Spanish Drama And Poetry Of The Golden Age

Center:

Salamanca

Program(s):

Salamanca - Study in Salamanca

Discipline(s):

Spanish

Literature

Course code:

SP/LT 344

Terms offered:

Spring

Credits:

Language of instruction:

Spanish

Description:

Survey and textual analysis of Spanish poetry during the “Century of Gold”, from the revolutionary influence of Italian literature to the spirituality of the counter-Reformation. Examination of major themes and sylistic fetaures of Renaissance and Baroque poetic masterpieces and an overview of Spanish theatre of the age, with an emphasis on sociological factors and structural origins.

Prerequisites:

Previous course in Spanish literature

Method of presentation:

Lecture and discussion; textual analysis. Careful reading and thorough preparation outside of class are expected; class time is devoted to analysis and exchange of ideas.

Required work and form of assessment:

Regular attendance and active class participation, midterm and final exam.

content:

Introduction: Basic concepts and movements
a.   Century of Gold, Golden Centuries, The Golden Age
b.   Periodization.
c.   Renaissance and Baroque
d.   Reformation and counter-Reformation
e.   Humanism

2.   Lyric Poetry
a.   The 'Italian Revolution: formal and thematic influences from Italy
b.   Renaissance Petrarchism: Garcilaso, Francisco de Torre, Fernando de Herrera
c.   Baroque Petrarchism: Góngora
d.   Feminine beauty and the ephemeral nature of time
e.   From mythological Petrarchism to satirical mythology
f.   The philosophic poetry of Quevedo

3. Popular Poetry
a.   Formal and thematic elements of popular poetry
b.   Songs and Renaissance romances
c.   Popular poetry in Baroque theater: Lope de Vega
d.   Folk poetry and romance forms utilized by lyric poets

4.    Religious Poetry
a.   The counter-Reformation in literature.
b.   Asceticism and mysticism
c.   Fray Luis de León and San Juan de la Cruz
d.   Baroque religiosity

5.    Theater
a.   The evolution of Renaissance theatre
b.   The creation of a national comedy
c.   Themes and settings
d.   Representative works
e.   Lope de Vega and Calderón

Required readings:

In addition to an anthology of primary texts discussed in the course, students are required to read the following:
Beltrán, Vicente, ed. La canción tradicional de la Edad de Oro. Barcelona: Planeta, 1990.
Lope de Vega. El caballero de Olmedo. Madrid: Cátedra, 1989.
Pedro Calderón de la Barca. La vida es sueño. Madrid: Cátedra, 1989.
Rivers, Elias L., ed. Poesía lírica del Siglo de Oro. Madrid: Cátedra, 1991