Spanish Literature I 3305-LH1-11W
The course aims to present a panoramic view of Spanish literature, covering the period from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The classes will discuss prose, poetic, and dramatic texts that illustrate the literary currents over the centuries. The course’s premise is to showcase Spanish literature in a diachronic approach, yet in connection with contemporary cultural and literary phenomena.
The analysis of texts (including excerpts) suggested for reading will be carried out in various perspectives, incorporating the fundamental elements of literary and dramaturgical analysis, with the goal of developing the students’ critical literary competencies.
Students will also be acquainted with the historical, social, and cultural context in which the discussed works were created. This will not only complement the analytical perspective but also orient students within the diverse range of phenomena in Spanish literature. The course also includes aspects of the reception of Spanish literature in Poland
Program and selected readings:
1. Introduction. Medieval poetry (folk poetry, mester de clerecía).
2. Prose and the chansons de geste. Medieval and Pre-Renaissance theater. La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas. Poetry and prose between epoques. Jorge Manrique and his poems.
3. Introduction to the Renaissance. Court and mystic poetry. Renaissance prose and theatre.
- Garcilaso de la Vega (selected poems).
- Fernando de Herrera and Alonso de Ercilla (selected poems).
- Luis de León, Saint Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross (selected poems).
4. Renaissance novel and its sub-genres. Picaresque novel. The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities.
5. Miguel de Cervantes: biography and work. A modern chivalric satire and magnum opus of Spanish literature: The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha and The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, Volume II (excerpts).
6. The Golden Age: Baroque. Baroque poetry: Luis de Góngora y Argote, Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas, and Lope de Vega.
7. La comedia nueva in Spain. Lope de Vega and his work. New Rules for Writing Plays at This Time and Fuenteovejuna.
8. Auto sacramental as a Baroque zeitgeist. Pedro Calderón de la Barca's stageplays. The Great Theater of the World (excerpts) and Life is a Dream.
9. Dramatic metamorphosis of a legend: The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest by Tirso De Molina.
10. 18th and 19th century. Enlightenment and Romanticism. Myth of Don Juan: romantic vision. Don Juan Tenorio by José de Zorrilla.
11. Realism and Naturalism. Benito Pérez Galdós, Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”, and Emilia Pardo Bazán (The House of Ulloa).
Please note that the course is taught in Polish.
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Term 2025Z:
See: General information about the course |
Term 2026Z:
See: General information about the course |
Course coordinators
Type of course
General: foreign languages | Term 2025Z: obligatory courses | Term 2026Z: foreign languages |
Mode
Learning outcomes
• Knowledge
The student recognizes and identifies periods in Spanish art (from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century), placing them within a broader historical and literary context. They identify, name, and define the literary forms and genres characteristic of these periods, as well as the main movements, trends, conventions, motifs, and references. They recognize basic concepts related to metrical and stylistic analysis of texts. They analyze and interpret Spanish literary works, presents their own views on them, and defends their position. They also know how to prepare an oral presentation using appropriate methods and relevant sources from the fields of literary studies and the history of Spanish literature. (K_W02, K_W03, K_W04, K_W05)
• Abilities
The student reads various types of literary texts with comprehension and situates them within the intellectual and cultural horizon of a given period. They independently compare and interpret different realizations of a given motif across centuries. In their analysis and interpretation, they apply basic terminology from the fields of Spanish literary history and literary studies. They conduct metrical and stylistic analysis of a literary work, identify rhetorical figures and tropes, and determine their functions. They prepare oral presentations on texts discussed in class. They also construct their own critical response to the works under study and participate in discussions. (K_U01, K_U02, K_U03, K_U04, K_U05, K_U06, K_U07).
• Social skills
The student plans and organizes independent reading, interpretation, and analysis of Spanish literary works. They present the main ideas of a critical literary text in a 5-minute oral presentation without supporting materials. They participate in discussions on the works under study, adopting a critical approach that goes beyond canonical interpretations. They reflect on the results of their work by asking questions and responding to comments from other participants. They work in a small group, taking on different roles: distributing tasks, discussing the assigned topic, and presenting the results of their collaborative work in a concise oral presentation lasting several minutes. They are prepared to actively engage with Spanish culture using various forms and media, as well as to follow contemporary processes and phenomena in Spanish culture and literature. (K_K01, K_K02, K_K03, K_K04).
Assessment criteria
Teaching methods:
- mini-lectures introducing theoretical concepts;
- student-led presentations;
- group work, including the think–pair–share method;
- close (differential) reading;
- discussion.
Assessment criteria and passing threshold:
The course can be passed based on a passing grade (above 60%) on the oral final exam, which weighs 100% (3 tasks worth 15, 15, and 20 points respectively; passing threshold: 30 points). A grade increase of up to 10% (5 points) can be achieved for active participation in the classes, such as presentations (up to 2 points), participation in in-class debates, and engagement in the analysis and interpretation of texts (up to 3 points).
Grading scale: 60–67% = 3.0 | 68–75% = 3.5 | 76–83% = 4.0 | 84–91% = 4.5 | 92–99% = 5.0 | 100% = 5!.
The exam verifies both the acquisition of knowledge regarding individual historical and literary epochs, as well as the acquisition of analytical skills in working with literary text.
The Requirement for admission to the final exam is class participation. Attendance is mandatory. A maximum of two unexcused absences are permitted. In the case of more than two absences, whether excused or unexcused, the student is required to contact the course instructor to make up the missed content by attending the instructor's office hours or by completing an additional assignment. Missing 50% or more of the classes scheduled for a given academic semester will result in a 'not classified' (NK) status.
* The use of AI systems is not permitted during classes and when preparing presentations. The lecturer may use publicly available tools to determine the likelihood of undisclosed use of AI systems when verifying students’ work.
Practical placement
N/A
Bibliography
Required readings:
1. Potok, Magda, „Kim jest Cyd? Historia – literatura – przekład”, Pamiętnik Literacki: czasopismo kwartalne poświęcone historii i krytyce literatury polskiej, 98/2, 2007: 5-26 (available online: https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=113024).
2. Fernando de Rojas, Celestyna. Tragikomedia o Kalikście i Melibei. Warszawa: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1962.
3. Jorge Manrique, Strofy na śmierć ojca (excerpts).
4. Garcilaso de la Vega, Fernando de Herrera, Alonso de Ercilla, Luis de León, Saint Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross (selected poems).
5. Żywot Łazika z Tormesu. Warszawa: Książka i Wiedza, 1988 (excerpts).
6. Miguel de Cervantes, Przemyślny szlachcic Don Kichote z Manchy. Poznań: Rebis, 2014.
7. Miguel de Cervantes, Przemyślny rycerz Don Kichote z Manchy. Część II. Poznań: Rebis, 2016 (excerpts).
8. Luis de Góngora y Argote, Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas i Lope de Vega (selected poems).
9. Lope de Vega, Nowa sztuka pisania komedii w dzisiejszych czasach przedstawiona Akademii w Madrycie (U. Aszyk, trans., introd.). Gdańsk: Słowo/Obraz Terytoria, 2008 (excerpts).
10. Lope de Vega, Owcze źródło. Wrocław: Ossolineum, 1954.
11. Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Życie jest snem. Warszawa: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1971.
12. José Zorrilla, Don Juan Tenorio. Open access: https://kpbc.ukw.edu.pl/dlibra/plain-content?id=120406.
13. Tirso de Molina, Zwodziciel z Sewilli i kamienny gość. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Wacław Bagiński, 2000
14. Emilia Pardo Bazán, Dwór w Ulloa. Warszawa: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1984 (excerpts).
Additional readings:
Anannikowa, L., „Średniowiecze to stan umysłu”. Książki. Magazyn do czytania, 2018, 6(33), 60–63.
Baczyńska, B., Historia literatury hiszpańskiej. Warszawa, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, 2014.
Chaciński, B., „Nowe jest stare”. Polityka, 2014, 2(2940), 74–76.
Fuentes, C., Cervantes, czyli krytyka sztuki czytania (J. Petry, trans.). Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1976/1981.
Krzemińska, A., „Hipsterzy dziewiętnastego wieku”. Polityka, 2013, 44(2931), 100–101.
Potok, M., Arcydzieła literatury hiszpańskiej: dziesięć wykładów. Poznań: Wydawnictwa Naukowe UAM, 2016.
Río Á. del, Historia literatury hiszpańskiej. Warszawa: PWN, 1970-1972 (2 tomy).
Sarzyński, P., „Żaba może znaczyć wszystko”. Polityka, 2016, 5(3044), 78–80.
Sawicka, A., „Czy Don Juan może być zbawiony?”. Dekada Literacka, 1999, 7(8), 20-21.
Wesołowska, E., „Calderona mit wyśniony”, w: U. Aszyk (ed.), Teatr Calderona: tradycja i współczesność (s. 60–72), Katowice, Wydawnictwo UŚ, 2002.
The following readings may also prove to be useful:
Burzyńska Anna, Markowski Michał Paweł. Teorie literatury XX wieku. Znak, Kraków, 2006;
Pavis, Patrice. Słownik terminów teatralnych. Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Wrocław, 2002.
|
Term 2025Z:
See: General information about the course |
Term 2026Z:
See: General information about the course |