Spanish Literature IV 3305-LH4-31
The course provides an overview of the principal trends in Spanish prose spanning from the medieval period to contemporary times. Its aim is to offer a comprehensive examination of key developments within Spanish literature, introduce students to significant texts of Spanish prose, and facilitate their reading within a broad historical and cultural context. Conducted in a seminar format, the classes will cultivate students' skills in deep textual comprehension, recognition of narrative structures, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning. The course encourages receptive learning alongside active participatory methods, ultimately enhancing students' ability to articulate and present their personal viewpoints and opinions within a group setting.
Topics covered in the course:
1.The origins of prose writing in Spain
2. Prose genres in the 15th and 16th centuries
3. The picaresque novel
4. Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote and transformations in the Renaissance paradigm
5. Baroque prose: Mateo Alemán and Francisco de Quevedo
6. Enlightenment social critique: José Cadalso
7. Rosalía de Castro as a representative of Romanticism
8. Development of Spanish Realist prose: Galdós, El Clarín
9. Nataralism in Spain: Emilia Pardo Bazán
10. Miguel de Unamuno and the origins of Modernist fiction
11. The literary aesthetics of tremendismo, social realism, and late Modernism in the cultural contexts of the Spanish Civil War and dictatorship
12. Emerging paradigms in literature of the 1960s and 1970s
13. Women, the body, and identity in contemporary literary theory and practice
14. Postmodernity and the postmodernist code
15. Dirty realism of Generation X
16. Memory, identity, and autofiction
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
The student knows and understands the basic methods of analyzing Spanish-language narrative works, and has a basic knowledge of the epochs in Spanish literature and the trends, conventions and motifs present in Spanish prose. He also knows the terminology and research directions in the field of the analysis of prose works in Spanish. Has systematic knowledge of the history of Spanish prose, ranging from ancient literature to contemporary novels (tendencies, currents of individual epochs, main authors and their works) and has a basic understanding of the connections between Spanish prose and historical and cultural processes. (K_W02, K_ W03, K_W04, K_W05)
Skills:
The student is able to read with understanding a prose text in Spanish, assign it to the era and indicate elements consistent with the intellectual culture of a given period. He recognizes various types of Spanish-language narrative texts, places them in a general historical and cultural context, and analyzes them using basic terminology and methods appropriate to literary studies. He presents his own opinions and discusses prose works in Spanish, as well as is able to prepare an oral presentation on the texts that are the subject of the classes. Is able to independently acquire knowledge and develop skills with the use of appropriate sources, including the theory of literature and hispanic studies (source texts, monographs, etc.) and write and edit a written essay on Spanish prose, using appropriate methods and appropriate sources in the field of literary studies and narrative text research. Can use the basic theoretical approaches, research paradigms and concepts specific to literary studies and the history of Spanish prose. (K_U01, K_U02, K_U03, K_U04, K_U05, K_U06, K_U07)
Social competence:
The student is ready to critically assess his own knowledge and skills and understands the need for continuous improvement and development. He is also ready to follow the rules of professional ethics. She plans and organizes her work, develops entrepreneurship, works autonomously, as well as interacts in a team, performing various roles. He is ready to actively participate in the culture of Spain and to follow contemporary processes and phenomena occurring in Spanish prose (K_K01, K_K02, K_K03, K_K04).
Assessment criteria
The students will be assessed according to the attendance (there are 2 absences allowed) and preparation for classes, active participation during the classes, and the final oral exam.
Bibliography
Literature:
Don Juan Manuel, El Conde Lucanor, cuento XI: “Lo que sucedió a un deán de Santiago con don Illán”
Anónimo, El Abencerraje y la hermosa Jarifa — excerpts: “Prisión del Abencerraje” and “Relación de la historia de Jarifa”
Anónimo, La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades — complete text
Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha, Part I, chapters 1–14
Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha, Part II, chapters X, XXXII, LIX, LXXIV
María de Zayas y Sotomayor, Novelas amorosas y ejemplares, “La fuerza del amor” — complete text
Francisco de Quevedo, La vida del Buscón llamado Don Pablos — Book I, chapters 1–3; Book II, chapters 1–3; Book III, chapter 1
Mateo Alemán, La vida de Guzmán de Alfarache — Part I, Book I, chapters 1–3
José Cadalso, Cartas marruecas — letters XXX–XXXIII
Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”, La Regenta — Volume II, chapters XVII, XXI, XXVII, XXIX, XXX
Rosalía de Castro, El caballero de las botas azules — chapters 1–6 and 13
Emilia Pardo Bazán, Los pazos de Ulloa — Volume I
Emilia Pardo Bazán, “La resucitada” — complete text
Miguel de Unamuno, Niebla — complete text
Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio, El Jarama — excerpts
Luis Martín-Santos, Tiempo de silencio — excerpts
Rosa Montero, La crónica de desamor — excerpts
Esther Tusquets, El mismo mar de todos los veranos — excerpts
José Ángel Mañas, Historias del Kronen — excerpts
Antonio Muñoz Molina, Beltenebros — excerpts
Isaac Rosa, ¡Otra maldita novela sobre la guerra civil! — excerpts
David Uclés, La península de las casas vacías — excerpts
Najat El Hachmi, El lunes nos querrán — excerpts
Secondary literature:
1. Beata Baczyńska (2014), Historia literatury hiszpańskiej, Warszawa, PWN.