Università Roma Tre

The course explores the forms and functions of humor in Spanish literature, through a path that ranges from the Golden Age to the 1980s. The program examines significant moments in the comic tradition, with particular attention to the poetic and theatrical genres. The aim of the course is to highlight the mechanisms of humor and its modes of operation and reception in different texts, genres, and historical-cultural contexts. The course will be taught in Spanish (1° semester).

TEXTS

-Anthology of satirical-burlesque poetic texts from the Golden Age (Baltasar del Alcázar, Luis de Góngora, Francisco de Quevedo), provided by the instructor.
-Miguel de Cervantes, "Entremés del viejo celoso", provided by the instructor.
-Pedro Calderón de la Barca, "La dama duende", ed. by Fausta Antonucci, Madrid, RAE, 2024 (required edition).
-Ramón de la Cruz, a "sainete" provided by the instructor.
-Ramón Mesonero Romanos, "Obras jocosas y satíricas de El Curioso Parlante", selected passages indicated by the instructor at the beginning of the course.
-Carlos Arniches, a "sainete" provided by the instructor.
-Eduardo Mendoza, "El misterio de la cripta embrujada", Barcelona, Seix Barral (or another edition).
-José Luis Alonso de Santos, "La estanquera de Vallecas", Madrid, Castalia (required edition).

CRITICISM AND BASICS OF LITERARY HISTORY

-The introductions to the required editions ("La dama duende" and "La estanquera de Vallecas");
-E. Asensio, “Introducción” to Cervantes, in "Entremeses", Madrid, Castalia, provided by the instructor;
-L. Rodríguez Cacho, "Manual de historia de la literatura española, vol. 1, Siglos XIII–XVII" (chapters 7 and 8: “Góngora and the complex map of Baroque poetry”; “Lope and Calderón in the splendor of Spanish theatre”). L. Rodríguez Cacho, "Manual de historia de la literatura española, vol. 2, Siglos XVIII–XX" (chapter 2: “Neoclassical poetry and theatre”; chapter 4: “Romantic prose”);
-M. Bianchi, G. Calabrese, S. Cattaneo, S. Trecca, «Letteratura spagnola contemporanea»: chapter 1 e 2 («Teatro spagnolo contemporaneo»), pp. 407-446; chapter. 6 «Narrativa spagnola contemporanea», (pp. 77-114).
-P. G. Beltrami, «Gli strumenti della poesia», Bologna, Il Mulino, pp. 1–87;
-J. L. García Barrientos, «Cómo se comenta una obra de teatro», Madrid, Síntesis (chapters 2 and 4);
-Additional critical materials provided by the instructor during the course.