Lorca

**Federico García Lorca** was a prominent Spanish poet, playwright, and member of the Generation of '27, known for his vivid, surreal imagery and his focus on themes such as love, death, and Spanish rural life. Lorca’s works often explore the cultural and social tensions of Spain in the early 20th century, blending lyricism with social commentary and a deep connection to Andalusian folk traditions.

Lorca’s poetry collections, such as *Gypsy Ballads* and *Poet in New York*, exhibit his fascination with death, sexuality, and nature, and frequently incorporate symbolic imagery, such as the color green, the moon, and blood. His poetry often reflects his interest in the concept of “duende,” a mysterious force of creativity and passion that he believed was essential to art. Some of his best-known poems include “Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter,” written in honor of his friend Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, and "Romance Sonambulo," with its haunting refrain, "Green, how I want you green."

As a dramatist, Lorca is best known for his *Rural Trilogy*, which includes *Blood Wedding*, *Yerma*, and *The House of Bernarda Alba*. These plays explore themes of repression, honor, and the tragic consequences of societal expectations, particularly for women. In *Blood Wedding*, a tale of passion and revenge, the characters Leonardo Felix and the Groom ultimately kill each other over the love of the Bride. *The House of Bernarda Alba*, set in an isolated Andalusian village, portrays the tyrannical rule of the widowed Bernarda over her five daughters, leading to tragedy when Adela, the youngest daughter, takes her own life.

Lorca’s outspoken support for liberal causes and his open homosexuality made him a target during the Spanish Civil War, and he was assassinated by Nationalist forces in 1936. His death remains a powerful symbol of the brutal repression of the Franco regime, and Lorca is remembered as one of Spain's greatest literary figures, celebrated for his contributions to both poetry and drama.

### Frequently Mentioned Clues

1. **Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter**: Lorca’s famous elegy for his friend, bullfighter Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, known for its repetitive refrain “at five in the afternoon.”

2. **Blood Wedding**: Part of Lorca’s *Rural Trilogy*, this play explores themes of passion, fate, and revenge, culminating in the deaths of Leonardo and the Groom.

3. **The House of Bernarda Alba**: Another work in the *Rural Trilogy*, depicting the oppressive rule of Bernarda Alba over her daughters, ultimately leading to the suicide of the youngest daughter, Adela.

4. **Generation of ’27**: A group of Spanish writers and artists, including Lorca, who were influenced by avant-garde movements and sought to renew Spanish literature.

5. **Gypsy Ballads**: Lorca’s poetry collection that uses Andalusian folklore and imagery, and includes the well-known “Romance Sonambulo,” with the refrain “Green, how I want you green.”

6. **Poet in New York**: A surrealist poetry collection written during Lorca’s time in the United States, reflecting his disillusionment with urban life and the modern world.

### Related Quizbowl Facts That Appeared In More Than One Toss-up

The poem “Lament for the Death of a ___1___” contains the refrain “at five in the afternoon” and mourns the death of Ignacio Sánchez Mejías. In *Blood ___2___*, part of the *Rural Trilogy*, the characters ___3___ Felix and the Groom die fighting over the Bride. *The House of ___4___ Alba*, another play in the *Rural Trilogy*, ends with Adela’s tragic death after a feud over Pepe el Romano. Lorca’s poem “Romance Sonambulo” begins with the line “___5___, how I want you green.” A member of the ___6___ of '27, Lorca was a prominent Spanish poet and playwright who was assassinated during the Spanish Civil War.

1. Bullfighter

2. Wedding

3. Leonardo

4. Bernarda

5. Green

6. Generation

Here are the recurring clues, references, and plot lines about Federico García Lorca from the provided questions, organized by their frequency:

1. **Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter / "at five in the afternoon"** - 47 occurrences  

   This poem, which mourns the death of bullfighter Ignacio Sánchez Mejías and features the repeated refrain "at five in the afternoon," is one of Lorca's most frequently mentioned works, highlighting his poignant, repetitive style and themes of death and tragedy.

2. **Blood Wedding (play in Rural Trilogy featuring Leonardo, Groom, and Bride)** - 44 occurrences  

   "Blood Wedding," a tragic play involving themes of passion, fate, and death, is frequently mentioned, often in conjunction with the characters Leonardo and the Groom, who kill each other over the Bride.

3. **The House of Bernarda Alba (play in Rural Trilogy about a matriarch and her daughters)** - 42 occurrences  

   This play, centered on the oppressive Bernarda Alba and her daughters, particularly Adela, who eventually commits suicide, is a staple of Lorca's depiction of rural Spanish life and themes of repression and desire.

4. **"Green, how I want you green" / Romance Sonambulo (Sleepwalking Ballad)** - 41 occurrences  

   This iconic refrain from "Romance Sonambulo" is one of Lorca's most famous lines, symbolizing unfulfilled longing and surreal imagery, often appearing in discussions of his poetic style.

5. **Rural Trilogy (Blood Wedding, Yerma, The House of Bernarda Alba)** - 38 occurrences  

   Lorca's "Rural Trilogy," which includes "Blood Wedding," "Yerma," and "The House of Bernarda Alba," frequently appears as a whole, showcasing his focus on rural Spanish settings, traditional customs, and intense family and social conflicts.

6. **"I will not see it!" / "I refuse to see it" (from Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter)** - 34 occurrences  

   This repeated line from "Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter" is a powerful expression of denial and grief, underscoring the emotional intensity of Lorca's work and his use of refrain to emphasize themes of horror and sadness.

7. **Gypsy Ballads (collection containing surreal, lyrical poetry)** - 30 occurrences  

   This collection, which includes poems like "Romance Sonambulo," is a significant part of Lorca's poetic output, often cited for its portrayal of Andalusian and gypsy culture with a dreamlike, mythical quality.

8. **Yerma (play in Rural Trilogy about a childless woman)** - 27 occurrences  

   This play focuses on the character Yerma, who tragically kills her husband due to her frustration with their childless marriage, exploring themes of fertility, frustration, and societal expectations.

9. **Generation of '27 (Spanish literary group Lorca belonged to)** - 25 occurrences  

   Lorca's association with the Generation of '27, a group of Spanish poets and artists known for their avant-garde and surrealist tendencies, is frequently noted, situating him within a broader literary movement.

10. **Poet in New York (collection written during Lorca's time in New York)** - 24 occurrences  

    This collection, influenced by Lorca's experiences in New York and Cuba, explores themes of alienation, industrialization, and racial tension, and often appears in references to his broader thematic and stylistic range.

11. **Death of Lorca (assassinated during the Spanish Civil War)** - 22 occurrences  

    Lorca's tragic death at the hands of Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War is frequently referenced, often as a symbol of political repression and the loss of a major literary voice.

12. **Moon and/or Death as characters (often appearing in Blood Wedding)** - 20 occurrences  

    The anthropomorphized Moon and Death, who appear as characters in "Blood Wedding," embody fate and mortality in Lorca's plays, adding a surreal, mystical layer to his exploration of fatalism and tragedy.

13. **Adela (character in The House of Bernarda Alba who commits suicide)** - 17 occurrences  

    Adela, the rebellious daughter in "The House of Bernarda Alba" who defies her mother and ultimately kills herself, is a central figure in Lorca's depiction of female repression and desire for freedom.

14. **"Gacela of the Dark Death" / desire for "sleep of the apples"** - 15 occurrences  

    Lorca's "Gacela of the Dark Death," which contains the line about wanting "to sleep the sleep of the apples," is noted for its themes of death and peace, adding to his collection of melancholic, reflective poetry.

15. **"City That Does Not Sleep" and surreal descriptions in Poet in New York** - 14 occurrences  

    This poem from "Poet in New York," with surreal and nightmarish imagery, reflects Lorca's reaction to modernity and the alienation he felt in urban settings, contributing to his unique blend of social critique and surrealism.

16. **Pepe el Romano (character in The House of Bernarda Alba)** - 13 occurrences  

    Pepe el Romano, the unseen suitor in "The House of Bernarda Alba," serves as a catalyst for the sisters' jealousy and Adela's tragic rebellion, representing Lorca's theme of unfulfilled desire.

17. **Ode to Walt Whitman / influence of Whitman on Lorca** - 10 occurrences  

    Lorca's admiration for Walt Whitman, as expressed in "Ode to Walt Whitman" from "Poet in New York," shows his engagement with American culture and homoerotic themes, connecting him to a broader literary lineage.

These recurring clues highlight the main themes in questions about Federico García Lorca: his tragic exploration of death, desire, and repression, his use of surreal and folkloric imagery, his association with the Generation of '27, and his untimely death during the Spanish Civil War.