29893 - Spanish Literature 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student has a thorough knowledge of the history of modern Spanish literature, with particular attention to the relationship between literary texts and the historical, artistic and linguistic context . He knows and use practical methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts

Course contents

Theater and novella in the Siglo de Oro

An overview of the European cultural context will be offered, in which a particular affinity between the short forms of prose narrative and the theatrical code was produced, in the various fields of production and diffusion between reading and representation. Starting from a methodological reflection, will be analyzed the ideological spaces frequented by short narrative models and those of theatrical texts, in relation to the different destination of the artistic message, first in an isolated and then compared way. Later, two significant cases of intertextual relationship between theatrical and narrative text will be presented. The program will be as follows:

1. Reception contexts.

- The "corral" public

- The reader of short forms of narration

2. Theoretical perspective.

- Narration, description, representation

- Comic and tragic

- Segmentation forms

- From Cervantes to Lope

3. Ideological spaces

- The novel: narrative models and social conflict (Las dos doncellas, Grisóstomo y Marcela, Las fortunas de Diana, La gitanilla, Rinconete y Cortadillo)

- Theater: honor and love between power and subordination (Peribáñez, Perro del hortelano)

4. Transcoding 

- From El viejo celoso to El celoso extremeño

 - La ilustre fregona, from Cervantes to Lope?

Readings/Bibliography

Editions:

- Cervantes, Miguel de, El viejo celoso in Entremeses, ed. N. Spadaccini, Madrid, Cátedra, 1998, pp. 257-275.

- Vega, Lope de, Il cane dell'ortolano, ed. di F. Antonucci e S. Arata, Napoli, Liguori, 2006. (italian edition with spanish text)

- Vega, Lope de, Peribáñez y el comendador de Ocaña, ed. D. Mc Grady e M. Presotto, Barcelona, Crítica, 2001.

- Cervantes, Miguel de, Don Quijote de la Mancha, vol. I, capp. XI-XIV; ed. F. Rico, Barcelona, Crítica, 1998, pp. 119-157.

- Cervantes, Miguel de, Las dos doncellas, El celoso extremeño, La gitanilla, La ilustre fregona, Rinconete y Cortadillo, en Novelas ejemplares, ed. J. García López, Barcelona, Crítica, 2005 col. Clásicos y modernos, pp. 89-178; 237-292; 411-582;

- Vega, Lope de, Las fortunas de Diana, en Novelas a Marcia Leonarda, ed. M. Presotto, Madrid, Castalia, 2007, pp. 45-104.

Manuals

- Pedraza Jiménez, Felipe B. e Rodríguez Cáceres, Milagros, Las épocas de la literatura española, Barcelona, Ariel, 1997, capp. III and  IV, pp. 71-161.

- Arellano, Ignacio, Historia del teatro español del Siglo XVII, Madrid, Cátedra, 1995

NOTA: further bibliography will be available on line at the beginning of the course

Teaching methods

The course will combine theoretical and practical lessons (analysis of literary texts, novel and theatre). In practical classes, students will participate actively, discussing the literary commentaries made following the instructions of the teacher and according to their specific interests. It will be used a Forum on line ( collaborative platform moodle ) in order to share reviews, comments and material analyzed. All these activities have the function to help the student to present a paper, according with the teacher, that will be an integral part of the final examination. The student has to participate in the Forum with a minimum of three interventions that include at least one critical study not foreseen in the program.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral presentation on the topics of the course which may include a topic previously agreed with the teacher. For those attending the course there will be a final paper written in Spanish and its discussion. Students that can't attend the course will have to prepare the exam on the basic bibliography indicated in the program, including the introductions of the literary texts edited. In both cases, it will evaluate the critical knowledge of bibliography, as well as fluency, accuracy and appropriateness of language. Overall knowledge of the cultural and literary contexts, and proficient use of the reference texts to support this vision, will be evaluated as excellent, while a general knowledge without interpretive skills will only achieve a passing grade. Finally, the proven and repeated difficulty in creating descriptive and logical connections between cultural phenomena and literary texts will get a failing grade.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials will be available on line. Due to its interactive nature, the course includes the use of an on-line Forum on Moodle platform in order to share materials and comments. Technical features will be explained during the first day of class.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Presotto