FLS525 Politics and Poetry in Latin America

FLS525 – Politics and Poetry in Latin America

Course Description

This course examines the poetry of Octavio Paz, César Vallejo, and Pablo Neruda from the 1930s to the 1950s and covers the aesthetic and political debates regarding realism, surrealism and socialist realism in Europe and Latin America. The focus is on the relationship between literary form and left-wing politics.

Course Justification

The M.A. Program in Hispanic Studies includes the study of Latin American culture and literature. Currently, there is no existing graduate course on Latin American poetry and politics. This course provides and opportunity for Masters students as well as honors students pursuing a B.A. in Spanish to study in depth the work and the politics of three major Latin American poets who have had a significant on world literature.

Course Objectives

In this course students will 1) improve their linguistic skills in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish: 2) learn to write graduate-level research papers in Spanish; 3) conduct research on Spanish and Latin American history and culture from the 1930s to the 19505 by using material s in the library and on the internet; 4) learn about critical approaches to the understanding poetry and employ a preferred analytical method; 5) understand the work of these major Latin American poets.

List of Textbooks

Hernán Loyola ed., Pablo Neruda: Antología esencial, Buenos Aires: Losada. 1995. ISBN 950-03-0253-5. $12.95

Octavio Paz, Libertad bajo palabra (México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1983). ISBN %8-16-4425-5

César Vallejo, Obra poética completa (Caracas: Ayacucho, 1985). ISBN 84660011344

** Other books on criticism and the political context will be on reserve and articles will available on e-reserve in the O.H. Hill Library.

Resources

No new resources required.

SAMPLE SYLLABUS

Form and Politics in Latin American Poetry: paz, Vallejo and ~eruda

Professor Greg Dawes

220, 1911 Building 515-9317

e-mail: Office Hours:

Course prerequisites:

Graduate status in the Spanish M.A program or permission of instructor.

Course description:

This course examines the poetry of Octavio Paz, César Vallejo, and Pablo Neruda from the 1930s to the 1950s and covers the aesthetic and political debates regarding realism, surrealism and socialist realism in Europe and Latin America. The focus is on the relationship between literary form and left-wing politics.

Books required:

Hernán Loyola ed., Pablo Neruda: Antología esencial, Buenos Aires: Losada, 1995. ISBN 950-03-0253-5, $12.95

Octavio Paz, Libertad bajo palabra (México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1983). ISBN 968-16-4425-5

César Vallejo, Obra poética completa (Caracas: Ayacucho, 1985). ISBN 846600 11344

Students with disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of these, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509,5157653. See' http://www.ncsul.edu/provost/officeslaffinn-action/dss

Grading: There will be two 5-page papers, a 10 tol5-page paper, and 2 oral presentation in c1ass.

Short essays 40%

Long essay 30%

Oral presentations

and participation 30%

COURSE CALENDAR

Week 1

Introduction to the Avant-garde in Latin America Discussion of Peter Bürger's "Theory of the Avant-Garde"

W eek 2

Discussion of Nelson Osorio's "Para una caracterización histórica..."

Neruda: Introduction and discussion of Hernán Loyola's "Pablo Neruda: Itinerario de una poesía"

Week 3

Neruda: Poema 6 and Poema 20 Neruda: Alianza, Unidad (photocopies)

Week 4

Neruda: Tango del viudo, Explico algunas cosas Neruda: Alturas de Macchu Picchu

Week 5

Neruda: Alturas

Neruda: A pesar de la ira (photocopy)

Week 6

Neruda: El oro; Vallejo: Discussion of Enrique Ballón Aguirre's "Para una definición de la escritura..."

V allejo: Agape and El pan nuestro; turn in first paper

Week 7

Vallejo: XXVII. XXVIII Vallejo: XXXII, XLIV

Week 8 "O

Vallejo: Guitarra, Un hombre pasa con un pan al hombro Vallejo: Himno a los voluntarios..., España, aparta de mí este caliz

Week 9

Paz: Enrico Mario Santí "El acto de las palabras: Introducción" Paz: Mar dt;l día, Bajo tu clara sombra

Week 10

Paz: Dos cuerpos, Epitafio, Mas allá del amor

Paz: Himno entre ruinas

Week 11

Paz: Piedra de sol Paz: Piedra de sol

Week 12

La noche de San Idelfenso oral presentations

Week 13

oral presentations

oral presentations; turn in final paper

Policies on incomplete grades and late assignments

Late assignments will not be accepted except in the case of an excused absence or under extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the student. F or information on Incompletes, please see http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academicpolicies/grading/reg.htm.

Policies on absences (excused and un-excused) and scheduling makeup work Students are expected to attend all c1asses. Absences for any reason affect the participation grade. Written make-up work after an excused absence should be submitted within one week of returning to c1ass. Students are responsible for scheduling make-up exams with the instructor. For further information see http://www.ncsu.edu/provostJacademicpolicies!attendlreg.htm.

Academic integrity statement

Academic integrity is expected of all students, as it is of the instructor. We will abide by the code of conduct established by the University. See http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsulega1J41.03-codeof.htm.

Students with disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center,

Campus Box 7509,515-7653. See http://www.ncsu.edu/provostJoffices/affinn-actionldss/