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Chapter 37 Biography Activity

Writers and poets have played important parts in the social movements that have shaped the history of many modern Latin American countries (textbook pages 948–949). One of the greatest is the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Another Latin American poet described him as “a kind of King Midas. Everything he touched turned to poetry.” ◆ As you read, consider how world events influence and change a writer’s career. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions that follow.

Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) lifelong dedication to political freedom marked Europe, and other parts of Latin America during the Athe varied career of Pablo Neruda, one of the 1920s and 1930s. His poetry in this period was per- greatest modern poets writing in Spanish. Though sonal, but his outlook changed dramatically with deeply tied to his native country of Chile, he lived in the Civil War in Spain. Fighting for the Spanish many parts of the world. One critic called Neruda Republican government against the fascists, he the “poetic and political conscience of the became in his own words the “poet of enslaved C Americas.” His career brought him many prizes, humanity,” a dedicated socialist. H awards, and honors, including the Lenin Prize for Returning home, he became a member of the A Peace in 1953 and the Nobel Prize for senate in Chile, but a change in govern- Literature in 1971. ment sent him into exile from 1948 to P Neruda, born Ricardo Reyes y 1952. It was then he published his T Basoalto, grew up near the rain forest great epic poem Canto general E of southern Chile, whose landscape (“General Song”), a sweeping epic R would echo in his poetry. In high of the history of Latin America school, his interest in politics led and its people, written over a peri- 37 him to choose a pen name from od of about 12 years. In fifteen that of a Czech revolutionary poet, sections, the Canto includes some Jan Neruda. When he was just 17 he 300 poems about people, nature, went to Santiago to study but took violence and conquest, heroes and up the bohemian life of a poet and villains. dropped out of school. He won first Neruda was a close friend of prize in a literary contest in 1921 and three Salvador Allende, a Marxist who was elect- years later published his best-known and most ed president of Chile in a democratic election in popular work. Its title describes its contents well: 1970. In 1973 a military coup, helped by the United Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. States CIA, overthrew Allende. He was killed as Diplomacy and politics are a common combina- troops stormed the presidential palace. Neruda died tion in Latin America. Now a well-known writer, a few days later—many thought, from grief at what Neruda served as a diplomat in southern Asia, had happened to his country.

ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO CREDIT: AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS. Questions to Think About 1. What event in history got Neruda involved in 3. Drawing Conclusions Why do you think politics and socialism? Latin American writers have traditionally 2. What was the subject matter of Canto general? been more involved in politics than writers? Why is this less common in the United States? © Prentice-Hall, Inc.

102 • Biography Activity Chapter 37