Latin American Literature 2
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course offers an articulated knowledge of the general problems of Hispanic American literature, with particular attention to intercultural aspects and the dynamics of identity construction. The main aim is to provide the student with an overview, diachronic and synchronic, of the main literary currents that have addressed the problem of otherness, also through the methodologies and tools of literary analysis (genres, themes, structures and styles).
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the student acquires a good ability to read texts, critical and literary, in language, knows how to interpret and contextualize them, deepens the theories and methodologies of the discipline. Applied skills: the student is able to use the main tools of text analysis as well as to recognize genres, themes, structures and styles, identifies with certainty the main historical and cultural implications of the reference texts. He is also able to revise independently the disciplinary contents acquired.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to provide an overview of 20th-century Spanish American literatures.
The first two modules of the course introduce the main authors of 20th-century Spanish American literature through the literary form of the short story. Starting from a series of meta-literary reflections on the short story, formulated by the authors themselves, the aim is to move through the different cultural areas of the continent by reading and commenting on stories by authors such as Horacio Quiroga, Jorge Luís Borges, Julio Cortázar, María Luisa Bombal, Silvina Ocampo, Amparo Dávila, Alejo Carpentier, Gabriel García Márquez and Rosario Castellanos.
The third module (in Spanish) will feature a monograph dedicated to Juan Rulfo and his two books, El llano en llamas and Pedro Páramo. There will be an in-depth study of the context of the Mexican Revolution and the Cristero War as antecedents; a commentary on Rulfo's photographs; the study of some short stories that anticipate the aesthetic and thematic characteristics of Pedro Páramo ("Luvina", "No oyes ladrar los perros", "Nos han dado la tierra"); and, finally, an analysis of the novel Pedro Páramo.
During the course, the concepts of "boom" and "post-boom" will be discussed, concluding the study with the proposals of authors active at the turn of the century.
The textual analysis will be conducted by highlighting the strong links between cultural production and the historical development of the continent, with constant and fruitful reflection on Latin American identity, and will pay particular attention to the intercultural nature of Spanish American literature itself.
The first two modules of the course introduce the main authors of 20th-century Spanish American literature through the literary form of the short story. Starting from a series of meta-literary reflections on the short story, formulated by the authors themselves, the aim is to move through the different cultural areas of the continent by reading and commenting on stories by authors such as Horacio Quiroga, Jorge Luís Borges, Julio Cortázar, María Luisa Bombal, Silvina Ocampo, Amparo Dávila, Alejo Carpentier, Gabriel García Márquez and Rosario Castellanos.
The third module (in Spanish) will feature a monograph dedicated to Juan Rulfo and his two books, El llano en llamas and Pedro Páramo. There will be an in-depth study of the context of the Mexican Revolution and the Cristero War as antecedents; a commentary on Rulfo's photographs; the study of some short stories that anticipate the aesthetic and thematic characteristics of Pedro Páramo ("Luvina", "No oyes ladrar los perros", "Nos han dado la tierra"); and, finally, an analysis of the novel Pedro Páramo.
During the course, the concepts of "boom" and "post-boom" will be discussed, concluding the study with the proposals of authors active at the turn of the century.
The textual analysis will be conducted by highlighting the strong links between cultural production and the historical development of the continent, with constant and fruitful reflection on Latin American identity, and will pay particular attention to the intercultural nature of Spanish American literature itself.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held in Italian and Spanish. The examination materials and bibliography, on the other hand, will be entirely in Spanish and presuppose skills in literary history, use of terminology and critical analysis acquired in previous courses (Spanish American Literature 1).
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lectures; readings and commentary on the works in the program; seminar lessons.
Teaching Resources
Literary texts: selection of short stories curated by the teachers
Literary History: R. Campra, America latina, l'identità e la maschera II parte; J.M. Oviedo, Historia de la literatura hispanoamericana voll. 3 e 4 (selection of chapters); E. Perassi and L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di cultura ispanoamericana (selection of chapters).
Historical section: R. Nocera - A. Trento, America Latina, un secolo di storia, Carocci, Rome, 2013
Literary History: R. Campra, America latina, l'identità e la maschera II parte; J.M. Oviedo, Historia de la literatura hispanoamericana voll. 3 e 4 (selection of chapters); E. Perassi and L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di cultura ispanoamericana (selection of chapters).
Historical section: R. Nocera - A. Trento, America Latina, un secolo di storia, Carocci, Rome, 2013
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between teacher and student and the analysis and commentary of one or more passages taken from the works in the program. The interview lasts about 20 minutes and can be held in Italian or Spanish, at the student's choice. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts studied, the contextualization ability of authors and works, the ability to analyze the text, the ability in the exposition, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the ability of critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. Finally, it will take into account, if done in Spanish, language skills. The final grade is expressed in thirtieth, and the student has the right to reject it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
For the students attending the course, there will be in partial tests, at the end of the different modules.
Other information:
International students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher of the course in advance.
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
For the students attending the course, there will be in partial tests, at the end of the different modules.
Other information:
International students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher of the course in advance.
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
L-LIN/06 - LATIN AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Pleitez Vela Tania Raquel
Professor(s)