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. The student has a knowledge  of the practical methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts.

Course contents

Forms of brief narrative in Spanish Golden Age. 

It will be presented an introduction to the spanish cultural context when brief narrative grown between XVIth and XVIIth century, regarded as the basis of the development of modern novel. It will be studied the trend and the evolution of the gender, since the pseudo-autobiographic trials of picaresque novel to the baroque elaboration of the novela corta in XVIIth century, considering the fundamental originality of Cervantes' writings, specially the ways of interpolation in Quijote and in particular the Novelas ejemplares. Finally, it will be considered the important contribute of Lope de Vega in the dialectic relation with Cervantes' production, with special regard to the feminine characters and the receiver.

The general program is the following:
1. Siglo de Oro and narrative prose: meeting the reality
2. The Lazarillo de Tormes and the author as a function
3. Forms of narrative interpolation
4. Cervantes and the storytelling
5. The "novela corta" and the literary models
6. The Novelas ejemplares
7. Lope de Vega and Cervantes
8. History of reading and the feminine protagonism
9. The Novelas a Marcia Leonarda
10. Women as readers, women as writers (María de Zayas)

Readings/Bibliography

Texts:

- Anónimo, Lazarillo de Tormes, ed. F. Rico, Madrid, Cátedra, 1998.
- Cervantes, Miguel de, Don Quijote de la Mancha, vol. I, capp. XI-XIV, XXXII-XXXV; vol. II, capp. XX-XXI; ed. J. J. Allen Madrid, Cátedra, last edition.
- Cervantes, Miguel de, Novelas ejemplares, ed. J. García López, Barcelona, Crítica, 2005 coll. Clásicos y modernos.
- Vega, Lope de, Novelas a Marcia Leonarda, ed. M. Presotto, Madrid, Castalia, 2007  or (for italians) M.G. Profeti, Venezia, Marsilio, 2005.

Other bibliographical references (mainly available on line):

- Berardinelli, Alfonso, “L'incontro con la realtà”, in F. Moretti (ed.), Il romanzo, Torino, Einaudi, 2002, vol. II, pp. 341-381.
- Pedraza Jiménez, Felipe B. y Rodríguez Cáceres, Milagros, Las épocas de la literatura española, Barcelona, Ariel, 1997, capp. III y IV, pp. 71-161.
- Pozuelo Yvancos, José María, "Estructura del discurso narrativo" in La teoría del lenguaje literario, Madrid, Cátedra, 1994, pp. 226-267.
- Presotto, Marco, "Marcia Leonarda en la estrategia promocional de Lope de Vega", in Rassegna Iberistica, 84 (2006), pp. 3-18
- Riley, E. C., Introducción al Quijote, Barcelona, Crítica, 2000.

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. 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. 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