Fall 2006
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This course provides an introduction to Spanish literature and the analysis of literary and filmic texts. As it exposes you to Spanish literature from medieval to contemporary eras, it will focus primarily on helping you to develop more advanced critical reading, writing and argumentation skills. During the semester, we will strengthen your ability to read both critically and creatively, analyzing the strategies that different authors use to express their ideas, to create their literary and filmic worlds, and to engage the reader.
As an introduction to literature, the class will familiarize you as well with the discipline’s basic tools for the analysis of film and three literary genres: narrative, poetry, and drama. We will question the limits of textual interpretation (is any interpretation of a text valid?) and work towards producing readings that are creative, insightful and grounded. The course thus stresses analytical thinking, and you will practice arguing interpretations in both class discussion and papers. The analytical tools that you learn in this course will prepare you for more advanced classes in literature. At the same time, they are tools that will empower you to be more critical and creative thinkers across the board, whatever your major or interests.
The course aims, then, to expose you to a wide range
of texts, give you tools for literary analysis, and push you to create
more critical, insightful and engaging readings of texts.
Guides | Texts | Presentations | Compositions