UNIVERSIY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

DEPT. OF WORLD LANGUAGES, SPRING 2009

SPW 4131 001/Survey of Spanish American Literature II
Times: F 2:00-4:45: pm Location: Cooper Hall 254

OFFICES: Dr. Pablo Brescia COOPER HALL 411 974-2717

Dept. of World Languages COOPER HALL 419 974-2548

HOURS: Fridays 12-2 PM and every other Wednesday 2-4 PM by appointment

EMAIL: pbrescia@cas.usf.edu

INTRODUCCIÓN A LA LITERATURA HISPANOAMERICANA DEL SIGLO XX

Descripción y objetivos:
Este curso ofrece una visión panorámica de la literatura hispanoamericana del siglo XX mediante la
lectura, discusión y análisis de textos literarios. Estudiaremos los procesos de cambio desde fines del siglo
XIX hasta nuestros días, a partir de los movimientos y tendencias (modernismo, vanguardismo,
regionalismo, cosmopolitismo, realismo mágico, literatura fantástica, nueva narrativa o boom, literatura
de mujeres, posboom) que definieron el campo literario hispanoamericano en este periodo. Como
resultado del curso el/la estudiante podrá: (1) reconocer escritores y textos importantes y entender las
razones de su relevancia; (2) identificar y explicar los rasgos principales de los movimientos y tendencias
centrales y su relación con diversos acontecimientos históricos y políticos y (3) expresar analíticamente,
tanto de manera escrita como oral, sus ideas sobre la literatura hispanoamericana del siglo XX.

Requisitos:
La clase se dicta en español; los estudiantes deben tener el nivel de comprensión y expresión oral y escrita
coherente y adecuado. Se espera que los estudiantes asistan regularmente a las clases, participen
activamente en la discusión de los textos y demuestren una evolución en el manejo de la información y en
la capacidad analítica a lo largo del semestre. Éste es un curso de LECTURA Y ESCRITURA. Los
estudiantes deben venir con las lecturas y las tareas del día preparadas.

Calificaciones:
Asistencia y participación 10%
Tareas y ensayos 30%
Presentación oral 25%
Exámenes (2) 35%

Textos/Texts:
—Raquel Chang-Rodríguez y Malva Filer. Voces de Hispanoamérica: antología literaria.
—Gabriel García Márquez, Crónica de una muerte anunciada.

INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE SINCE MODERNISM

Description and objectives:
This course presents a panoramic view of Hispanic-American literature in the 20th century. Students will
read, discuss and analyze representative novels, short stories, poetry, essays and plays. We will study the
literary transformations of the period through the diverse movements and tendencies (modernism,
vanguardism, regionalism, cosmopolitism, magical realism, boom, postboom, women’s literature) that
defined the field. At the end of this course, the student will be able to (1) recognize important writers and
texts and understand why they are relevant; (2) identify and explain the main characteristics of literary
movements and tendencies and their relation to historic and political events and (3) express analytically
(in oral and written form) his or her ideas about Hispanic-American literature in the 20th century.

Requirements
Class is conducted in Spanish; it is expected that students have the necessary language skills to partake in
this course. Students must attend class regularly, participate in discussion sessions and show an adequate
evolution in their acquisition of information and their intellectual capacity. This is a READING and
WRITING course. Students must come to class prepared.

Grading:
Attendance and participation 10%
Homework and essays 30%
Oral presentation 25%
Tests (2 ) 35%

1. Attendance and participation (10%)

Attendance is a must. AFTER TWO UNJUSTIFIED ABSENCES, FIVE POINTS (OUT OF A TOTAL
OF 100 POINTS) CAN BE DEDUCTED FOR EACH ABSENCE FROM THE STUDENT’S FINAL
GRADE. Participation will be graded in terms of quantity and quality.

2. Quotes/Homework/essays (30%)
Each week, students will turn in a homework assigment from a text assigned by the professor, sometimes
to be used for class discussion. Homework assignments will be explained in class and will normally be 1-
3 pages. Handouts will explain in detail these assignments. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ANSWERING THE ‘PREGUNTAS GENERALES” AND “PREGUNTAS DE ANALISIS” FROM
VOCES DE HISPANOAMERICA. ANSWERS MAY BE COLLECTED AT TIMES.

3. Oral Presentation (25%).

Groups of two-three students will present an oral report on a text/author assigned by the instructor. A
handout will explain in detail the assignment.

4. Tests (35%)
Exam 1 will take place on February 27th; Exam 2 on April 17th. The format for both tests includes
multiple choice, matching, and short answer and long answer. There are no make-ups, except in
emergency cases.

*Nota: la clase será dividida en dos mitades (A y B): de 2 a 3:15 y de 3:30 a 4:30.

Guidelines and class policies:

1. I will be available for consultation during office hours (F 12-2 pm and every other Wednesday 2-4 pm
by appointment). If you have questions about assignments or other class matters, you may reach me via e-
mail (pbrescia@cas.usf.edu). PLEASE, USE E-MAIL RESPONSIBLY. I check email twice a day: at 9
am and at 4 pm, so plan accordingly.

2. There are no make-ups or extra-credit, except in emergency cases.

3. Emergency is defined as: a) serious illness or accident or b) death, serious illness or accident in your
immediate family. Except in the stated cases, NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

4. PLAGIARISM/CHEATING IS NOT TOLERATED under any circumstances. Software will be

utilized to assess potential plagiarism. Sources must be properly cited. Please be sure to review the
university’s policy in the student handbook or check:
http://www.sa.usf.edu/handbook/academics/ImportantAcademicPolicies.htm. I reserve the right to a)
request that assignments be submitted to me as electronic files and b) electronically submit assignments to
www.Turnitin.com. For more information, visit this website. The penalty for plagiarism is a “FF” (a F
grade that cannot be erased from a student’s record).

5. DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN CLASS. I consider disruptive behavior:

a) cell phones ringing in class (TURN THEM OFF BEFORE COMING TO CLASS, PLEASE) or
computer-related activities not having to do with the course, or text messaging; b) what the instructor
determines to be rude, obnoxious or disrespectful attitudes towards your classmates or himself; c) eating
in class or drinking; d) coming late to class and/or leaving early from class; e) conversing with classmates
while other people in the class are speaking. If you should incur in any of these you may be penalized by:
a) being asked to leave the class; b) receiving a non-passing grade on an assignment or c) failing the
course. Your cooperation is requested. A pleasant attitude and a genuine interest in the material are
acceptable behavior and are, as a matter of fact, highly recommended.

6. Students with disabilities are responsible for registering with the Office of Student Disabilities Services
in order to receive special accommodations and services. Please notify the instructor during the first
week of classes if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed for this course. A letter from the
USF Disabilities Office must accompany this request.

7. Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major
religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second
meeting.

8. PLEASE NOTE: Students are allowed to record lectures but are not permitted to sell recordings or notes
based on such lectures

9. Useful reference information:

Department of World Languages: http://www.cas.usf.edu/languages

(Undergraduate advisor Ms. Osiris Albrecht oalbrech@cas.usf.edu 813-974-2699)
USF library: http://www.lib.usf.edu Contact Nancy Cunningham ncunning@lib.usf.edu
CAS Computing Online Help Center: http://web1.cas.usf.edu/computing/ccshelp
Counseling Center: http://usfweb2.usf.edu/counsel

CALENDARIO DE LECTURAS Y EXÁMENES

Enero 9 A. Introducción al curso. Ejemplo de análisis.

B. La situación de la literatura latinoamericana entre siglos. Corrientes filosóficas y

literarias; acontecimientos históricos.
Lecturas: Apuntes sobre la poesía (Blackboard) y Voces 198-206.

Enero 16 Orientación en la biblioteca.

Lecturas: Voces 240-257.

Enero 23 A. Introducción al análisis de la poesía. El modernismo. Darío. “Sonatina”.

B. Darío: “El cisne”; “A Roosevelt”. Repaso de las contribuciones de Darío.

Grupos para presentaciones orales T1
Lecturas: Voces 282-285 y 308-313; 327-331.

Enero 30 A. Martínez y el quiebre. Panorama literario a comienzos de siglo. La poesía

posmodernista. Agustini “El intruso”; “Las alas”.

B. La poesía posmodernista. Storni. “Tú me quieres blanca” (PRESENTACION 1);

“Hombre pequeñito”.
Inicio de lectura de Crónica de una muerte anunciada. T2
Lecturas: Voces 285-288 y 339-346.

Febrero 6 A. El proyecto de las vanguardias. Trasfondo histórico-filosófico. Huidobro: “Arte

poética”.

B. El proyecto de las vanguardias. Huidobro. Altazor (PRESENTACION 2) T3.

Lecturas: Voces 392-401.

Febrero 13 A. El proyecto de las vanguardias. Neruda. “Poema 20”.

B. El proyecto de las vanguardias. Neruda “Walking Around”; “Canto general”; “Oda a

los calcetines”. T4

Febrero 20 A.Película: Il Postino

B. Repaso
Fin de lectura de Crónica de una muerte anunciada.

Febrero 27 A. EXAMEN I.
Lecturas: Voces 445-458 y apuntes sobre el teatro y “El hombre que se convirtió en
perro” (Blackboard)

Marzo 6 A. Introducción al análisis del teatro. “El censo”. T5.

B. “El hombre que se convirtió en perro” (PRESENTACION 3)

Lecturas: apuntes sobre la narrativa (Blackboard) y Voces 280-298 y 402-208

Marzo 13 A. Introducción al análisis de la narrativa. Apuntes sobre elementos principales del texto
narrativo. Aplicación: “El hijo” (Quiroga).
 B. Regionalismos; neorrealismo. Rulfo. “Nos han dado la tierra” (PRESENTACION 4).
T6.
Lecturas: Voces 410-414 y 354-363.

Marzo 16-21 Spring break.

Marzo 27 A. Video y presentación: Borges.

B. Cosmopolitismo/literatura fantástica. Borges. “El sur”. (PRESENTACION 5). T7

Lecturas: Voces 467-477 y 418-120; apuntes sobre Cortázar (Blackboard)

Abril 3 A. Cultura y política 1960-80. El “BOOM”. Fuentes: “Chac Mool”. (PRESENTACION

6). Cortázar: Instrucciones.

B. Discusión de Crónica de una muerte anunciada

Abril 10 A. Discusión de Crónica de una muerte anunciada (PRESENTACION 7)

T8

B. Discusión de Crónica de una muerte anunciada. García Márquez: video.

Lecturas: Voces 459-466 y 521-526.

Abril 17 A. EXAMEN 2

B. La voz femenina. Castellanos. Literatura y censura. Valenzuela: “Los censores”.

Abril 24 A. Evaluación del curso.

*ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.