11TH GRADE - BIOGRAPHIES
Rubén Darío Rubén Darío was born on January 18, 1867 in Metapa, Nicaragua (later renamed Ciudad Darío). At birth, he was named Félix Rubén García Sarmiento and later took the old family name, Darío. His parents divorced and he was adopted and raised by his godfather Colonel Félix Ramírez. Dubbed El Niño Poeta (the poet child), Darío began reading at the age of 3 and at 12 he was already publishing poems. He called his first three poems "La Fe", "Una Lágrima" and "El Desengaño". In 1882, in an attempt to secure a scholarship to study in Europe, Darío read his poem "El Libro" to conservative Nicaraguan authorities including President Joaquín Zavala. He was denied the scholarship because his poems were considered too liberal. Instead, Darío traveled to El Salvador where he met the poet Francisco Gavidia, who introduced him to French poetry. At the age of 19, Darío moved to Chile and worked in journalism. He also wrote his first novel, Emelina ....