Read and Discuss Spanish Literature (B2-C2) - WEA Sydney

Read and Discuss Spanish Literature (B2-C2)

This course delves into contemporary Spanish and Latin American literature from the 1990s to today, focusing on significant authors and the socio-cultural dynamics shaping their works. Each session offers a detailed analysis of selected texts, allowing students to enhance their language proficiency while engaging with diverse themes such as identity, migration, and political change. With a focus on the most relevant voices of the past three decades, the course is designed for advanced learners, providing opportunities for deep discussion, critical reading, and cultural exploration.

DELIVERY MODE

  • Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

  • La ridícula idea de no volver a verte, Rosa Montero (Seix Barral: 2013), ISBN: 978-8432214535
  • La fiesta del chivo, Mario Vargas Llosa (Alfaguara: 2000), ISBN: 978-8466354076
  • Rayuela, Julio Cortázar (Cátedra: 2018), ISBN: 978-8437614294
  • Los detectives salvajes, Roberto Bolaño (Anagrama: 1998), ISBN: 978-8433968353
  • Patria, Fernando Aramburu (Tusquets Editores: 2016), ISBN: 978-8490663192
  • Temporada de huracanes, Fernanda Melchor (Random House: 2017), ISBN: 978-8439732453
  • Llamada perdida, Gabriela Wiener (Random House: 2019), ISBN: 978-9873818702
  • Delirio, Laura Restrepo (Alfaguara: 2004), ISBN: 978-8420467810
  • La casa de los conejos, Laura Alcoba (Edhasa: 2008), ISBN: 978-8435017225

COURSE OUTLINE

  • Exploration of La ridícula idea de no volver a verte by Rosa Montero – Merging memoir and history to explore themes of grief and resilience.
  • Analysis of La fiesta del chivo by Mario Vargas Llosa – Examining political trauma in Latin America.
  • Exploration of Rayuela by Julio Cortázar – Discussing modernist experimentation and narrative techniques.
  • Study of Los detectives salvajes by Roberto Bolaño – A deep dive into Latin American identity and literary obsession.
  • Discussion on Patria by Fernando Aramburu – Exploring the theme of political violence in Spain’s Basque Country.
  • Examination of Temporada de huracanes by Fernanda Melchor – Exploring themes of violence and marginalization in Mexico.
  • Study of Llamada perdida by Gabriela Wiener – Investigating personal identity, gender, and migration.
  • Analysis of Delirio by Laura Restrepo – Exploring psychological complexity and political history in Colombia.
  • Discussion of La casa de los conejos by Laura Alcoba – The intersection of childhood, politics, and memory in Argentina.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Develop a deep understanding of contemporary Spanish and Latin American literature from the 1990s to the present, analyzing key works and authors.
  2. Enhance critical reading skills by engaging with complex literary themes such as identity, political trauma, and marginalization.
  3. Improve Spanish language proficiency through in-depth discussions, textual analysis, and contextual interpretation of modern literary works.
  4. Broaden cultural awareness by exploring the socio-political and historical contexts that have shaped contemporary literature in Spain and Latin America.
  5. Strengthen the ability to compare literary movements and trends across different Spanish-speaking regions, focusing on the evolution of narrative styles and themes.