Spanish Literature 2
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is addressed to 2nd-year students of Spanish Literature, and it is the natural continuation of the 1st-year syllabus. It is devoted to Golden Age (especially 1580-1680), with a specific attention to prominent authors and works which played a central role in the development of drama, narrative, and poetry.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: historical and literary context of the Golden Age; main authors and literary movements in the 17th century; elements of literary theory.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: reading and critical commentary of poetic compositions from the Baroque period, a selection of chapters from 'Quijote' and other prose texts, and some plays of the period.
Ability to understand the historical, cultural and social implications of literary texts; ability to place in time the authors, currents and main works of the period studied; ability to recognise and explain similarities and differences between literary texts, highlighting the most significant peculiarities of each genre; ability to recognise discursive strategies and explain the effects on the meaning of a text.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: reading and critical commentary of poetic compositions from the Baroque period, a selection of chapters from 'Quijote' and other prose texts, and some plays of the period.
Ability to understand the historical, cultural and social implications of literary texts; ability to place in time the authors, currents and main works of the period studied; ability to recognise and explain similarities and differences between literary texts, highlighting the most significant peculiarities of each genre; ability to recognise discursive strategies and explain the effects on the meaning of a text.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into three parts and deals with the following authors and works:
A) Poetry of the Baroque era: poems by Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Góngora, Quevedo, and other authors of the period, with a specific focus on recurring themes and motifs.
B) Prose writing in the 17th century: reading of some 'Novelas ejemplares' and of Cervantes' "Don Quijote", as well as excerpts from picaresque novels and from other novels of the time.
C) Golden Age theatre: introduction to the 'comedia nueva' (circulation of texts, spaces of representation, staging conventions and ideology); analysis of key fragments of Lope de Vega's treatise, 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempo'; full reading of Lope de Vega, 'El perro del hortelano', Tirso de Molina (?), 'El burlador de Sevilla', Pedro Calderón de la Barca, 'La vida es sueño'.
The course programme runs until September 2026. Starting from December 2026 it will only be possible to take the exam with the 2026-27 syllabus.
A) Poetry of the Baroque era: poems by Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Góngora, Quevedo, and other authors of the period, with a specific focus on recurring themes and motifs.
B) Prose writing in the 17th century: reading of some 'Novelas ejemplares' and of Cervantes' "Don Quijote", as well as excerpts from picaresque novels and from other novels of the time.
C) Golden Age theatre: introduction to the 'comedia nueva' (circulation of texts, spaces of representation, staging conventions and ideology); analysis of key fragments of Lope de Vega's treatise, 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempo'; full reading of Lope de Vega, 'El perro del hortelano', Tirso de Molina (?), 'El burlador de Sevilla', Pedro Calderón de la Barca, 'La vida es sueño'.
The course programme runs until September 2026. Starting from December 2026 it will only be possible to take the exam with the 2026-27 syllabus.
Prerequisites for admission
The language of instruction is Spanish. Primary and secondary literature presuppose the basic skills in language, literary history, use of terminology and critical analysis acquired in previous courses.
Teaching methods
The course adopts several teaching methods: lectures; reading and commentary on excerpts from the works on the syllabus; open or guided discussions with students on some specific excerpt; viewing of documentaries and clips of theatre stagings.
Teaching Resources
The course has a webpage on MyAriel platform, which hosts texts, anthologies and critical materials provided directly by the lecturers. Specific critical essays on individual works or authors, or on general issues, will be made available on the site for each part of the course.
For a general framework of literary history, students will use the volume by Lina Rodríguez Cacho, 'Manual de Historia de la Literatura española. Siglos XIII al XVII', Castalia, Madrid, 2016 (chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8), already in the syllabus of the first year.
The compulsory readings and reference editions for the various parts of the course are indicated below:
A) Anthology of poems and critical materials available in MyAriel, with a selection of poems by Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Góngora, and more. As an overview of poetry in the Golden Age, in addition to class notes and essays on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 397-433 (chapter 7) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
B) Anthology of prose texts and critical materials available on MyAriel, with sample by Cervantes, María de Zayas, Quevedo, and Gracián. With regard to Miguel de Cervantes, 'Don Quijote de la Mancha', refer to the edition by Francisco Rico, Barcelona, Crítica, 1998, available online (http://cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/clasicos/quijote/).
As an overview of prose writing in the Golde Age, in addition to class notes and critical materials available on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 313-396 (chapters 5 and 6) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
C) Lope de Vega, 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempo', in particular vv. 1-48, 128-256, 269-345, 362-376. Recommended edition: 'Nuova arte di far comedie in questi tempi', edited by Maria Grazia Profeti, Napoli, Liguori. The translation alone, without commentary notes and critical study, is also available online, in the Biblioteca Digital Artelope, Colección Emothe.
Lope de Vega, 'El perro del hortelano'. Recommended edition: "Il cane dell'ortolano", edited by Stefano Arata and Fausta Antonucci, Napoli, Liguori.
Tirso de Molina, 'El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'. Recommended edition: "Don Giovanni. Il beffatore di Siviglia", edited by Alfonso D'Agostino, Milano, Rizzoli.
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, 'La vida es sueño'. Recommended edition: "La vita è un sogno", edited by Fausta Antonucci, Venezia, Marsilio.
The three plays must be read in Spanish, using the edition listed above and, if necessary, the translations recommended. Alternatively, it is possible to use other editions, provided they are complete and accompanied by a critical introduction, notes and comments; in this case, it is recommended to consult with the teacher in advance. The various editions available on the Internet (even those downloadable from specialised portals, such as the Biblioteca Virtual Cervantes) are generally lacking in notes, comments and critical introductions, and are therefore insufficient for preparing the examination.
As an overview of the theatrical genre in the Siglo de Oro, in addition to class notes and critical materials available on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 435-508 (chapter 8) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
For a general framework of literary history, students will use the volume by Lina Rodríguez Cacho, 'Manual de Historia de la Literatura española. Siglos XIII al XVII', Castalia, Madrid, 2016 (chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8), already in the syllabus of the first year.
The compulsory readings and reference editions for the various parts of the course are indicated below:
A) Anthology of poems and critical materials available in MyAriel, with a selection of poems by Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Góngora, and more. As an overview of poetry in the Golden Age, in addition to class notes and essays on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 397-433 (chapter 7) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
B) Anthology of prose texts and critical materials available on MyAriel, with sample by Cervantes, María de Zayas, Quevedo, and Gracián. With regard to Miguel de Cervantes, 'Don Quijote de la Mancha', refer to the edition by Francisco Rico, Barcelona, Crítica, 1998, available online (http://cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/clasicos/quijote/).
As an overview of prose writing in the Golde Age, in addition to class notes and critical materials available on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 313-396 (chapters 5 and 6) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
C) Lope de Vega, 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempo', in particular vv. 1-48, 128-256, 269-345, 362-376. Recommended edition: 'Nuova arte di far comedie in questi tempi', edited by Maria Grazia Profeti, Napoli, Liguori. The translation alone, without commentary notes and critical study, is also available online, in the Biblioteca Digital Artelope, Colección Emothe.
Lope de Vega, 'El perro del hortelano'. Recommended edition: "Il cane dell'ortolano", edited by Stefano Arata and Fausta Antonucci, Napoli, Liguori.
Tirso de Molina, 'El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'. Recommended edition: "Don Giovanni. Il beffatore di Siviglia", edited by Alfonso D'Agostino, Milano, Rizzoli.
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, 'La vida es sueño'. Recommended edition: "La vita è un sogno", edited by Fausta Antonucci, Venezia, Marsilio.
The three plays must be read in Spanish, using the edition listed above and, if necessary, the translations recommended. Alternatively, it is possible to use other editions, provided they are complete and accompanied by a critical introduction, notes and comments; in this case, it is recommended to consult with the teacher in advance. The various editions available on the Internet (even those downloadable from specialised portals, such as the Biblioteca Virtual Cervantes) are generally lacking in notes, comments and critical introductions, and are therefore insufficient for preparing the examination.
As an overview of the theatrical genre in the Siglo de Oro, in addition to class notes and critical materials available on MyAriel, particular attention will be paid to pp. 435-508 (chapter 8) of Lina Rodríguez Cacho's 'Manual' cited above.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of two interviews with the lecturers. They will ask questions aimed at ascertaining both general theoretical knowledge (related to the history and culture of the period, literary genres and methodological tools) and the ability to analyse and contextualise the texts (full readings and selections). No translation test is included in the interviews. The ability to highlight the relationships between the works and authors, the correct use of terminology and the quality of expression will be appreciated. It will be compulsory to take parts A and B of the interview in Spanish. As for what concerns Part C of the interview, students will choose to taken it in Spanish or in Italian.
The final grade is expressed on a scale of 30 and may be rejected. International or Erasmus incoming students should contact the lecturers in advance to eventually adjust the syllabus. Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the lecturers, according to the procedures established by the relevant office.
The final grade is expressed on a scale of 30 and may be rejected. International or Erasmus incoming students should contact the lecturers in advance to eventually adjust the syllabus. Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the lecturers, according to the procedures established by the relevant office.
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Cassol Alessandro Roberto, Santa Aguilar Sara Isabel
Professor(s)
Reception:
It is possible to meet the teacher both in person and throught Teams; students should schedule an appointment .in advance via e-mail.
Office hours: the teacher room is located in Piazza S. Alessandro 1, first floor, Iberistica (stairs to the second floor). Remote calls: Teams (access code: 0tjneag).