Foreign Languages & Literatures ETDs

Publication Date

4-6-1976

Abstract

This dissertation is the first serious effort towards the evaluation of Efraín Huerta's poetry, and the defining of his place in Mexican letters. The introduction focuses on the lack of any biographical study and on the meager criticism that exists on his very important work. It proceeds to formulate a bio-bibliographical statement compiled from scattered materials in reviews and dictionaries of literature with the purpose of correcting that situation. The first chapter undertakes the structural analysis of the poet's work through the explaining of stratification in his verses, poems, and his books. Stratification is based upon the concept of simultaneity, which appears in relation to his imagery. It is examined in detailed in the context of individual poems, taking the individual elements and building towards a pyramidal structure. The outcome of that analysis is the arrival at a macrocosmic vision which is then joined to the synthetic vision already present in the "Poemínimos." Contrasting structures are then examined, the hermetic, pyramidal and closed structure, and the dualistic, open, and synthetic structure of "Poemínimos" to gain a global understanding of his poetry. The second chapter examines life and death as the duality of existence and proposes a magical relationship between Mexican History and Huerta's poetry. This relationship is examined through the analysis of various synthetic poems in which the poet has successfully united duality. It is an especially important chapter in relation to ''Poemínimos" because of their dualistic structure, The third chapter is a detailed examination of Huerta's political poetry through the analysis of his poem, "Avenida Juárez,'' It relates the poem to Mexican political history and notes that Huerta does not become prosaic while treating political topics. Instead, his imagery, his rhythm, and his destruction of the Mexican archetype create a defeating, apocalyptic vision which develops within a circular structure in direct relation to duality. The fourth and last chapter deals with the "Poemínimos." It notes the apparition of humor as a basic element which works through Mexican folklore and tradition. It reveals Huerta's successfulness in uniting visions of the infinitely large and the infinitesimally small through laughter. All themes in his previous poetry converge into "Poemínimos" and achieve a general synthesis of the work. The appendices found at the end of the work include valuable materials necessary for a more complete comprehension of Efraín Huerta's poetry. The total function of the dissertation is to concentrate the principal elements of Huerta's work into a coherent exposition so that the validity of his poetry and his rightful place in Mexican letters will be recognized.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

Spanish

Degree Name

Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dinko Cvitanovic

Second Committee Member

Sabine R. Ulibarrí

Third Committee Member

Ernest Truett Book

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