Fall 2004

SPN 385M • AMOR ET SOCIETAS IN MODERN SPANISH POETRY

Course Description

This course will use two complimentary definitions of love, as personal erotic desire and as social commitment and solidarity to explore primarily twentieth century Spanish poetry. Hence, we will analyze the representation of the poetic subject as a subjugated, marginalized self, grappling with issues of nation, class, and gender and desire. We will consider how Spanish poets struggle with and contest dominant values in these domains, and how the lyric strategies used to express them have evolved over roughly a century. The panoramic scope lends itself to preparation via poetry for graduate comprehensive examination. However, the focus on two meanings of love, as interpersonal desire and in the altruistic sense of solidarity, adds additional thematic coherence, encouraging us to examine a manageable selection of poems by each writer, and inviting comparisons among the various poets and poetry studied. In terms of chronological and historical-literary scope, background context on late romanticism will be provided for Rosalía de Castro’s 1880's poetry, which is also useful for studying Bécquer’s 1860's poetry. Spanish modernism will be summarily discussed, as well as neo-traditionalism for Antonio Machado, with some sample poems from his turn-of-the-century work. Rafael Alberti will be situated in the context of the avant-garde and surrealism, consistent with his production in the “Grupo del 27, ” prior to looking at the later love and social poetry. Hernández, like Alberti, is associated with the 1930s and the Civil War. Carmen Conde wrote her feminist poetry in the 1940’s, and José Hierro, our representative of post-war social poetry published the work we will study in the 1950s. Ángel González spans from the 60s to the end of the century, Rossetti’s rather “destape-oriented” love poetry is associated with the 80s, and Janés, with more than 30 volumes of poetry produced is one of the most canonical of the post-Franco poets. We will spend sustained time with refreshing our knowledge of Spanish prosody and rhetoric, tested in a mid-term, while the non-graded poetic explications will hone your analytic skills.

Grading Policy

Participation 10%, eight short poetic analysis (graded only for completion, but commented on) 24%, an in-class examination 24%, a final oral presentation 10% and a final paper 32%.

Texts

Rosalía de Castro, En las orillas del Sar Antonio Machado, Campos de castilla Rafael Alberti, Entre el clavel y la espada Miguel Hernández, Cancionero y romancero de ausencias Carmen Conde, Mujer sin Edén José Hierro, Cuánto sé de mí Ángel González, Otoños y otras luces Clara Janés, Arcángel de sombra Ana Rossetti, Indicios vehementes

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