Iberian Literatures and Cultures: Medieval and Early Modern

Crosslistings: MDVL 21705

This class explores Spanish language, literature, and culture focusing on premodern Iberian texts and artifacts. We will start by anonymous Cantar de Mio Cid, the first great vernacular epic in the Middle Ages, and we will end in Maria de Zayas's Novelas ejemplares, one of the finest expressions of European early modern short story. Between these two literary works we will talk about music, painting, witchcraft, conversion, and the Inquisition as milestones of a five-century span. In this time Spanish consolidates as a written language, while numerous political and religious conflicts mark the struggle for hegemony in the Iberian Peninsula.
In addition to enhancing your knowledge of Iberian cultural history and improving your close reading and critical thinking skills, this course is designed to continue building on your linguistic competence in Spanish.

Taught in Spanish.

Prerequisites
SPAN 20300