Spanish Literature (MA)
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course, reserved for students who have finished the triennium and have a good knowledge of Spanish language, is dedicated to the survival and innovation of traditional narrative materials over a long period of time. We will study (a) the trajectory and ideological changes of the Aesopic fable in the Middle Ages; (b) the insertion of fables in the Golden Age works; (c) short stories and novels in which the voice and the gaze of the animals convey a critical representation of reality, from Cervantes to some contemporary writers.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of the cultural, historical and ideological horizons of the analyzed works; learning of theories and critical methods.
Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to identify the relations of thematic associations in a textual corpus, recognize ideological differences, discover new knowledge and use properly scholarly sources.
Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to identify the relations of thematic associations in a textual corpus, recognize ideological differences, discover new knowledge and use properly scholarly sources.
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, entitled Literary inheritance: Aesopic fables, short stories and novels is divided into three units which will be carried out in sequence:
A (20 hours, 3 cfu): The Aesopic fable in the Middle Ages;
B (20 hours, 3 cfu): Fables and tales in the Golden Age;
C (20 hours, 3 cfu): The voice of animals (from Cervantes to contemporary times).
The course (in Spanish) is dedicated to the study of the permanence and innovation of traditional narrative materials over the centuries. In the first didactic unit we will analyze the track and the ideological changes of the Aesopic fable in the Middle Ages, focusing above all on «El Libro de buen amor», «El Conde Lucanor» and «Isopetes» of the fifteenth century. We will continue by analyzing Mey's «Fabulario» and the insertion of tales in the theater of Lope de Vega and other authors of the Golden Ages. We will conclude with the interpretation of stories and novellas in which the voice and gaze of animals convey a critical representation of reality, from Cervantes ("El coloquio de los perros") to Clarín («La mosca sabia» and «El Quin») and some contemporary writers (such as Emilio Ortiz, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Victor Doreste and Lorenzo Doreste).
During the course seminars will be available for students.
The course program is valid until September 2021.
A (20 hours, 3 cfu): The Aesopic fable in the Middle Ages;
B (20 hours, 3 cfu): Fables and tales in the Golden Age;
C (20 hours, 3 cfu): The voice of animals (from Cervantes to contemporary times).
The course (in Spanish) is dedicated to the study of the permanence and innovation of traditional narrative materials over the centuries. In the first didactic unit we will analyze the track and the ideological changes of the Aesopic fable in the Middle Ages, focusing above all on «El Libro de buen amor», «El Conde Lucanor» and «Isopetes» of the fifteenth century. We will continue by analyzing Mey's «Fabulario» and the insertion of tales in the theater of Lope de Vega and other authors of the Golden Ages. We will conclude with the interpretation of stories and novellas in which the voice and gaze of animals convey a critical representation of reality, from Cervantes ("El coloquio de los perros") to Clarín («La mosca sabia» and «El Quin») and some contemporary writers (such as Emilio Ortiz, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Victor Doreste and Lorenzo Doreste).
During the course seminars will be available for students.
The course program is valid until September 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, held entirely in Spanish, is reserved for students who have completed the three-year course and who have already achieved good linguistic and literary skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and commenting of excerpts from the works in the program; lectures by invited professors; student reports.
Teaching Resources
The course site is on the platform Ariel (https://mrossolslm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx), where you will find texts, anthologies and critical materials provided by the teacher. For each unit of the course, specific critical essays on individual works or authors or on general questions will be made available. This is the list of compulsory readings for the various didactic units and the reference editions:
Unità didattica A
- Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
- Juan Ruiz Arcipreste de Hita, Libro de buen amor (Cátedra, Crítica o la ed. digital Clásicos Hispánicos) [the selection will be indicated in Ariel].
- Don Juan Manuel, El Conde Lucanor (Cátedra, Crítica o Castalia) [the selection will be indicated in Ariel].
- El Ysopete ystoriado de 1482, ed. crítica Carmen Navarro y Elena Dal Maso, Aracne, Roma, 2016.
Unità didattica B
- - Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
- Sebastián Mey, Fabulario, ed. Maria Rosso, Liguori, Napoli, 2015.
Unità didattica C
- Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
Choose a novel among the following:
- Emilio Ortiz, A través de mis pequeños ojos, Duomo, Barcelona, 2016.
- Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Los perros duros no bailan, Alfaguara, Madrid, 2018.
- Víctor Doreste, Faycán. Memorias de un perro vagabundo, Anaya (El Volcán-Juvenil), Madrid 2012.
- Lorenzo Doreste, Las inquietudes del canario Amador, Idea, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2011.
Unità didattica A
- Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
- Juan Ruiz Arcipreste de Hita, Libro de buen amor (Cátedra, Crítica o la ed. digital Clásicos Hispánicos) [the selection will be indicated in Ariel].
- Don Juan Manuel, El Conde Lucanor (Cátedra, Crítica o Castalia) [the selection will be indicated in Ariel].
- El Ysopete ystoriado de 1482, ed. crítica Carmen Navarro y Elena Dal Maso, Aracne, Roma, 2016.
Unità didattica B
- - Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
- Sebastián Mey, Fabulario, ed. Maria Rosso, Liguori, Napoli, 2015.
Unità didattica C
- Anthological selections and critical materials collected in ARIEL.
Choose a novel among the following:
- Emilio Ortiz, A través de mis pequeños ojos, Duomo, Barcelona, 2016.
- Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Los perros duros no bailan, Alfaguara, Madrid, 2018.
- Víctor Doreste, Faycán. Memorias de un perro vagabundo, Anaya (El Volcán-Juvenil), Madrid 2012.
- Lorenzo Doreste, Las inquietudes del canario Amador, Idea, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2011.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview in Spanish, in which the teacher will ask questions aimed at ascertaining both general theoretical knowledge (relating to the cultural age and methodological tools, according to the topics presented in class ), both the ability to analyze and frame the texts (the works and the anthological selections included in the course). In the evaluation, the ability to highlight the relationships between works, thematic analogies and ideological differences will be appreciated. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be verbalized as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in connection with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in connection with 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