Spanish 607: Classics of Medieval Castilian Literature (Fall 2009)

Instructor: David Wackswacks@uoregon.edu http://twitter.com/davidwacks MW 4:00-5:20 in 248 Gerlinger CRN 16598In this class we will read a number of the classical texts of medieval Castilian literature,all of which are represented on the reading list for the MA exam. In addition to primarytexts, students will read assigned secondary texts to situate the works in their historicaland theoretical contexts.Students will complete a series of assignments designed to practice literary critical skills,including close readings of short textual passages, reviews of critical articles, and presentation of original research and criticism in both oral and written formats.

Course Requirements:Close Readings/Article Reviews (45%)

For class meetings covering primary readings,students will prepare a short close reading of a passage to be assigned at the previousclass session. The close reading will consist of a short summary, an explanation of theimportance of the passage to the overall work, and a detailed analysis of the passage(linguistic, poetic, narratological, socio-historical, etc). For class sessions covering crítica(secondary scholarly essays), students should prepare and post short review essayssummarizing and contrasting the approaches of the two articles assigned. Students will post close readings/reviews to blackboard before class and will bring a hard copy to class.Students should come to class prepared to discuss their close reading/reviews at eachsession. Late readings/reviews will be downgraded 1 point (from total of 10).

Conference paper abstract (5%):

Post to Blackboard before class Wednesday of week 8. A 250-word statement of your thesis and explanation of your argument which you willdevelop first into a your conference paper and then into your critical essay. Please seeSample Conference Paper Abstracts in Blackboard/Documentos.

Conference paper performance (10%):

In class Weeks 9 and 10. A public reading of a6-page conference paper (not to exceed 10 minutes when you rehearse it), followed by alively question and answer session. Please adhere to the guidelines outlined in"Guidelines for Conference Papers" on Blackboard/Documentos. Students whose primarylanguage is not English are encouraged to give their paper in English.

Final essay (40%):

Email to instructor by end of scheduled final exam. A 12-20 pagecritical essay (in Spanish) in which you will expand on the argument presented in your conference paper. For tips on how to move from conference paper to critical essay, see“Guidelines for Conference Papers.” All essays must adhere completely to MLAstandards as detailed in MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Ed. Joseph

Gibaldi. 6th edition. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003.(available in the Knight Library Reference Area, LB2369 .G53 2003). Abbreviated normsavailable at http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/citing/mla.html.

Texts available at UO Bookstore:

•

Poema de Mio Cid

. Ed. Colin Smith. Madrid: Cátedra, 2006. ISBN 978-8437600604.

•

Ruiz, Juan.

Libro de buen amor

. Ed. Alberto Blecua. Madrid: Cátedra, 2006.ISBN 978-8437600604.

•

Don Juan Manuel.

El Conde Lucanor

. Ed. Alfonso Sotelo. Madrid: Cátedra, 2006.ISBN 978-8437600789

•

Rojas, Fernando de.

La Celestina

. Ed. Dorothy Severin. Madrid: Cátedra, 2006.ISBN 978-8437607009.

Program of studies:

W 30 Sep Introducción, assign close readings of

Cid,

cantar 1M 05 Oct Conference travel, no class meeting. Read articles by Menocal and Dagenaisand post Article Review (see above) of both to Blackboard/Article Reviews.W 07 Oct Conference travel, no class meeting. Post close reading of

Poema de Mio Cid

(Cantar 1) to Blackboard by 4:00pm.M 12 Oct

Poema de Mio Cid

(Cantares 2 y 3). Read Hart 2006 (“Infantes” and“Characterization”). Guest speaker: Prof. Thomas HartW 14 Oct Crítica:

Poema/Cantar de Mio Cid

. Article review: Pinet 2005, Hart 2006(“Characterization” only).M 19 Oct Juan Manuel,

Conde Lucanor

(ej. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 20, 25). Close reading.W 21 Oct Juan Manuel,

Conde Lucanor

(ej. 27, 29, 35, 26, 41,

, 46, 47). ReadHammer 2008. Videoconference: Prof. Michael Hammer.M 26 Oct Crítica:

Conde Lucanor.