Cambridge History: Spain
Chapter 1: “On the novel: mirror and text”
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Influence of Quijote
in all Spanish literature after it (1)
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(from 1600s to present)
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Idea of using text as a place of questioning (2)
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Cervantes as master of art of illusion in Quijote (2)
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Idea of identity as a fabrication
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Progression/development of novel over the
centuries in Spain (2)
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Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries – belief in
possibility of reflecting life
o
Twentieth century – more daringly experimental
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Obsession with idea of mirror as a central
metaphor (2-3)
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Mirror reflects “reality” – however, it’s only a
reflection/imitation; it “seeks to reinterpret and remake ‘real life’”
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Idea that “mirror” reflects the literature that
provides various versions of Quixotic consciousness – different types of
mirrors reflect different narrative premises and perspectives (3)
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Mirror encompasses three interrelated concepts:
mimesis, metafiction, and myth (3)
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Discusses different characters’ thoughts about the
hairy mole on Don Quijote’s back as example of different perspectives
manifesting themselves within literature (3)
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Sancho – sign of strong man and virility
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Quijote – mark of lineage of chivalric heroes
(like Amadís de Gaula)
o
This same mole reappears in other texts
(example: Galdós’s Fortunata y Jacinta)
(3-4)
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Returns to idea of questioning – in Quijote, a simple hairy mole becomes a
point from which to probe at different points of view and beliefs, etc. (4)
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Symbolic role of body hair in literature… [wow]
(4)
o
Sign of passage of time and suffering in
twentieth century (ex: Rosa Montero’s Crónica
del desamor)
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Idea that metaphorical mirror can be
manipulated, can reflect various angles (4-5)
o
Mirror’s images/reflections change as narrative
conventions change and writers begin to write in different ways – example of “kaleidoscopic”
or broken mirror reflection in twentieth century literature
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Quijote as
the root of the Spanish (and European) novel (5-6)
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** Summary of each chapter will address; provides
a broad overview of ideas that can be useful for quick review later (6-10)
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Chap 2 – Quijote
creates a legacy for all novels that come after it
o
Chap 3 – link between enlightenment and
experimentation with fictional form (example: Cadalso’s Noches lúgubres)
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Chap 4 – development of regional novel and
costumbrismo in 19th century; transition from regionalism to realism
in late 19th century
o
Chap 5 – literary imitation in context of rising
nationalism; influence of the rest of Europe in Spain
o
Chap 6 – realism (late 19th century);
idea of creating a “persistent belief in reality of a fictional world;”
example: La Regenta
o
Chap 7 – relations between history and fiction;
the historical novel and the idea of the reconstruction of history (reference
to post-Civil War novel in Spain)
o
Chap 8 – nineteenth-century Spanish women
writers; focuses on question of gender in 19th century and growing participation
of women
o
Chap 9 – investigation of decadent mode in
fiction; serves as a lead in to modernism; example: La Regenta
o
Chap 10 – “From the Generation of 1898 to the
Vanguard;” discusses ‘disaster of 98’ (loss of Spain’s last colonial
possessions); relation between fiction and philosophy; move towards modernism
and rejection of realism
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Chap 11 – exploration of novels that emerged
from Spain’s Civil War (1936-1939); testimonial novels, theme of disillusion,
novel of memory
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Chap 12 – texts in 20th century;
intertextuality, montage, and fragmentation
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Chap 13 – “Women and Fiction in Post-Franco
Spain”; 20th century, exploration of women’s writings that defy
notion of fixed gender roles
o
Chap 14 – exploration of intertextual relations
between novel and film in contemporary Spain (20th century); common
goal of creation of belief in reality of fiction
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Chap 15 – explores new developments in today’s
literature; a return to popular genres, fragmentation, “literature lite” that is oriented toward consumer
o
Chap 16 – exploration of textualization of theories
about writing by Spanish novelists
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