watch in the Night”

Neruda and Nobel Peace Prize

Neruda was awarded The Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971 in Stockholm.

Pause and Reflect● Based off of what we have discussed

about Neruda’s life and poetry thus far, what key elements would you expect to find in his Nobel Speech?

● Things to think about:o How Neruda viewed himself as a poet?o Target audience?o Writing style?

Neruda and Nobel Peace PrizeWas awarded the Nobel Peace prize for:

“for a poetry that with the action of an

elemental force brings alive a continent’s

destiny and dreams”● Discuss with your table groups. What is the Nobel

Prize Organization saying about Neruda’s works? What do you think the “elemental force” and “continent’s destiny and dreams” refers to?

Neruda’s Message in his Nobel Speech

● Believed that he was not above everyone else because he was a poet who won a Nobel Prize

“The poet is not a “little god”... He is not picked out by a mystical

destiny in preference to those who follow other crafts and professions”

Neruda’s Message in his Nobel Speech

● Relates to the common man and tries to connect to them through his poetry

● Connection to other authors? (Hint: Chekhov!)

“I have often maintained that the best poet is he who prepares our daily bread: the nearest baker who does not imagine

himself to be a god”

Neruda’s Message in his Nobel Speech

● Believed it to be his job to help people realize beauty in life for what it truly is (common man theme!)

“For I believe my duties as a poet involve not only with the rose and with symmetry… but also with unrelenting human occupations which I have incorporated into my poetry”.

Pause and Reflect Again…

“...for a poetry that with the action of

an elemental force brings alive a

continent’s destiny and dreams”● Revisiting this quote now, how has your

understanding changed? What is the “elemental force” and the “continent’s destiny and dreams”?

Reception of Work

● Hid work from dad and used fake name● Veinte poemas de amor y una canción

desesperada o Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despairo Made him a celebrity

● Continued to write o “greatest poet of 20th century” -Gabriel

Garcia Marquez

Major Themes of Nobel Speech and Odes

● Neruda emphasizes theme: a common man

● Neruda does not believe the poets having a divine gift of poetry

● Most of Neruda’s odes target general society

● Neruda’s uses direct tone ● Neruda emphasizes nature imagery

Pablo Neruda Review Activity

Put your notes away :)● Given the statements on the following

slide, select the 8+ correct facts about Neruda and his poetry (write down the statement number on your paper)

● The table group the 8+ correct facts will win the Nobel Peace Prize!!

Pablo Neruda Statements1. Neruda was born in Spain on July 12th,

19042. Neruda was Roman Catholic for his whole

life3. Neruda was born in Chile on July 12th,

19044. Neruda was poor growing up5. Neruda was an atheist after he grew up. 6. Neruda believed in ideal communism7. Neruda believed in using many complex

subjects in his poetry so that only the upper class understood his writing

8. Neruda won the Nobel Peace Prize for his complex poetry and inaccessible subjects

9. Neruda was influenced by the Chilean communist party and wrote about it as well.

10. Neruda wrote the Canto General during his exile which was about the Hispanic-American take on the history of the “New World”.

11. Neruda did not share all his poetry with his father and used a false name

12. Neruda won the Nobel Peace in 1950.13. Neruda was exiled because he wrote Twenty

Love Poems and a Song of Despair.14. Ideal (not reality) communism was based off

of Marxist ideals15. Characteristics of modernista literature

included cultural maturity and pride in Latin American identity.

16. Neruda struggled financially during his college years but was not poor during his childhood years

17. Neruda only wrote about everyday events18. Odes are very structured and are considered

the purest forms of poetry19. Neruda believed that he was a poetry god

and had a divine right because he was better than everybody else.

20. Neruda supported Latin American independence movements

Pablo Neruda Statements- w/answers

11. Neruda did not share all his poetry with his father and used a false name

12. Neruda won the Nobel Peace in 1950.13. Neruda was exiled because he wrote Twenty

Love Poems and a Song of Despair.14. Ideal (not reality) communism was based off

of Marxist ideals15. Characteristics of modernista literature

included cultural maturity and pride in Latin American identity

16. Neruda struggled financially during his college years but was not poor during his childhood years

17. Neruda only wrote about everyday events.18. Odes are very structured and are considered

the purest forms of poetry19. Neruda believed that he was a poetry god and

had a divine right because he was better than everybody else.

20. Neruda supported Latin American independence movements

1. Neruda was born in Spain on July 12th, 1904

2. Neruda was Roman Catholic for his whole life

3. Neruda was born in Chile on July 12th, 1904

4. Neruda was poor growing up.5. Neruda was an atheist after he grew up6. Neruda believed in ideal communism.7. Neruda believed in using many complex

subjects in his poetry so that only the upper class understood his writing

8. Neruda won the Nobel Peace Prize for his complex poetry and inaccessible subjects

9. Neruda was influenced by the Chilean communist party and wrote about it as well.

10. Neruda wrote the Canto General during his exile which was about the Hispanic-American take on the history of the “New World”.

Works Cited "Conference on Latin American History." The Hispanic American Historical Review 23.2 (1943): 371-72. Web.

Guardiola-Rivera, Oscar. "Pablo Neruda's Importance Was as Much Political as Poetic." The Guardian. The Guardian, 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 2 Nov.

2014.

"The Hand Through the Fence: Pablo Neruda on What a Childhood Encounter Taught Him About Writing and Why We Make Art." Brain

Pickings RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

"Nobel Lecture." Pablo Neruda. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

"Pablo Neruda Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

"Pablo Neruda - Biographical." Pablo Neruda -Biographical. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

"Pablo Neruda." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

"The People's Poet." The People's Poet. N.p., 14 Aug. 2004. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

Ray, Deborah Kogan. To Go Singing through the World: The Childhood of Pablo Neruda. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print.

Stavans, Illan. "The Unknown Neruda | Al Jazeera America." The Unknown Neruda | Al Jazeera America. N.p., 20 June 2014. Web. 02 Nov.

2014. "Words Without Borders." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.