Lira popular

Lira popular (the People's Lyre), also known as string literature, is a style of poetry that emerged in Chile during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Poets would write and print their works on loose sheets, which were then circulated in urban areas. To promote and share these poems, they were often hung from strings between poles or trees in public spaces. The title "La Lira Popular" was used in 1899 by poet Juan Bautista Peralta on his sheets, and the name came to apply to the whole genre. Many of the authors of these poems were peasants or poets who sought to reflect the voices and perspectives of the people, offering commentary on current events and social issues.

Themes

Many of the poems in Lira popular revolve around themes such as poverty, love, violence, murder, life, death, crime, and religion. Poets deliberately selected these subjects to pique the curiosity of readers, while the accompanying illustrations vividly depicted the conditions and circumstances of everyday life.

Printing

Lira popular was printed in various formats throughout its history. The early editions of these popular pages (called "liras") in Chile measured 26 x 35 cm, but they gradually grew in size to 54 x 38 cm. The modern liras maintain a similar size. Each sheet of a lira contains 5 to 8 poems accompanied by pictures and drawings, typically created by the poets themselves. These illustrations serve to depict and enhance the theme of the work. The pictures complement the narrative of the poems. There are two types of images commonly found in lira popular. The first type is woodcut, where rough artwork was provided to the poets for them to describe in verse. The signature of the engraver was often omitted, although Adolfo Reyes was responsible for many of the illustrations. He illustrated his verses using a penknife and raulí board. The second type of image is known as cliché. These preexisting images were not always directly related to the content but were used for decorative purposes. The titles of lira popular are similar to the prominent headlines seen in today's newspapers, employing a large font to attract attention.

Greetings to the Child of God, an image sketched by Rosa Araneda c.1858

History

In many Latin American countries, news dissemination was often slow, particularly between Spain and Central and South America. The introduction of lira, combined with the printing press, facilitated the faster spread of information compared to relying solely on oral communication. Initially, lira popular was used to reference events occurring in Spain and other countries. However, over time, it evolved into a cultural phenomenon and began to represent a country's own experiences and events.

In 1899, poet Juan Bautista Peralta gave his sheets the title "La Lira Popular," possibly to satirize the poetry magazine La Lira Chilena. The name would come to be applied to the whole genre, at least in Chile (for comparison, a similar style in Brazil was called literatura del cordel).

To have their poetry published in lira popular, poets had to register their names and take personal responsibility for ensuring the publication of their works. They would actively engage in public activities, going out into the streets and making dedicated efforts to sell their original works. Alongside signing their names or using pseudonyms, poets often distributed copies in public spaces where workers, peasants, and artisans could access them. Given the prevalent illiteracy of the time, the inclusion of images and public recitations helped attract people to listen to the readings of these poetic compositions.

Timeline

1541

Written poetic forms and other works are introduced in Chile, such as romances and counterpoint articles, through missionaries and writers, as well as imported books and documents.

1866

The War against Spain caused the appearance of the first poetic documents that talked about the news.

1879

The War of the Pacific is talked about by famous poets through the lira popular

1880

Bernardino Guajardo, considered the most essential famous Chilean poet of the nineteenth century, published poems in five volumes in the same form as lira popular.

1891

Development and boom of the lira popular.

1920

The printing of popular liras falls due to the expansion of the publishing and journalism industry. The first study on the lira popular, by the German ethnologist and linguist Rodolfo Lenz, is published in Chile.

1952

Diego Muñoz and Inés Valenzuela begin publishing “Lira Popular” in newspapers with the contributions of many poets or “payadores.”

Collections

Currently, there are three entire collections of lira being displayed and held for public use. Of the three, two are shown at The Archive of Oral Literature and Popular Traditions at the National Library of Chile. The third is in the Andrés Bello Central Archive of the University of Chile. Over 850 sheets of Lira are preserved.

See also

• Cordel literature