Fall 2004

SPN 380K • LITERATURE AND CULTURE IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY SPANISH AMERICA

Course Description

This course will examine the most important literary movements of 19th-century Spanish America, including (and also questioning) such traditional terminology as Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Gauchesque Literature, Naturalism, and early Modernismo. Writers to be studied will include, Simón Bolívar, José Joaquín de Lizardi, Bartolomé Hidalgo, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Esteban Echeverría, Clorinda Matto de Turner, Gertrudis de Avellaneda, José Hernández, Eugenio Cambaceres, Alberto Blest Gana, José Martí and José Enrique Rodó. The course will pay particular attention to how literary movements and texts interact with the politics of nation formation.

Grading Policy

In addition to preparing course readings (which will consist of both primary and secondary materials), students will be expected to write a term paper on a subject to be chosen by the student in consultation with the professor; prepare one or two oral reports; and participate in class discussions. These items will be evaluated as follows in determining the final grade: 1. 60%: the quality of the term paper. A-papers should be of publishable or near-publishable quality. 2. 20%: the quality of oral presentations. 3. 20%: class preparedness and participation

Texts

Students will be required to buy two substantial photocopy packets, one of primary materials and another of critical articles. In addition, the following books should be available at the University Co-Op. José Joaquín de Lizardi, Don Catrín de la Fachenda Domingo Faustino Sarmiento: Civilización y Barbarie: La vida de Juan Facundo Quiroga Clorinda Matto de Turner, Aves sin nido Eugenio Cambaceres, Sin rumbo Alberto Blest Gana, Martín Rivas José Enrique Rodó, Ariel

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