Spring 2004

SPN 373 • Early Spanish Literature

Course Description

This is a study of the life of the Spanish epic hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, el Cid, as portrayed through Spanish literature, beginning with a Latin prose narrative composed shortly after Rodrigo’s death in 1099, the Historia Roderici (we will use a Spanish translation). Subsequent texts are two epic poems, the well-known Cantar de mio Cid (c. 1207) and the portrayal of Rodrigo as a rebellious youth in the Mocedades de Rodrigo (c. 1300). Thirteenth century prose accounts of other medieval epic tales depicting Rodrigo Díaz will be examined. These will be complemented by popular ballads on the Cid, a seventeenth century play, Mocedades del Cid by Guillén de Castro, along with a well-known Hollywood version of his life, El Cid, starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren

Grading Policy

Assigned readings will serve as the basis for all class activities and exams. Student participation will be encouraged in a variety of active formats (20%). There will be a midterm (20%), a final exam (30%) as well as a term paper (30%). Readings, class discussions, all exercises and exams are in Spanish.

Texts

Historia Roderici (Photocopy) Cantar de mio Cid, ed. Albert Montaner and Web site: www.lamc.utexas.edu/cid/ Manuel Alvar, ed. Cantares de gesta medievales. Guillén de Castro, Mocedades del Cid, ed. Stefano Arata

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