29893 - Spanish Literature 1 (LM)

Course contents

Building on an analysis of the novels La Tribuna and Memorias de un solterón, as well as Emilia Pardo Bazán's short stories and journalistic writings, this study explores the constellation of themes related to the social dimension of the female body through an examination of the metaphorical sphere of artificial bodies. By investigating the mechanisms of fashion and propaganda, the representation of "female" and childhood pathologies, and the use of doubles—such as statues, automata, mannequins, dolls, and puppets—also from the perspective of the fantastic genre, the study highlights the significance of Pardo Bazán's feminist critique of women's condition.

Despite its strong thematic continuity, the course will be organized into two modules. The first will address the historical and literary context, the author's poetics, and her novels, while the second will focus on her short stories and journalistic writings.

Readings/Bibliography

Novels

• Emilia Pardo Bazán, La Tribuna, ed. Benito Varela Jácome, Madrid: Cátedra, 2006. ISBN 978-84-376-0041-3.
• Emilia Pardo Bazán, Memorias de un solterón, ed. María de los Ángeles Ayala, Madrid: Cátedra, 2004. ISBN 978-84-376-2166-1.

Short Stories

• Emilia Pardo Bazán, El encaje roto. Antología de cuentos de violencia contra las mujeres, edited and with an introduction by Cristina Patiño Eirín, Zaragoza: Editorial Contraseña, 2018; or the Italian edition, Il pizzo strappato. Racconti sulla violenza contro le donne, ed. Valentina Nider (Italian text facing the Spanish original), Venice: Marsilio, 2025.
• Emilia Pardo Bazán, Cuentos fantásticos, ed. Ana Abello Verano and Raquel de la Varga Llamazares, Madrid: Eolas, 2020.

Additional short stories to be discussed in class are available on the Emilia Pardo Bazán portal of the Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes: https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/portales/pardo_bazan/

Critical Bibliography

Choose from the list of critical articles on the novels and short stories discussed in class and published on the Virtuale platform:

• Two articleson each of the two novels.
• Two articles on the fantastic in Emilia Pardo Bazán.

The following documentaries and podcasts are also recommended.

 

Emilia Pardo Bazán inclasificable https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/imprescindibles/emilia-pardo-bazan-inclasificable/6253722/ [bisogna registrarsi, gratutamente, su RTVE play]

Podcast: Isabel Burdiel, La biografía de Emilia Pardo Bazán https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/los-lunes-de-pardo-bazan/

Podcast: Cristina Patiño Eirín El feminismo de Emilia Pardo Bazán https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/los-lunes-de-pardo-bazan/

Podcast Olivia Rodríguez González Los cuentos de Pardo Bazán, https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/los-lunes-de-pardo-bazan/

Ana Mª Freire Emilia Pardo Bazán periodista https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/los-lunes-de-pardo-bazan/

 

Teaching methods

The course combines theoretical lectures with practical seminars devoted to the analysis of narrative literary texts. During the practical sessions, students are expected to participate actively by discussing their literary analyses, prepared in accordance with the instructor's guidelines and, where appropriate, reflecting their own specific academic interests.

Assessment methods

The course combines theoretical lectures with practical classes devoted to the analysis of narrative literary texts. During the practical sessions, students are expected to participate actively by discussing their literary analyses, prepared according to the instructor's guidelines and, where appropriate, in relation to their own research interests.

Optional oral presentations may exempt students from part of the required secondary bibliography.

Upon completion of the first module, students may take an optional oral midterm examination covering the material from that module.

Assessment consists of an oral examination covering the topics addressed during the course, including, where agreed in advance with the instructor, a topic selected by the student. Active participation throughout the course will also be taken into account.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will not be used for assessment, and the use of AI is not permitted during the examination.

Students are expected to prepare for the examination using the required primary bibliography (literary texts and films) listed in the syllabus, together with the supporting materials uploaded to the Virtuale platform. As for the secondary bibliography, which will be critically discussed during the lectures, students are required, as indicated in the bibliography section, to prepare two scholarly articles on each of the two novels and two articles on the short stories, for a total of six articles.

Assessment will focus on students' ability to critically synthesize the assigned scholarship, as well as on the clarity, accuracy, and appropriateness of their academic expression. Excellent performance will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the cultural, literary, and artistic context, together with the ability to use the primary texts effectively in support of critical interpretation. A competent but purely descriptive knowledge of the material, without interpretative insight, will receive a satisfactory but not outstanding mark. Conversely, persistent difficulty in establishing logical and interpretative connections between the literary texts and their theoretical and cultural contexts will result in an insufficient grade.

Teaching tools

During the course, literary texts and audiovisual materials will be presented in class and subsequently uploaded to the Virtuale platform.

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.

Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to Prof. Luporini and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it [mailto:disabilita@unibo.it] (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it [mailto:dsa@unibo.it] (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Nider