what is Argentinian literature?
Certainly, Argentina is a major literary hub of Latin America, with such figures as Borges and such works as a graphic novel El Eternauta, recently made into a Netflix series. But let's start from the beginning.
Before the arrival of European colonizers, the territory of modern-day Argentina was inhabited by various indigenous groups: Mapuche in the southern regions, Guaraní in the northeastern parts, Diaguita in the northwest, Toba and Pilagá in the Gran Chaco area. Many groups, especially in the Pampas, were hunter-gatherers, following herds of animals. Some communities practiced agriculture, cultivating crops like maize, beans, and potatoes. A variety of languages were spoken, with notable families including Quechuan, Guaranitic, and Mapudungun.
The first European contact in what is now Argentina occurred in the early 16th century. The most notable early explorer was Juan Díaz de Solís. In 1516, Solís led an expedition to explore the region of the Río de la Plata, which includes parts of present-day Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. After Solís, other explorers followed, including Sebastián Cabot who arrived in 1526 as part of a Spanish expedition to find a route to the Spice Islands. Cabot navigated the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, furthering European exploration of the region. In 1536, Pedro de Mendoza established the first permanent European settlement in Buenos Aires, although it faced challenges such as conflict with indigenous peoples, which ultimately led to its abandonment.
The colonial literature of Argentina consists in chronicles and historical accounts by explorers and colonizers such as La Argentina by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, one of the first comprehensive works about the region, letters written by explorers, missionaries, and settlers, often detailing their experiences and observations, and poetry and drama. Although more limited during this period, some poets emerged, influenced by Spanish literary traditions. Among the early authors, there is the Jesuit priest Nicolás del Techo whose writings provide insights into the lives of indigenous peoples and the mission system in the region, and Martín del Barco Centenera, the author of La Argentina (yes, there are indeed two distinct works entitled La Argentina). Centenera’s La Argentina is an epic poem that celebrates the nature, geography, and indigenous cultures of Argentina, intertwining them with Spanish poetic traditions. His work reflects a literary exploration rather than a strictly historical account that predominates in Guzmán's chronicle.
Before the arrival of European colonizers, the territory of modern-day Argentina was inhabited by various indigenous groups: Mapuche in the southern regions, Guaraní in the northeastern parts, Diaguita in the northwest, Toba and Pilagá in the Gran Chaco area. Many groups, especially in the Pampas, were hunter-gatherers, following herds of animals. Some communities practiced agriculture, cultivating crops like maize, beans, and potatoes. A variety of languages were spoken, with notable families including Quechuan, Guaranitic, and Mapudungun.
The first European contact in what is now Argentina occurred in the early 16th century. The most notable early explorer was Juan Díaz de Solís. In 1516, Solís led an expedition to explore the region of the Río de la Plata, which includes parts of present-day Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. After Solís, other explorers followed, including Sebastián Cabot who arrived in 1526 as part of a Spanish expedition to find a route to the Spice Islands. Cabot navigated the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, furthering European exploration of the region. In 1536, Pedro de Mendoza established the first permanent European settlement in Buenos Aires, although it faced challenges such as conflict with indigenous peoples, which ultimately led to its abandonment.
The colonial literature of Argentina consists in chronicles and historical accounts by explorers and colonizers such as La Argentina by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, one of the first comprehensive works about the region, letters written by explorers, missionaries, and settlers, often detailing their experiences and observations, and poetry and drama. Although more limited during this period, some poets emerged, influenced by Spanish literary traditions. Among the early authors, there is the Jesuit priest Nicolás del Techo whose writings provide insights into the lives of indigenous peoples and the mission system in the region, and Martín del Barco Centenera, the author of La Argentina (yes, there are indeed two distinct works entitled La Argentina). Centenera’s La Argentina is an epic poem that celebrates the nature, geography, and indigenous cultures of Argentina, intertwining them with Spanish poetic traditions. His work reflects a literary exploration rather than a strictly historical account that predominates in Guzmán's chronicle.
I have readJorge Luis Borges, El libro de arena (1975)
Julio Cortázar, Rayuela (1963) |
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I have written... nothing ...
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