Francisco de Quevedo - Style

Style

Quevedo was an adherent of the style known as conceptismo, a name derived from concepto, which has been defined as "a brilliant flash of wit expressed in pithy or epigrammatic style." Conceptismo is characterized by a rapid rhythm, directness, simple vocabulary, witty metaphors, and wordplay. In this style, multiple meanings are conveyed in a very concise manner, and conceptual intricacies are emphasised over elaborate vocabulary. Conceptismo can effect elegant philosophical depth, as well as biting satire and humor, such as in the case of the works of Quevedo and Baltasar Gracián.

The first tercet from Quevedo's sonnet "¡Ah de la vida!" is considered to exemplify conceptismo in poetry at its peak:

Ayer se fue, mañana no ha llegado,

Hoy se está yendo sin parar un punto;

Soy un fue, y un seré y un es cansado.