Amerindian Elements in the Poetry of Ernesto Cardenal: Mythic Foundations of the Colloquial Narrative

This study explores the Amerindian elements in the works of Ernesto Cardenal, the revolutionary poet-priest from Nicaragua. The work examines the three main currents which flow through Cardenal's poetry: the socio-political current, the religious current, and the indigenous current. Although the socio-political and religious aspects are highly important in the poetry of Cardenal, it is impossible to appreciate the ideological implications of his work without taking into consideration its Amerindian elements. Through an original analysis of Cardenal's poetic production, the work reveals that Nativism, along with Catholicism and Communism, forms an integral part of the poet's ideological trinity. This work will appeal to scholars in Hispanic and Native Studies, Comparative Literature, as well as Religious Studies and Political Sciences.