Spanish Literature 3
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is the third stage of specialization in Spanish Literature and is aimed at students of the third year. It introduces the history, society and culture of Spain in the 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing in particular on the flourishing artistic production (fiction, poetry and theater) during the period of the so-called "Edad de plata" (1898-1939), which includes the generations of '98, '14 and '27 up to the Civil War, from Unamuno to García Lorca. It further develops the methodological tools for the analysis of texts and contexts and promotes autonomous critical skills, useful in academic writing.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Outlines of Spain's history in the 19th and early 20th centuries; main authors, literary movements and publishing phenomena of the time in Castilian language; evolution of narrative, poetic and theatrical genres. Methodology, techniques and tools of literary research and bibliographic documentation.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Reading, commentary and historical contextualization of fundamental works of Spanish literature between the 19th and the 20th centuries. Use of refined critical commentaries and autonomous reworking. Ability to analyze texts, grasping through reading the historical, cultural, artistic and social implications of texts. Consciousness and management of interactions between the different areas of humanistic knowledge; accurate use of bibliography; correct expression of the acquired knowledge.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Reading, commentary and historical contextualization of fundamental works of Spanish literature between the 19th and the 20th centuries. Use of refined critical commentaries and autonomous reworking. Ability to analyze texts, grasping through reading the historical, cultural, artistic and social implications of texts. Consciousness and management of interactions between the different areas of humanistic knowledge; accurate use of bibliography; correct expression of the acquired knowledge.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled Spanish Literature between the end of the 19th century and the Civil War and is divided in the following three didactic units that will be developed in sequence:
A: Modernism and '98
B: Novecentism, avant-garde and popular fiction
C: The '27 generation and the Republic
The course cannot be divided: it is compulsory to apply for 9 CFU.
The programme is dedicated to the literary flourishing (in fiction, poetry and theatre) of the so-called "Edad de plata", a fundamental period that will be described in its historical, social and cultural aspects. The first didactic unit will focus on modernism and the "98 generation", especially through the figures of Miguel de Unamuno, Ramón María del Valle Inclán, Pío Baroja and Antonio Machado. On the other hand, in the second didactic unit, we will study the "generation of '14", the avant-garde, with Ramón Gómez de la Serna, the phenomenon of the short novel and the popular series (with authors such as Felipe Trigo, José Francés, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and Carmen de Burgos). The third didactic unit will analyze the generation of '27 and the literature of the Civil War, especially through the figures of Federico García Lorca, Miguel Hernández and Luis Cernuda. This syllabus is valid until February 2021.
A: Modernism and '98
B: Novecentism, avant-garde and popular fiction
C: The '27 generation and the Republic
The course cannot be divided: it is compulsory to apply for 9 CFU.
The programme is dedicated to the literary flourishing (in fiction, poetry and theatre) of the so-called "Edad de plata", a fundamental period that will be described in its historical, social and cultural aspects. The first didactic unit will focus on modernism and the "98 generation", especially through the figures of Miguel de Unamuno, Ramón María del Valle Inclán, Pío Baroja and Antonio Machado. On the other hand, in the second didactic unit, we will study the "generation of '14", the avant-garde, with Ramón Gómez de la Serna, the phenomenon of the short novel and the popular series (with authors such as Felipe Trigo, José Francés, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and Carmen de Burgos). The third didactic unit will analyze the generation of '27 and the literature of the Civil War, especially through the figures of Federico García Lorca, Miguel Hernández and Luis Cernuda. This syllabus is valid until February 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held in Spanish. The materials and the bibliography suppose a solid linguistic knowledge and advanced skills in history of literature, use of specific terminology and critical analysis, gained in previous courses. It is reserved for students of the Laurea Triennale in Lingue e Letterature Straniere and to take the exam they must have passed both Spanish Literature 2 and Spanish Language 2 exams.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading and commentary of narrative and poetic texts, essays and theatrical excerpts taken from the works in the syllabus; seminar discussions; individual and group works; viewing and commentary of short documentaries.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the online platform Ariel (https://dmanerals3.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/), where attending students will find a detailed bibliography of each didactic unit, critical articles for in-depth studies and a large digital anthology of original texts that will be commented in class.
Students who do not attend the course will have at their disposal a simplified bibliography that will allow them to prepare themselves properly. They will have to study a manual, to be chosen among: Gerald G. Brown, "Historia de la literatura española 6/1", El siglo XX, Barcelona, Ariel, 1983 (varie edizioni posteriori), ISBN 9788434483699, only pages from 15 to 222; or: Vicente Granados, "Literatura española (1900-1939)", Madrid, Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces, 2011, ISBN 9788499610597; or: José Carlos Mainer, "6. Modernidad y nacionalismo 1900-1939", Barcelona, Crítica, ISBN 9788498920680.
And then they will have to choose 5 (five) readings with critical commentary, from different authors, among the following:
- Miguel de Unamuno, "Niebla", edited by Milagros Rodríguez Cáceres (Bruño, ISBN 9788421614716), or Mario J. Valdés (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437603476); or Armando F. Zubizarreta (Castalia, ISBN 9788497404990).
- Ramón María del Valle Inclán, "Tirano Banderas", edited by Alonso Zamora Vicente (Espasa Austral, ISBN 9788467036046); or Juan Rodríguez (Planeta, ISBN 9788408011484); or Francisco Caudet (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437636733).
- Pío Baroja, "Las inquietudes de Shanti Andía", edited by J. Caro Baroja (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437601236), or Darío Villanueva (Nueva Austral Espasa-Calpe, ISBN 9788423918355).
- Ramón Gómez de la Serna, "Greguerías, relatos, ensayos y otros textos", edited by Domingo Ródenas de Moya (Octaedro, ISBN: 9788480639415).
- Antonio Machado, "Poesías completas", edited by Manuel Alvar (Austral Espasa-Calpe, ISBN 9788467021509).
- Federico García Lorca, "Tutte le poesie", edited by Bo-Felici (Garzanti, ISBN 9788811370024).
- "I poeti del Ventisette", edited by Maria Rosso (Marsilio ISBN 9788831795661).
- Luis Cernuda, "Antología poética", edited by Ángel Rupérez (Espasa, ISBN 9788467036336), or "Antología", edited by José María Capote Benot (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437603063).
Students who do not attend the course will have at their disposal a simplified bibliography that will allow them to prepare themselves properly. They will have to study a manual, to be chosen among: Gerald G. Brown, "Historia de la literatura española 6/1", El siglo XX, Barcelona, Ariel, 1983 (varie edizioni posteriori), ISBN 9788434483699, only pages from 15 to 222; or: Vicente Granados, "Literatura española (1900-1939)", Madrid, Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces, 2011, ISBN 9788499610597; or: José Carlos Mainer, "6. Modernidad y nacionalismo 1900-1939", Barcelona, Crítica, ISBN 9788498920680.
And then they will have to choose 5 (five) readings with critical commentary, from different authors, among the following:
- Miguel de Unamuno, "Niebla", edited by Milagros Rodríguez Cáceres (Bruño, ISBN 9788421614716), or Mario J. Valdés (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437603476); or Armando F. Zubizarreta (Castalia, ISBN 9788497404990).
- Ramón María del Valle Inclán, "Tirano Banderas", edited by Alonso Zamora Vicente (Espasa Austral, ISBN 9788467036046); or Juan Rodríguez (Planeta, ISBN 9788408011484); or Francisco Caudet (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437636733).
- Pío Baroja, "Las inquietudes de Shanti Andía", edited by J. Caro Baroja (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437601236), or Darío Villanueva (Nueva Austral Espasa-Calpe, ISBN 9788423918355).
- Ramón Gómez de la Serna, "Greguerías, relatos, ensayos y otros textos", edited by Domingo Ródenas de Moya (Octaedro, ISBN: 9788480639415).
- Antonio Machado, "Poesías completas", edited by Manuel Alvar (Austral Espasa-Calpe, ISBN 9788467021509).
- Federico García Lorca, "Tutte le poesie", edited by Bo-Felici (Garzanti, ISBN 9788811370024).
- "I poeti del Ventisette", edited by Maria Rosso (Marsilio ISBN 9788831795661).
- Luis Cernuda, "Antología poética", edited by Ángel Rupérez (Espasa, ISBN 9788467036336), or "Antología", edited by José María Capote Benot (Cátedra, ISBN 9788437603063).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the professor, interactions between professor and student and the analysis and commentary of one or more passages taken from the works in the syllabus. The duration of the interview varies for attending students, who will benefit from any result obtained through voluntary intermediate tests, while for the non-attending students it will last about half an hour. It will normally take place in Spanish, but if student's oral expression skills are too weak, he will be allowed to speak in Italian.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge and understanding of the texts, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the expression skills, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the ability to reflect critically and personally on the proposed issues. Students must bring with them the bibliographic materials used to prepare the exam. The final grade is expressed in a scale up to 30, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the professor and the competent office.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge and understanding of the texts, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the expression skills, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the ability to reflect critically and personally on the proposed issues. Students must bring with them the bibliographic materials used to prepare the exam. The final grade is expressed in a scale up to 30, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the professor and the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours