Programme

The course aims to introduce students to some key moments in the reflection of intellectuals and writers on the problems of Spanish history and Spain itself seen as a problematic reality. The chosen texts range from the journalistic article (Larra), to poetry (Machado), to theatre (Valle-Inclán), but the most important part is reserved for the novel, which will allow us to observe both its formal evolution (from the realism of Galdós to the ‘relato real’ of Cercas, passing through the pseudo-autobiographical narration of Laforet) and the different approaches to the problematic that is the theme of our course.

Core Documentation

TESTI LETTERARI:
Mariano José de Larra, “Vuelva Ud. mañana”, “El castellano viejo” (available in open access at: https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/portales/mariano_jose_de_larra/obra-visor/vuelva-usted-manana--0/html/ ; https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra-visor/el-castellano-viejo--0/html/ );
Benito Pérez Galdós, Doña Perfecta, ed. I. J. López, Madrid, Cátedra;
Antonio Machado, Campos de Castilla (“A orillas del Duero”, “Por tierras de España”), electronic edition by P. Jauralde Pou available in open access at: https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra/campos-de-castilla-1158141/;
Ramón M. del Valle-Inclán, Los cuernos de don Friolera (en: Martes de Carnaval. Esperpentos, ed. J. Rubio Jiménez, Madrid, Espasa-Calpe);
Carmen Laforet, Nada, ed. J. Teruel, Madrid, Cátedra;
Javier Cercas, El monarca de las sombras, Barcelona, Debolsillo.

STORIA LETTERARIA E METODOLOGIA:
Rosa Rossi, “L’Otto-Novecento”, in: M. Di Pinto – R. Rossi, La letteratura spagnola dal Settecento ad oggi, BUR o Sansoni-Accademia, chapters from 9 to 13.
F. Antonucci, Il Novecento letterario spagnolo: percorsi, Pisa, ETS (unità 1, 7);
L. Chines – C. Varotti, Che cos’è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci (cap. 3);
The introductions to the recommended editions of Doña Perfecta, Los cuernos de don Friolera, Nada.

Attendance

Active and constant attendance (at least 75% of the lessons) is strongly recommended for adequate preparation for the examination and for understanding the issues illustrated in the lectures. The professor may monitor the regularity of attendance of those enrolled in the course for the sole purpose of directing non-attending students and occasionally attending students to request the alternative syllabus prepared for non-attending students. This syllabus for non-attenders is DIFFERENT from the syllabus for attending students but similar in terms of study load; it is designed to accompany non-attenders in individual study with teaching materials and self-assessment activities. The professor will provide this syllabus on request, which students interested in this mode of study should address to her by e-mail at least two months before the call in which they intend to take the exam. Following this, there will be a compulsory cognitive interview, during which the professor will provide all the necessary information, as well as access to a self-study platform set up specifically for this mode. Those who have not followed this procedure will not be allowed to take the examination.

Type of evaluation

The final oral examination will assess general knowledge (points 1 and 3 of the Terms of Reference) and the skills acquired (point 2), excluding any parts that may have been verified by the exercises and individual work carried out during the lectures. The determination of the final grade will take into account the following elements: regularity of attendance and activities carried out in the classroom; knowledge of the topics dealt with in the lessons and ability to discuss them in an adequate manner, using appropriate language; ability to analyse the literary texts on the syllabus in accordance with the methodological indications and examples proposed in the classroom. The examination will also test the integral reading of the literary texts on the syllabus and the adequate knowledge of the history of literature.