SPAN 5580 - Golden Age of Spanish Literature

Goals: To acquaint the student with Imperial Spain and its most productive and creative literary period. Major contributions are made to western culture: Cervantes writes the first European novel (El Quixote), Tirso writes the first Don Juan drama, Santa Teresa confronts the Catholic Church with quiet mysticism, and social protest comes from street urchins like Lazarillo de Tormes as the picaresque tradition begins. The major focus is on Golden Age plays by Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, and Calderon de la Barca. Films of some plays are shown.

Content: Plays from the Golden Age which deal with honor, free will, cloak-and-dagger intrigue and history; establishment of a national theatre; mystical prose and poetry; picaresque novels.
Taught: Periodically.
Recommended prerequisite: SPAN 5900 or 5910, or equivalent.