Literary Groups - Ecuadorian Literature

Club 7 (Group of poets from 1950s Guayaquil, Ecuador)

Club 7, or Club Siete, was a significant group of poets formed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and active from 1951 to 1962. The origin of the group’s name, Club 7, can be traced back to its initial formation with seven members: David Ledesma Vázquez, Gastón Hidalgo Ortega, Carlos Benavides Vega, Ileana Espinel Cedeño, Sergio Román Armendáriz, Carlos Abadíe Silva, and Miguel Donoso Pareja. However, the group experienced a change in dynamics when it became known that Ledesma and Benavides were homosexual. As a result, Donoso and Abadíe decided to leave the group. Despite this loss, the remaining five members continued their collaboration and published an anthology titled “Club 7” in 1954. In 1960, three of the members, Ledesma, Román, and Espinel published another collection called “Triángulo,” showcasing their continued literary endeavors.

The Decapitated Generation

The Generación Decapitada (Spanish for “Decapitated Generation” or “Beheaded Generation”) refers to a group of early 20th-century Ecuadorian poets who are remembered for their significant contributions to Ecuadorian modernismo and their tragically short lives, marked by premature death, typically by suicide. The name “Decapitated Generation” alludes to their untimely deaths, which cut short their literary careers. The core members of this group include Medardo Ángel Silva, Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño, Arturo Borja, and Humberto Fierro. Despite never formally organizing as a literary group, their shared themes, stylistic influences, and similar fates have led literary critics to recognize them as a distinctive and influential circle in Ecuadorian poetry.

The poets of Elan

The ELAN Group (grupo Elan) emerged as a vibrant literary movement in Cuenca, Ecuador, during the 1940s, representing the neosymbolism or lyrical vanguard movement. They marked a significant departure from previous styles of poetry, aiming to create an authentic and innovative form of Cuenca poetry. Comprised of writers, artists, poets, and journalists born between 1905 and 1920, ELAN shared a sense of unity in their cultural outlook. ELAN’s poetry, characterized by clarity and humanism, continues to exert influence on contemporary literary circles. Within this group, Efraín Jara Idrovo stands out as an exceptional figure known for his remarkable contributions. Their early works and subsequent contributions were documented in various publications, showcasing their dedication to the craft. In 1972, Antonio Lloret Bastidas paid tribute to the lasting impact of the ELAN Group through his publication “Motivos de la Poesía Cuencana” and further honored them with a dedicated volume in his “Antología de la Poesía Cuencana.” The ELAN Group played a pivotal role in shaping the literary landscape of Cuenca and left a lasting impact on the poetry of the region.