Programme

"Spaces in Conflict: Geographies of Tension in Spanish Literature from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century".
The course offers a journey through Spanish literature by interpreting space as a site of conflict and transformation, from Baroque disillusionment to the crisis of modernity. The teaching, which will be conducted in Italian, is organised into four modules, structured according to a chronological and thematic progression, each accompanied by a historical and cultural framework for the works under consideration.
For the seventeenth century, the course will address the idea of space as a realm marked by disillusionment and the instability of appearances, while in the eighteenth century space becomes a field of comparison between identities and cultural models. In the nineteenth century, conflict takes on an ethical dimension: narrative spaces stage moral dilemmas and increasingly evident social tensions which, in the second half of the century, become more ideologically radical, turning space into a site of confrontation between irreconcilable worldviews.
The course concludes with the experience of the fin-de-siècle crisis and the early twentieth century, where space becomes fragmented and distorted. Within this framework, the course aims to develop cultural competencies that enable students to relate texts to different forms of conflict and their historical evolution, alongside an initial consolidation of methodological tools for the analysis of narrative texts.

Core Documentation

TESTI (follow the specific edition indicated for the preparation of the examination):

- Miguel de Cervantes, Novelas ejemplares: Prologue, El casamiento engañoso; El coloquio de los perros (available on cervantesvirtual.com);
- José Cadalso, Cartas marruecas: Introduction, Letter XX, Letter XXI (available on cervantesvirtual.com);
- Mariano José de Larra, Artículos de costumbres: Un reo de muerte (available on cervantesvirtual.com);
- Benito Pérez Galdós, Doña Perfecta, ed. I. J. López, Madrid, Cátedra;
- Miguel de Unamuno, Niebla, ed. M. J. Valdés, Madrid, Cátedra;
- Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Los cuernos de don Friolera, in Martes de carnaval, ed. Jesús Rubio Jiménez, Madrid, Espasa-Calpe.

Reference Bibliography

CRITICS and LITERARY HISTORY AND HISTORY NOTICES: - Mario Di Pinto, Rosa Rossi, Spanish literature from the eighteenth century to the present, Milan, Rizzoli (BUR) (only chapters IX, X, XI and XIII); - F. Antonucci, The Spanish literary twentieth century: paths, Pisa, ETS (unit 6); - Introductions to the recommended editions of Doña Perfecta, Niebla and Los cuernos de don Friolera (see “Texts” section); - Handouts and/or other teaching materials made available by the lecturer.

Type of delivery of the course

1) General presentation of each of the four texts or blocks of texts into which the programme is divided; information on the historical-literary context. Lectures. 2) Analysis of the female characters in the context of each of the works on the programme. Introduction to the different methodologies of analysis useful for works of drama, fiction and poetry. Lectures, classroom exercises, exercises to be carried out at other times as part of individual study. 3) The historical-literary reference framework, which will be presented in the frontal lectures, will have to be deepened by the students through the study of the Criticism and Literary History texts indicated under "Adopted texts".

Attendance

Regular and active attendance is strongly recommended in order to prepare adequately for the examination. Students will be considered as attending if they have actively participated in at least 70% of the classes, during which they will complete a series of ongoing exercises contributing 30% to the final assessment of their competencies. Students who do not attend are required to contact the lecturer at least two months before the examination session they intend to sit, in order to arrange a meeting. During this meeting, the lecturer will specify the programme designed for non-attending students (which includes texts different from those listed above) and will provide all necessary information and supporting materials for independent study, as well as access to a dedicated self-learning platform prepared for this mode of study, ensuring adequate preparation and targeted academic support for those unable to attend the course. Students who do not follow this procedure will not be permitted to sit the examination.

Type of evaluation

Ongoing assessment is provided for theoretical and methodological knowledge, the historical and cultural context, and the literary competencies acquired, through a series of exercises to be completed both in written and oral form. Continuous assessment will contribute 30% to the final mark; the final evaluation of reading comprehension and critical analysis of literary texts will take place orally. For non-attending students, the overall assessment of theoretical and historical-cultural knowledge, as well as subject-specific competencies, will be conducted orally during the final examination.