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

Diversity and inclusion in the Cervantine narrative. A panorama of the cultural context will be offered in which the narrative writing of Cervantes was produced at the beginning of the modern novel. Starting from a methodological reflection, the ideological spaces frequented by short narrative models will be analyzed, first in an isolated and then comparative way.

The general program will be the following:

1. Forms of narration in the Siglo de Oro and the reader

2. Theoretical perspective: narration and description

3. Cervantes and the author function: the prologues.

4. Literary genres and social conflict in La gitanilla.

5. The picaresque model in the Novelas ejemplares: Rinconete y Cortadillo; La ilustre fregona; El casamiento engañoso y el Coloquio de los perros

6. The gender conflict and the interspersed episodes of the Quijote: "Grisóstomo y Marcela", "El curiouso impertinente"

7. Female protagonism in the Novelas ejemplares: Las dos doncellas; La fuerza de la sangre

Readings/Bibliography

Editions:

- Cervantes, Miguel de, Don Quijote de la Mancha, primera
parte, capp. XI-XIV, XXXII-XXXV; ed. F. Rico, Barcelona, Crítica, 1998.

- Cervantes, Miguel de, Novelas ejemplares, ed. J. García López, Barcelona, Crítica, 2005 col. Clásicos y modernos

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.

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). 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. It will be possible, if asked by the student, to present a paper, according with the teacher, that will be an integral part of the final examination joined by the interventions on the forum. The student has to participate in the Forum with a minimum of one intervention every different text analyzed.

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 the chance (not mandatory) to propose a final paper written in Spanish and its discussion. The student must participate in the forum during the lesson period with at least one contribution for each of the texts dealt with. The exam will consist of the discussion with the teacher on the interventions made by the student in the platform.

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 IOL 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