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Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Course Syllabus
SPAN 3610
EARLY LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE
FALL 2009
Elizabeth Hall 104
MWF 10:30-11:20
Instructor: Dr. Isabel Asensio
Office Hours: MW 9:30-10:30am; W 1-2pm; TR 10:30-11:30am or by appointment.
Office: EH 230
Office Phone: 626-6777
Email:
Website:
Course Description
This course will be a panoramic journey through Spanish American literature. We will begin with readings from the pre-Hispanic period, going through the colonial and independence periods, and finishing with readings from Modernismo, which was a paramount movement in Spanish American literature that questioned conventional notions of literary discourse.
As we read the literature, special attention will be given to the socio-historical context of Spanish America. Therefore, both political and cultural issues will be our interest and the focus of our analysis and class discussions.
Course Objectives
1) General knowledge of the aesthetic, historical, and sociopolitical development of SpanishAmerican literary discourse.
2) Better understanding of the specific terminology needed for a critical reading of literary texts.
3) Awareness of the most significant authors from the pre-Conquest period until
Modernismo.
4) Learn about Spanish America through its literature.
5) Strengthen language and writing skills as we examine and interact with the diverse textsread in class.
Required Textbook
- Introducción a la literatura latinoamericana,Sobejano-Morán, Antonio, et.al. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, 2005.
- Various readings that will be available through e-Reserve.
Course Requirements
1) Class preparation and participation (15%)
Students are expected to actively read the material specified on the syllabus and be prepared for class discussions. In addition, students are expected to complete reading questionnaires as well as other homework assignments. This component of the class is important not only because it is worth a considerable percentage towards the final grade, but also because the exams and written assignments of this course will profit greatly from class preparation and participation. Given this, regular attendance is imperative. More than three unexcused absences will result in the reduction of a whole letter grade. Always let me know in advance if you need to miss a class due to a reasonable reason (weddings, family vacations, outdoors sports…are not reasonable reasons).
2) Oral presentation (20%)
Each student will be asked to give an oral presentation to the class. This will consist of a short introduction on a historical, cultural, or literary topic and how it is rendered in a specific text discussed in class.
Some historical and cultural topics may include but are not limited to: aspects of indigenous people prior to Spanish arrival (art, music, culture, religion); African peoples in Colonial Latin America; other migrant groups to arrive during colonial period; Catholic priests/missionaries; race mixing/mestizaje; entertainment in colonial period (sports, games, music, art, etc.); indigenous/ Latin American influences on Spain; “la Malinche”; role of women; education during the colonial period; environmental issues/ changes; social unrest: protests, rebellions; indigenous or colonial period literature/intellectuals; public health. Whatever topic you choose, your presentation has to relate to the literature that we are reading and discussing in this course.
Before preparing the presentation, each student must let me know what topic he/she has chosen. After the presentation, in class, the student needs to turn in a written version (it will count 10% towards the total percentage of this category) of his/her presentation, which must include all bibliographical sources used for this assignment. For this presentation, students must refer to at least two written sources. Online searches and Wikipedia are NOT enough, nor as reliable as you may think.
The following are reference books that you may find very useful for both your oral presentation and final paper:
Bailey, Gauvin A. Art of colonial Latin America. London; New York: Phaidon, 2005.
Beezley, William H., and MacLachlan, Colin M. Latin America: the peoples and their history. Belmont, CA : Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007.
Burkholder, Mark A. and Lyman L. Johnson, Colonial Latin America. New York: Oxford Press, 2001.
Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine, and Gossen, Gary H. (eds.). The legacy of Mesoamerica: history and culture of a Native American civilization. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.
Castillo, Susan and Schweitzer, Ivy (eds.). A companion to the literatures of colonial America. Malden, MA; Oxford: Blackwell Pub., 2005.
Keen, Benjamin, and Haynes, Keith. A history of Latin America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Landers, Jane G., and Robinson, Barry M. (eds.). Slaves, subjects, and subversives: blacks in colonial Latin America. Albuquerque: U. of New Mexico Press, 2006.
Lockhart, James, and Schwartz, Stuart B. Early Latin America: a short history of Colonial Spanish America and Brazil. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1983.
McAlister, Lyle N. Spain and Portugal in the New World, 1492-1700. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984.
Melville, Elinor. A Plague of Sheep: Environmental Consequences of the Conquest of Mexico. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Mills, Kenneth, Taylor, William B., and Graham Sandra Lauderdale (eds.). Colonial Latin America: a documentary history. Wilmington, Del.: Scholarly Resources, 2002.
Stern, Steve. Peru’s Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest: Huamanga to 1640. Madison: U. of Wisconsin Press, 1993.
3) Reading quizzes (20%)
These quizzes will be announced and unannounced. Their main objective is for the instructor to know whether students are really doing the reading assignments. Reading assignments for this class include the literary segments and the historical and cultural introductions found in the course textbook. In addition, these quizzes are to review readings and specific cultural and literary concepts. They will also help to underscore important themes and relevant terminology.
Actively reading and studying for these quizzes will help the students be more prepared for class discussions, for written assignments, and for the final paper. These quizzes will be given in written form and/or through Vista.
4) Mid-term and final exams (30%)
There will be two equally worth comprehensive exams, a mid-term and a final. Their purpose is totest the understanding of the many concepts introduced in class and the familiarity with the different texts.
5) Final paper (15%)
Each student will write in Spanish a final research paper (6-8 pages, plus bibliography) on an author or work of his/her preference. Details of this assignment will be given in class as the semester progresses.
All assignments must be completed by the due date. Late work will not be accepted except under prior arrangements with the instructor. Absolutely NO make-up exams will be given. You are responsible for all course work undertaken or assigned in your absence.
Method of Evaluation
Class preparation and participation-----15%
Oral presentation------20%
Reading quizzes------20%
Exams------30%
Final paper------15%
Grades
A 94-100 B+ 87-89.9 C+ 77-79.9 D+ 67-69.9 E 59.9 and under
B 84-86.9 C 74-76.9 D 64-66.9
A- 90-93.9 B- 80-83.9 C- 70-73.9 D- 60-63.9
Other important information
Cell phones: use the vibrate mode only. If you need to answer a call, please do so outside the classroom. Absolutely no text messaging allowed.
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated. Depending on its severity, it may result in a failure of the assignment/paper, or even the course. If you have questions or concerns, please visit WSU PPM (Policies and Procedures Manual).
Students with medical, psychological or learning limitations or disabilities, who desire academic adjustments or accommodations,must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (located on the lower level of the Student Services Center in room 181, with phone number 626-6413). This contact should occur at least ten days prior to the time an academic adjustment or accommodation is needed.
Student athlete: a timetable of away games should be provided within the first week of classes.
Email:I will communicate with you via email. I expect you to check and read your email messages several times a week, especially the day before the class meets. Ignorance of this rule is not an excuse. The best way to contact me is by email. I read my email several times a day and I try to answer as soon as I can. However, if you email me after 5pm, do not expect an immediate response.
*Syllabus addendum
In the event of an extended campus closure due to H1N1, I will continue to provide instruction by utilizing the Blackboard online course system. I will expect you to login to the system on a regular basis to keep up with coursework. Assignments will be provided through the online system with clear due dates and expectations. Discussions will be made available to allow you to interact with other students and me about course material. I will check my weber email on a daily basis should you need to communicate with me personally. Itis imperative that I am able to contact you and that I have accurate contact info on you. Youare responsible for checking your weber e-mail or for having weber messages forwarded to accounts you do check.
DAILY SYLLABUS
(Subject to the changes that the instructor may consider appropriate)
Agosto
Lunes 24 Introducción al curso.
Miércoles 26 Repaso de los términos literarios.
Viernes 28 Capítulo 1: Literaturas indígenas precolombinas. Introducción histórico-cultural(1-6). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 6.
Lunes 31 “Las grandes civilizaciones precolombinas y su legado cultural” por Eugenio Chang Rodríguez” (texto adicional); la literatura náhuatl (texto adicional).
Septiembre
Miércoles 2 La literatura maya: Popol Vuh (texto adicional).
Viernes 4 Los libros de Chilam Balam (texto adicional).
Lunes 7 Día del Trabajo.
Miércoles 9 La literatura quechua (texto adicional).
Viernes 11 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 14 Capítulo 2: Siglos XV-XVIII La Colonia. Introducción histórico-cultural (9-13). Entregar el cuestionario de las páginas 13-14.
Miércoles 16 Introducción literaria: Siglo XVI. El Renacimiento (15-19). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 19.
Viernes 18 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 21 El descubrimiento: La narrativa del encuentro. Cristóbal Colón: Diario de a bordo: El primer viaje a las Indias (texto adicional); Hernán Cortés: Segunda carta (texto adicional).
Miércoles 23 Bernal Díaz del Castillo: Historia verdadera de la conquista de la
Nueva España (texto adicional); Fray Bartolomé de las Casas: Brevísima relación de la destrucción de Indias (texto adicional).
Viernes 25 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 28 Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (20-33). Entregar los cuestionarios de las páginas 24, 25-26, 28 y 33.
Miércoles 30 Siglo XVII. Manierismo y Barroco (36-39). Entregar el cuestionario de las páginas 39-40. El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega: Comentarios Reales (texto adicional).
Octubre
Viernes 2 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 5 La poesía épica en la América colonial: Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga: La Araucana (texto adicional).
Miércoles 7 Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (41-45). Entregar el análisis crítico de la página 45.
Viernes 9 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 12 Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (continuación). Repaso para el primer examen.
Miércoles 14 Mid-term exam.
Viernes 16 Fall Break.
Lunes 19 Siglo XVIII. El Rococó y el Neoclasicismo (47).
Miércoles 21 Capítulo 3. Siglo XIX. Independencia y Emancipación. Introducción histórico-cultural (49-53). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 53.
Viernes 23 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 26 Introducción literaria. El Neoclasicismo (54-56). Entregar el cuestionario de las páginas 56-57.
Miércoles 28 José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi (57-64). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 64.
Viernes 30 Presentaciones orales.
Noviembre
Lunes 2 José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi (continuación). Análisis crítico de las páginas 65-66.
Miércoles 4 El Romanticismo: el ensayo. Literatura gauchesca. Poesía. Introducción literaria (67-71). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 71.
Viernes 6 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 9 José María Heredia (73-75). Entregar el análisis crítico de las páginas 75-76.
Miércoles 11 El Romanticismo: novela, teatro (77-80). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 80; Ricardo Palma (81-82). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 83.
Viernes 13 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 16 Ricardo Palma (83-87). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 88. Análisis crítico en la página 89.
Miércoles 18 Realismo. Naturalismo y Modernismo (90-94). Entregar el cuestionario de las páginas 94-95. Esteban Echeverría (texto adicional).
Viernes 20 Presentaciones orales.
Lunes 23 José Martí (96-101). Entregar el análisis crítico de las páginas 99-100 y 101.
Miércoles 25 Presentaciones orales. Entregar el trabajo final.
Viernes 27 Thanksgiving Holiday.
Lunes 30 Apogeo del Modernismo (102-104). Entregar el cuestionario de la página 104. Rubén Darío (105-112). Análisis críticos de las páginas 108-109 y 112.
Diciembre
Miércoles 2 Rubén Darío (continuación).
Viernes 4 Último día. Visión de conjunto.
Examen final: miércoles, 9 de diciembre, de 10:30am a 12:20pm.