Rainer Maria Rilke was a Bohemian-Austrian writer known for his contributions in German literature. Several of his poems and novels have been regarded by critics as “mystical” as he is also recognized to be intense when it comes to lyrical structure. The subjects he addresses in his works often involve existential themes. Because of this, he is considered to be a transitional figure between traditional and modernist writers. Rilke’s poem “The Spanish Dancer” exemplifies his creative use of poetic structure as well as his unique choice of subjects. When analyzing the different poetic elements present in the poem, one can tie up the different effects of each element to the transitional period that Rilke was present in. In other words, Rilke’s “The Spanish Dancer” is reflective of the transitional phase between the traditionalist and modernist phases in terms of artistic views. Based on the title, the subject of the poem is an unnamed Spanish dancer. The first pronoun used to refer to the dancer mentioned is “her” (4) signifying that it is completely likely that she is female. In the first …show more content…
In its strictest sense, flamenco refers to a performing art complex that utilizes a specific song style that is accompanied by a form of dance. Moreover, it is believed that the term “flamenco” could have been derived from the same words as “fire” or “flame”. The dance employs expressive arm movements and rhythmic stamping in order to convey various emotions. It is mainly meant to entertain an audience by entrancing them with romantic and sensual gestures. At the time of the traditionalist movement, dance styles such as ballet were admired and appreciated due to their strict and rigid programs. Other forms that employed more improvisation, flamenco included, were not usually considered to be beautiful or even