Literatures and Cultures of Spain: From Medieval to Present
Imaginary Voyages
Print, Three Ships Surrounded by Monsters, ca. 1590; Designed by Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus (Flemish, active in Italy, 1523–1605)
The course employs an interdisciplinary and intersectional set of tools to discuss representative texts from Peninsular culture, ranging from the medieval period to the twenty-first century, from Cervantes to Lorca and beyond. The readings and discussions will be designed to position race, gender, class, sexuality and other aspects in relation to an array of genres —narrative, drama, poetry, film, and non-fiction prose. We will consider key literary conceptual and formal aspects of the various genres, as well as explore crucial questions in relation to the theme of voyages across space, time and imagination.
Language of instruction: Spanish
Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Lagresa-González
Recommended prerequisites: This course is recommended for students who have completed SPAN_V 221 or SPAN_V 301.
Participation & Preparation 10%
Weekly Discussions & Activities 15%
Midterm Exam 15%
Response Papers (1. 10%, 2. 15%) 25%
Leading Discussion 10%
Final Paper 25%
Required materials:
- Canvas: All required readings will be posted in Canvas under the folder “Files.” Students are required to read all assigned materials and to be prepared to participate actively and thoughtfully in class discussions.
Recommended materials:
- Optional: for those that would like to have texts with introductions and useful footnotes not available in pdfs available online, you can purchase an edition from the choices below:
- Tirso de Molina, El burlador de Sevilla, ed. John MacCaw (Newark: Juan de la Cuesta - 9781589770102); or ed. A. Rodríguez López-Vázquez (Madrid: Cátedra - 9788437636108)
- Federico Garcia Lorca, La casa de Bernarda Alba, ed. T. Reed (Newark: Juan de la Cuesta - 9781589770676); or ed. Josephs and Caballero (Madrid: Cátedra - 9788437600680)