Course program
The course aims to illustrate the evolution of the main literary genres in Spanish literature, from the first half of the sixteenth century to the conclusion of the nineteenth century. Through a detailed analysis of the texts, the process of profound renewal that affected lyric poetry, theatre, and the novel will be reconstructed, highlighting their relationships with contemporary European literary traditions. Regarding the lyrical genre, the focus will be on the Siglos de Oro, with particular emphasis on the Renaissance and Baroque poetic evolution. The course will begin with the Italianist turn and the codification of a new poetic language by Garcilaso de la Vega, leading to the Baroque aesthetics of nueva poesía by Luis de Góngora and the lively critical debate it generated. In terms of the theatrical genre, the primary focus of study will be Lope de Vega’s Comedia Nueva, alongside Baroque theatre, with particular attention to La vida es sueño by Calderón de la Barca and El burlador de Sevilla by Tirso de Molina.For the narrative genre, the origins of the modern novel will be examined, with a focus on Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes, followed by an exploration of the realist novel of the late nineteenth century, represented by Tormento by Benito Pérez Galdós and La Regenta by Clarín.
In particular, the following topics will be explored:
1. The Italianist turn: the poetry of Garcilaso de la Vega: sonnets, songs, and eclogues;
2. The poetic forms of the late 16th century: the school of Garcilaso de la Vega and the traditionalist school; ascetic-mystical poetry: Fray Luis de León and San Juan de la Cruz; the evolution of the Petrarchan code: the canzoniere of Fernando de Herrera;
3. Baroque lyric poetry: Luis de Góngora (selected texts, La Fábula de Polifemo y Galatea, Soledades); Lope de Vega and Francisco de Quevedo (selected texts);
4. Golden Age theatre: Arte nuevo de hacer comedias; El Caballero de Olmedo; La vida es sueño; El burlador de Sevilla;
5. The modern novel: El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha, Part One; and a selection of chapters from Part Two;
7. The realist novel: Tormento by Benito Pérez Galdós and La Regenta by Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”.
Prerequisites
The student must be able to read and understand a literary text. He must have sufficient linguistic competeces and basic principles of text analysis. He must demonstrate a good argumentative ability and he must be able to contextualize and analyze cultural phenomena.
Books
Histories of Literature:
- Samonà, L’età di Carlo V, in La letteratura spagnola. I Secoli d’Oro, Firenze-Milano, Sansoni-Accademia, 1973, pp. 49-98.
- M. Grazia Profeti (ed.), L’età d’oro della letteratura spagnola: il Cinquecento, La Nuova Italia, Firenze, 1998, pp. 471-579.
- M. Grazia Profeti (ed.), L’età d’oro della letteratura spagnola: il Seicento, La Nuova Italia, Firenze, 1998, pp. 77-138; 143-93; 209-26; 291-328; 331-384; 419-441; 453-498.
- M. G. Profeti(ed.), L’età moderna della letteratura spagnola. L’Ottocento, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 2000, pp. 261-282, 450-521.
- M. G. Profeti (ed.), L’età contemporanea della letteratura spagnola. Il Novecento, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 2001, pp.171-269.
Literary Texts:
- Garcilaso de La Vega, Poesie complete. 1. Le Liriche, edited by M. Di Pinto, Napoli, Liguori, 2004 (Sonnets I, V, VI, VIII, XI, XIII, XXIV; Canciones IV-V);
- Garcilaso de la Vega, Le Egloghe, edited by M. di Pinto, Torino, Einaudi, 1992 (Eclogues I and III);
- Luis de Góngora, Fábula de Polifemo y Galatea, edited by J. Ponce Cárdenas, Madrid, Cátedra, 2010;
- Luis de Góngora, Soledades, edited by R. Jammes, Madrid, Castalia, 2016;
- Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha, edición y notas de F. Rico, con volumen complementario de estudios e ilustraciones, Madrid, Real Academia Española
Barcelona, Espasa- Círculo de Lectores, 2015, alternatively: Don Quijote de la Mancha, ed. de J. J. Allen, Madrid, Cátedra, 2005, 2 vols.; or Don Chisciotte della Mancha, edited by F. Rico, Milano, Bompiani, 2012. Primera parte; Segunda parte, only the following chapters: 8-10;
- Lope de Vega, El Caballero de Olmedo, a cura di F. Rico, Madrid, Cátedra, 1994; alternatively Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Miguel de Cervantes, Il teatro dei secoli d’oro, edited by M. G. Profeti, Milano, Bompiani, 2014.
- Pedro Calderón de la Barca, La vida es sueño, edited by C. Morón, Madrid, 1977;
- Tirso de Molina, El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra, edited by A. Rodríguez López-Vázquez, Madrid, Cátedra, 1989.
- Benito Pérez Galdós, Tormento, Austral, Barcelona, 2020;
- Leopoldo Alas (Clarín), La Regenta, 2voll., edited by J. Oleza, Madrid, 2004 / 1 vol, Rba, Barcelona, 2012 (selection of chapters as specified in the course);
-- Anthology of texts that will be distributed and commented during the lessons (Cristóbal de Castillejo, Gutierre de Cetina, Fray Luis de León, San Juan de la Cruz, Fernando de Herrera, Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo).
Frequency
Attendance is strongly recommended.
Exam mode
Oral exame. It will be attributed a grade in /30 on the basis of the ability demonstrated by the examiner to coherently expose the expected topics, to correctly articulate the reasoning and to carry out the textual analysis with rigour and critical ability.
Lesson mode
Teaching Methods
The course is organised in frontal lessons relying on the analysis and commentary of literary texts. After the reconstruction of the historical-literary context, the texts are examined in depth on a rhetorical-linguistic and textual-critical level. Particular attention is devoted to the comparison with contemporary European models.