SPN 325L. Introduction to Spanish American Literature since Modernismo
University of Texas at Austin
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Fall 2011
Unique:
Instructor: Cristina Cabello C.deMartínez, Ph.D.
Meet days: TTH, 2:00-3:30pm
Office hours: Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 BEN 3.122 or by appointment*
e-mail:
Textbook: Raquel Chang Rodríguez and Malva E. Filer. Voces de Hispanoamérica.
Boston, MA: Thomson/ Heinle, 2004.
This course is a survey of the main trends of Spanish American literature in the twentieth
century. Our objective is to distinguish different currents, styles, and periods, as well as
regional topics in this field. The content of this class includes: poetry from modernismo
to avant-garde, indigenismo, regionalismo, el boom, literatures of dictatorship and postdictatorship, also included in our survey study is the testimonio and chronicle of recent
years.
The questions we will address throughout this course will be:
1. How is Spanish American Literature related to the main trends of Twentieth
century World literatures? In regards to World Literatures, who are the authors
that have a major impact in the writings of Latin American authors? How has
Spanish American culture been considered marginal in relation to Western
traditions within academia and within the popular milieu? Why was this so? Are
these attitudes still prevalent?
Our discussions will evaluate the response of Latin American literature to the
external influences, considering discursive strategies of re-interpretation,
resistance and assimilation. We will also discuss its uniqueness and creativity.
2. How does literature in this region actively involve the political process, social
realm and cultural criticism? What is the role of literature in the analysis of social
reality and the participation of writers in debates over national identity, cultural
policies and the formation of the state? How does the author relate to its reader
specifically? Is Art conceived and integrated into the Literature of this period?
3. Does gender and ethnicity determine rhetorical and thematic features in Spanish
American writing? Is this important to the reader? Why or why not?
4. In regards to the Nobel laureates of Literature that are studied within this survey
course, what exactly distinguishes them from the others?
Grading criteria:
50%
25%
15%
10%
5 Partial tests
1 Descriptive or Analytical Essay
1 Formal Power Point Presentation*
Participation in class/individual and group discussions
Partial tests may include: a) questions on content, interpretation, and stylistic aspects of
literary works; b) questions of short answer addressing topics discussed in class; c) essay
questions which will be graded considering, grammar, sophistication, and well supported
arguments. Portions of the tests may be oral.
Academic Essay
Essay will span four pages maximum and three pages minimum, written in MLA style.
Essay will address the life or work of 1 particular author studied in relation to the
strategic questions of the course. (See #1-4 pg., 1 syllabus) Topic Sentence/ Thesis
Statement and bibliography require prior approval by October 6th. Final date to turn in
Essay is November 3rd.
Power Point Presentation (maximum of 12 slides, minimum of 8) will focus on a
Literary School of Thought studied during the semester and should be written as an
encyclopedic entry. Students are required to turn in a Strategic Plan w/3 objectives for
Power Point Presentation on **November 3rd. Power Point requires a formal
presentation which includes a short Q&A. Date of presentation will be assigned to you.
All work must be accompanied by a bibliography.
Participation. Students are expected to read all literary works, and participate actively in
class discussions, office visits, and on-line assignments. In their participation students
will contribute with comments on texts, response to professor and classmates positions,
and questions addressing analysis and criticism. Attitudes and interventions that
discourage the learning experience of the class will be considered negative participation
and may affect participation grade.
Pop quizzes on readings will be given without announcement. These, when graded on
the spot, may add bonus points to an upcoming test grade.
Course policies
Only 2 absences are allowed without penalty. Since the 3rd one, a point from the final
grade will be reduced for each absence, except when valid and documented excuse is
presented (illness, death in the family or immediate circle of friends, accidents, court
attendance, etc.)
Only when a student has a valid excuse, he or she will be allowed to present tests or turn
in assignments out of the scheduled date.
Students must talk to the professor in the office when they have any concern with grades,
class performance, and other issues related to the class.
Professor will give grades of tests and assignments at least one week after student
presented or turned them in.
Professor will give general feedback in class after each test or assignment or any time
students request it, he also will be available in office hours or by appointment (in cases of
schedule conflict) to talk on the progress of any particular student.
Instructor will be available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that a
student may require as a student with a disability. Before course accommodations will
be made, students will be required to provide documentation prepared by the Services
for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD). To ensure that the most appropriate
accommodations can be provided; students should contact the SSD Office at 471-6259
or 471-4641. For more information, read regulations for Academic Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd
Scholastic Dishonesty: students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or
dismissal from The University of Texas. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all
students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be
strictly enforced. For more information, visit Student Judicial Services (SJS) at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/
Class Itinerary
Agosto
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16`
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Introduction
26
27
28
29
30 José
Martí
pp. 198-221
31
1
Guitiérrez
2
3
4
Septiembre
Nájera/Silva
pp. 222-239
5
6
Rubén
Darío
pp. 240-257
7
8
Examen 1

9
10
11
12
13
Horacio
Quiroga
pp. 280-298
14
15
Gabriela
Mistral
pp. 319-326
+
Alfonsina
Storni, pp.
327-331
16
17
18
19
20
César
Vallejo
pp. 332-338
21
22
Examen 2

23
24
25
26
27
Vicente
Huidobro
pp. 339-346
28
29
Jorge Luis
Borges
pp. 354-363
30
1
2
Octubre
3
4
Miguel
Ángel
Asturias
pp. 364-370
5
6
Nicolás Guillén
pp. 371-379
*Due date for
Topic
approval/Essay
7
8
9
10
11
Examen 3

12
13 Gabriel
García Márquez
pp. 478-487
14
15
16
17
18
Pablo
Neruda
pp. 392-401
19
20
Juan Rulfo
pp. 402-408
21
22
23
24
25
Octavio
Paz
26
27
Examen 4 
28
29
30
pp. 427-443
+
Carlos
Fuentes,
pp. 467-477
31
Noviembre
1
Elena
Poniatowska,pp.
488-493
2
3
*Essay due
+
**Due date
for Power
Point Plan
&
Objectives
10
Rosario
Ferré, pp.
535-541
4
5
6
7
8
Luisa
Valenzuela, pp.
521-526
9
11
12
13
14
15
Isabel Allende
pp. 549-560
16
17
Examen 5
+
Sergio
Ramírez
pp. 561-571
18
19
20
21
22
José Alcántara
Almánzar
pp. 572-579
+
Presentaciones
23
24
Acción de
Gracias 
25
26
27
28
29
Presentaciones
30
cabello de martínez, cristina, otoño 2011
Diciembre 1
Presentaciones