Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Literature I

DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
The main goal of the course is to improve the students' reading, writing, and analytical techniques, and their use of appropriate methodological instruments for the interpretation of literary texts, as well as to help them acquire a general knowledge of Spanish and Latin American literature, from their origins through the 19th century, through representative works from different genres: fiction, poetry, and drama. By analyzing these texts, students will also explore the underlying social, cultural, and literary values on them.

CONTENT
1. ESSAY
1.1. Introduction to the genre of essay.
1.2. Methodological procedures for the analysis of
essays.
1.3. Texts:

• Miguel de Unamuno: excerpts from En torno al casticismo
• Rosario Castellanos: “¿Y las madres qué opinan?”
• Javier Marías: “Palabras sobre la literatura”

2. POETRY
2.1. Introduction to the genre. Poetic language.
2.2. Methodological procedures for the analysis of poems.
2.3. Poems:

•  Romancero: “El enamorado y la muerte”
•  Garcilaso de la Vega: “A Dafne ya los brazos le crecían”
•  Francisco de Quevedo: “Es hielo abrasador, es fuego helado”
•  Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: “A su retrato”/ “Esta tarde, mi bien, cuando te hablaba” / “Hombres necios que acusáis”
•  Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda: “Al partir”, “A él”
•  Rubén Darío: “Sonatina”
•  Federico García Lorca: “La aurora”
•  Juana de Ibarbourou: “La higuera” / “Rebelde”
•  Pablo Neruda: “Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche”
•  Gloria Fuertes: “Sale caro ser poeta” / “Mis mejores poemas”
• Octavio Paz: “El sediento” / “Piedra de toque”

3. FICTION
3.1. Introduction to the genre of fiction.
3.2. Methodological procedures for the analysis of narrative
texts.
3.3. Spanish narrative texts:

• Don Juan Manuel: “Lo que le sucedió a un zorro con un cuervo que tenía un pedazo de queso en el pico”, from El conde Lucanor
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: “El monte de las ánimas”
• Ricardo Palma: “La camisa de Margarita”
• Benito Pérez Galdós: Marianela (*)
• Jorge Luis Borges: “Los dos reyes y los dos laberintos”
• Carmen Martín Gaite: excerpt from El cuarto de atrás
• Elena Poniatowska: “El recado”
• Isabel Allende: excerpt from La casa de los espíritus
• Antonio Skármeta: El cartero de Neruda (*)

4. DRAMA
4.1. Introduction to the genre of drama.
4.2. Methodological procedures for the analysis of
plays. 4.4. Plays:

• Fernando de Rojas: excerpts from La Celestina
• Lope de Vega: excerpts from Fuenteovejuna
• Antonio Buero Vallejo: En la ardiente oscuridad (*)
• Osvaldo Dragún: Historia del hombre que se convirtió en perro
   

METHODOLOGY
It will be based on the instructor's theoretical explanations on the features of different literary genres and on the selected authors and texts. It will also focus on the comment and discussion of these explanations by students. Therefore, students will need to read and prepare the texts to be commented on in class beforehand at home.
Throughout the course, students will need to write four 2-3-page-long essays on the topics suggested by the instructor about texts of different literary genres.

ASSESSMENT
Students' grades will be calculated according to the following breakdown:
- Participation: 10%
- Class assignments: 10%
- Written assignments: 40%
- Final exam: 40%

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- CÁRDENAS, Julio, Antología de la Poesía Hispanoamericana, México: Editores Mexicanos Unidos, 1976.
- DÍEZ BORQUE, José Mª., Comentario de textos literarios. Método y práctica, Madrid: Playor, 1988 (15ª ed.)
- FERRERAS, Juan Ignacio (dir.), Historia crítica de la Literatura Hispánica, 36 vols., Madrid: Taurus.
- FLORES, Ángel (ed.), Narrativa Hispanoamericana (1816-1981), 8 vols., México: Siglo XXI, 1981.
- FRANCO, Jean, Historia de la literatura hispanoamericana, Barcelona: Ariel, 1987.
- FRIEDMAN, Edward H., VALDIVIESO, Teresa L., VIRGILIO, Carmelo, Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998 (4ª ed.).
Historia de la Literatura Española, 7 vols., Barcelona: Ariel.
- MADRIGAL, Luis Íñigo (ed.), Historia de la literatura hispanoamericana, 2 vols., Madrid: Cátedra, 1987.
- OVIEDO, José Miguel, Historia de la literatura hispanoamericana, 4 vols., Madrid: Alianza, 2001.
- QUILIS, Antonio, Métrica española, Barcelona: Ariel, 1988.
- RICO, Francisco (dir.), Historia y crítica de la Literatura Española, 9 vols., Barcelona: Crítica.
- RICO, Francisco, La poesía española. Antología comentada, 3 vols., Barcelona: Círculo de Lectores, 1991.
NOTE: The student must be registered for Spanish III or have an equivalent level of Spanish.
NOTE: Class attendance is essential in all courses. Therefore, it will be checked daily. Missing classes will negatively affect the student's final grade.Subjects Offered