Fall 2008

SPN 391 • Baroque Prose

Course Description

In this course we shall study the fundamental thematic, formal and ideological modalities of Spanish Baroque prose in representative novels, short stories, tratados, etc. of the 17th Century: Mateo Alemán's Guzmán de Alfarache; Quevedos Buscón and Sueños; Cervantes Persiles y Segismunda (selections) and some Novelas Ejemplares: Licenciado Vidriera, Casamiento Engañoso y Coloquio de los perros (with a special consideration of the boroque structure - "composición en profundidad" of D. Quijote); Lopes Dorotea and Novelas a Marcia Leonarda; Gracians Criticón (selections); Castillo Solorzanos and Zayas de Sotomayors short fiction. (Vicente Espinel, Velez de Guevara and other writers or texts will be assigned to students for presentations in class and as topics of final paper). The Baroque style will be contrasted opportunely with the main characteristics of the Spanish Renaissance prose (selections from Celestina, Amadis, Montemayuors Diana, Lazarillo de Tormes). Some reading material Xeroxed. Extensive critical bibliography given in class. Class is appropriate for both PhD and MA students. It may be of particular interest to students of the Neo-barroco. A method of literary analysis will be offered in class. Short lectures, close textual analysis, discussion.

Grading Policy

Class participation; short presentations by students in class on assigned topic: 50% Final paper on topic assigned or chosen (by student): 50%

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