SPANISH LITERATURE 1

This course is a core module for students who choose Spanish Language and Literature A or B as part of the degree programme in “Languages, Civilisations and Language Sciences”, Class 11 (Modern Languages and Cultures), and for all three specialisations offered (Literary and Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Philology and Language Teaching, and Political and International Studies). It may also be included in a study plan as ‘elective credits’ or as a related or supplementary subject. The course forms part of the three-year programme in Hispanic Studies as an introduction to early 20th-century Spanish poetry, with particular focus on the Generation of ’27. Furthermore, the course will provide students with the basic critical and methodological tools required for the historical and literary contextualisation and analysis of poetic texts in Spanish, contributing to the development of critical, linguistic and interpretative skills that foster independent judgement.

Attendance and active participation in the three educational activities proposed by the course (lectures, thematic seminars for in-depth study, multidisciplinary laboratory) and individual study will allow students to:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
● Know the basic linguistic terminology and understand texts that use it;
● Know the properties of different language modules and understand their interaction;
● Know the basics of the mental structure of language and the process of linguistic acquisition of the mother tongue and the foreign language, with particular reference to English.
2. Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding
● (Know the basic linguistic terminology and understand texts that use it.) Be able to correctly use linguistic terminology in all processes of application and communication of acquired knowledge;
● (Know the properties of different language modules and understand their interaction.) Be able to perform a simple linguistic analysis of different aspects of one's mother tongue and the English language, taking into account the universal properties of language and the parameters of interlinguistic variation with respect to some specific phenomena;
● (Know the basics of the mental structure of language and the process of linguistic acquisition of the mother tongue and the foreign language.) Be able to apply linguistic metacompetence to the acquisition of the foreign language and the use of academic Italian.
3. Judgment Skills
● Be able to formulate and argue simple hypotheses, also developing a critical approach to the evaluation of alternative hypotheses.
4. Communication Skills
● Be able to communicate the specifics of linguistic reflection, using appropriate terminology;
● Be able to interact with peers and the tutor, critically and respectfully, both in person and on the virtual classroom forum.
5. Learning Skills
● Be able to take notes and share them collaboratively on the online platform;
● Be able to critically consult reference texts and the bibliography contained therein.

No prerequisite is mandatory, but a fair knowledge of the Spanish language will facilitate the reading of texts.

The course introduces the Generation of ’27 within the context of Spanish poetry from the first half of the 20th century. Topics covered will include the historical and cultural context of the 1920s and 1930s, the 1927 tribute to Góngora, the relationship between tradition and the avant-garde, pure poetry, neo-popularism, surrealism, etc. Through guided readings of selected texts, the course will examine authors such as Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, Vicente Aleixandre, Luis Cernuda, Gerardo Diego and Dámaso Alonso, whilst also paying attention to some female authors associated with the group. The course also regards the centenary in 2027 as an opportunity for a critical re-examination of the ‘Generation of ’27’ canon.

Required reading:
- Anthology of texts provided by the teacher during the course.
- Choice of short stories from:
"A sangre y fuego" by Manuel Chavez Nogales. Introduction by María Isabel Cintas. Libros del Asteroide (2011).
"Racconti del dispatrio" by Vicente Soto. Introduction by Alessandro Mistrorigo. Sinopia (2022).
"Partes de guerra" ed. di Ignacio Martínez de Pisón. Catedral (2022).
- Novels:
"Luna de lobos" (1985) by Julio Llamazares. Ed. by Miguel Tomás-Valiente, Cáterda, Letras Hispánicas (2009).
"Soldados de Salamina" (2001) by Javier Cercas. Ed. by Domingo Ródenas de Moya, Cátedra, Letras Hispánicas (2017).

Texts for the study:
- Alvar Carlos, José-Carlos Mainer, Rosa Navarro, Storia della letteratura spagnola, vol. II, L'età contemporanea, Torino, Einaudi, 1997 (pp. 469-579).
- AA.VV., Letteratura spagnola contemporanea, Torino, Pearson, 2020.
- Julián Casanova, Carlos Gil Andrés, Breve historia de España en el siglo XX, Barcelona, Ariel, 2012.
- Gabriele Ranzato, La Guerra Di Spagna, Milano, Giunti, 1995.
- Cesare Segre, Avviamento all’analisi del testo letterario, Torino, Einaudi, 1985 (pp. 5-131).

Critical bibliography for further reading:
- Diego, Gerardo, ed., "Poesía española. Antología 1915-1931", Madrid, Signo, 1932; edizioni successive.
- Díez de Revenga, Francisco Javier, ed., "Antología de la poesía española del 27", Madrid, Castalia.
- Merlo, Pepa, ed., "Peces en la tierra. Antología de mujeres poetas en torno a la Generación del 27", Sevilla, Fundación José Manuel Lara.
- Mainer, José-Carlos, "La Edad de Plata, 1902-1939", Madrid, Cátedra.
- Cano Ballesta, Juan, La poesía española entre pureza y revolución, 1920-1936, Madrid, Gredos.
- Díez de Revenga, Francisco Javier, "La Generación del 27", Madrid, Síntesis.
- Debicki, Andrew P., "Historia de la poesía española del siglo XX. Desde la modernidad hasta el presente", Madrid, Gredos.
- Geist, Anthony L., "La poética de la generación del 27 y las revistas literarias: de la vanguardia al compromiso, 1918-1936", Madrid, Guadarrama.
- Ortega y Gasset, José, "La deshumanización del arte", Madrid, Revista de Occidente; edizioni successive.
- Balló, Tània, "Las Sinsombrero. Sin ellas, la historia no está completa", Barcelona, Espasa.
- Mangini, Shirley, "Las modernas de Madrid. Las grandes intelectuales españolas de la vanguardia", Barcelona, Península.
- Morelli, Gabriele; Manera, Danilo, "Letteratura spagnola del Novecento. Dal modernismo al postmoderno", Milano, Bruno Mondadori / Paravia, 2007.
- Rosso, Maria, a cura di, "I poeti del Ventisette", Venezia, Marsilio, 2008.
- Profeti, Maria Grazia, a cura di, "L'età contemporanea della letteratura spagnola. Il Novecento", Milano, La nuova Italia, 2001.

Further bibliographical references and supplementary materials will be provided during the course in relation to the individual authors and texts covered.

The teaching includes an oral exam as a method of assessment. The interview aims to verify the general knowledge and text analysis skills acquired during the course and consists of three questions (a general topic to develop, a text commentary, and a brief definition of concepts). The approximate duration of the exam will be around 20 minutes. Active participation of the student in the lessons is appreciated.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Assessment Grid (regardless of attendance mode):
28-30L: mastery of the topics covered in lectures and manuals; ability to prioritize information; use of appropriate technical terminology;
26-27: good knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and, to a lesser extent, in manuals; fair ability to organize information and present it orally; familiarity with technical terminology;
24-25: not always in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and manuals; orderly oral presentation but not always correct use of technical terminology;
22-23: often superficial knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and manuals; unclear oral presentation and lacking in technical terminology;
18-21: occasionally incomplete knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and manuals; confused oral presentation with little use of technical terminology.

Lecture-based course that also utilizes educational modules available on the university's e-learning platform moodle.unive.it with texts and other multimedia materials.