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Medieval Spanish Literature

Code: 106353 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Spanish Language and Literature OB 2

Contact

Name:
Bienvenido Morros Mestres
Email:
bienvenido.morros@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

By obtaining the minimum of credits in basic training subjects, students have demonstrated to have acquired the basic competences and they will be able to express themselves orally and in writing. For this reason, any spelling and expression errors that may be committed will lead to a score decrease in the final grade. Activities, practical sessions and papers submitted in the course must be original and under no circumstances will the total or partial plagiarism of third-party materials published on any medium be admitted. Any submission of non-original material without properly indicating its origin will automatically result in a failure rating (0). It is also expected that students know the general rules of submission of an academic work. However, students could apply the specific rules that the teacher of the subject may indicate to them, if they deem it necessary.


Objectives and Contextualisation

"Medieval Spanish Literature" is integrated into the subject of Spanish Medieval and Golden Age Literature, which is part of the 108 credits of compulsory education of the Spanish Language and Literature Degree, which the student attends along with other Spanish language subjects. Among the basic training objectives, the student is required to acquire a solid and broad-based knowledge of the literary creation in Spanish language during the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. The main periods, the currents of thought and culture, the literary genres, the schools and authors, and the works of greater importance will be characterised.It will also count on the writers who enjoy writing and publishing their texts with their normal reals or with their masculine pseudonyms: to our medieval Spanish literature we have the case of Florencia Pinar, among others, which follows the tradition of them Occitan trobairitz, will not have a cap of modesty for donating to conèixer his sexual design, as would have been any poet of the time. Among the trobairitz stands out the poet Bieris de Romans for expressing her love for another lady

With regard to the latter, the course includes an in-depth analysis of five complete works and several fragmentary texts, on which information of a historical and artistic nature will be provided. On the other hand, students will apply their acquired specific competences in the realization of speeches, both oral and written, related to the area of Spanish literature by using the methods, concepts and literary theories they have acquired.


Competences

  • Develop arguments applicable to the fields of Hispanic literature, literary theory, Spanish language and linguistics, and evaluate their academic relevance.
  • Identify the most significant periods, traditions, trends, authors and works in Spanish-language literature in their historical and social context.
  • Recognise the main theories, themes and genres of literature in the different Spanish-speaking countries.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Use the methodology and concepts of literary analysis taking into account sources and contexts.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Characterise literary phenomena taking into account the different levels of analysis.
  2. Comment on literary texts from different periods.
  3. Determine the stylistic features of the main authors of medieval and golden age literature.
  4. Identify the main characteristics of the genres of medieval and Golden Age literature.
  5. Justify the analysis of data from a literary point of view using appropriate terminology.
  6. Know how to carry out individual or group work applying the theoretical knowledge acquired and facing new challenges and cultural realities.
  7. Know the periods of Medieval and Golden Age literature (16th-17th centuries) in all their genres, trends, tendencies and most representative authors.
  8. Make literary predictions and inferences about the content of a text.
  9. Recognise the different types of poetry (lyric, narrative, song, Italianate, etc.) and their metrical forms.
  10. Recognise the forms of prose (brachylogy and paremiologic, popular or cultured, fiction (sentimental, chivalrous, pastoral, Moorish, Byzantine, picaresque, etc.) and thought (epistle, chronicle, dialogue, essay, prayer, etc.) and their evolution throughout the two periods.
  11. "Recognise the historical-literary series from the early Middle Ages to the end of the 17th century, so that continuity can be established between the different literary genres and their projection; for example, traditional lyric poetry in the work of Lope de Vega, or medieval storytelling in Cervantes."
  12. Recognise the theatrical forms: religious, pastoral, tragic and the so-called New Comedy.
  13. Understand the relationship between text and discourse.
  14. Use the appropriate terminology in the construction of an academic text and in the transmission of their knowledge.
  15. Use the techniques of textual criticism and its related disciplines: ecdotics, book history, palaeography and codicology.

Content

  1. Hispanic lyric poetry: Mozarabic jarchas, Galician-Portuguese poetry, Castilian lyric.

  2. The Spanish era and its relics: The Cantar de Mio Cid.

  3. The Romance: origins, meter, and classification.

  4. Prose of the 13th and 14th centuries (historiography, exempla, mirrors for princes): El conde Lucanor by Juan Manuel.

  5. Clerical and troubadour poetry: the Libro de buen amor by the Archpriest of Hita.

  6. Prose and poetry in the 15th century: Jorge Manrique.

     

    Mandatory readings

    Cantar de Mio Cid, ed. Alberto Montaner, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia 4 Cantar de Mio Cid, ed. Alberto Montaner, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia Gutenberg-Círculo de Lectores (Biblioteca Clásica), Barcelona, 2007; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2007. J

    uan Ruiz, arcipreste de Hita, Libro de buen amor, ed. Alberto Blecua, Cátedra (Letras hispánicas), Madrid, 1992; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2001; also in httpps;//www.cervantesvirtual.com..

    Don Juan Manuel, El conde Lucanor, ed. Guillermo Serés, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia Gutenberg-Círculo de Lectores (Biblioteca clásica), Barcelona, 2006; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2001; o bien ed. José Manuel Blecua, Castalia (Clásicos Castalia), Madrid, 19793.

    Jorge Manrique, Poesía, ed. Bienvenido Morros, Vicens Vives, Barcelona, 2005.

    Diego de San Pedro, Carcel de amor, ed. Carmen Parrilla, Crítica (Biblioteca clásica), Barcelona, 1995; o bien ed. Keith Whinnom, Castalia (Clásicos Castalia), Madrid, 1972.

    Anthology of literary texts prepared by the teacher.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
master classes and practical sessions 60 2.4 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15
Type: Supervised      
Tutoring 12 0.48 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Study personally and prepare teams and comment on analytics 75 3 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15

The learning time of this subject by the students is approximately distributed as follows: - Directed activities (35%). These activities are divided into master classes and seminars and classroom practices led by the faculty, in which theoretical explanation is combined with discussion of all types of texts. - Supervised activities (10%). These tutorials are programmed by the teacher, dedicated to correcting and commenting on problems at different levels of literary analysis. - Autonomous activities (45%). These activities include both time devoted to individual study and production of reviews, papers and analytical comments written, as well as oral presentations. - Evaluation activities (10%). The evaluation of the subject will be carried out through written tests.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Theoretical-practical exam 40% 1 0.04 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15
Written activity on required readings 1 30% 1 0.04 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15
Written activity on required readings 2 30% 1 0.04 1, 2, 13, 7, 3, 8, 14, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 15

 

Continuous assessment
 
The final grade for the subject will be obtained through the following partial grades (their value in the final grade is indicated in parentheses):
 
1) Written activity on compulsory readings 1 (30%): The activity will be carried out in class.
 
2) Written activity on compulsory readings 2 (30%): The activity will be carried out in class.
 
3) Theoretical-practical exam (40): Test on the course syllabus.
 
In the event that the student carries out any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0. Those assessment acts in which there have been irregularities (copying, unauthorized use of AI, etc.) are not recoverable.
 
In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and will result in the activity being evaluated with a 0 and not being recoverable, or major sanctions in serious cases.
 
At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students of the procedure and date of review of the grades.
 
The review of the tests will be carried out in an interview previously agreed with the teacher.
 
To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain, at least, a 5 in the weighted average of the assessment activities.
 
Students who do not achieve this grade and who have previously been assessed for at least two-thirds of the subject may participate in the retake, provided that they have obtained a minimum average grade of 3.5. The grade obtained in the retake will replace the grade initially obtained for the final calculation of the weighted average.
 
The student will receive the grade of non-assessable when they have not completed more than 30% of the assessment activities.
 
Single assessment
 
Students who have opted for this assessment method must submit and carry out the following assessment activities on the day determined in the assessment calendar that will be made public during the first week of the course.
 
1) Written activity on compulsory readings 1 (30%).
 
2) Written activity on compulsory readings 2 (30%).
 
3) Theoretical-practical exam (40).
 
The student may retake the course if they have completed all three activities and have an overall grade equal to or greater than 3.5. The result of the retake test will replace the grade of the failed test to calculate the final grade for the subject.
 
Erasmus students who request to advance an exam must present the teacher with a written document from their home university justifying their request.

 


Bibliography

Mandatory readings

Cantar de Mio Cid, ed. Alberto Montaner, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia 4 Cantar de Mio Cid, ed. Alberto Montaner, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia Gutenberg-Círculo de Lectores (Biblioteca Clásica), Barcelona, 2007; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2007. J

uan Ruiz, arcipreste de Hita, Libro de buen amor, ed. Alberto Blecua, Cátedra (Letras hispánicas), Madrid, 1992; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2001; also in httpps;//www.cervantesvirtual.com..

Don Juan Manuel, El conde Lucanor, ed. Guillermo Serés, Centro para la Edición de los Clásicos Españoles-Galaxia Gutenberg-Círculo de Lectores (Biblioteca clásica), Barcelona, 2006; o bien Crítica (Clásicos y modernos), Barcelona, 2001; o bien ed. José Manuel Blecua, Castalia (Clásicos Castalia), Madrid, 19793.

Jorge Manrique, Poesía, ed. Bienvenido Morros, Vicens Vives, Barcelona, 2005.

Diego de San Pedro, Carcel de amor, ed. Carmen Parrilla, Crítica (Biblioteca clásica), Barcelona, 1995; o bien ed. Keith Whinnom, Castalia (Clásicos Castalia), Madrid, 1972.

Anthology of literary texts prepared by the teacher.

Essential bibliography

María Jesús Lacarra y Juan Manuel Cacho,Entre oralidad y escritura: la Edad Media, en José-Carlos Mainer (dir.), Historia de la literatura espanola, vol. 1, Crítica, Barcelona, 2012.

Francisco Rico (dir.), Historia y critica de la literatura espanola, I, Alan Deyermond (ed.), Edad Media, Crítica, Barcelona, 1980; Primer suplemento, íbid., 1991.

Alan Deyermond, Literatura medieval española, Barcelona, Ariel, 1975,

Alberto Vàrvaro, Literatura romanica de la Edad Media. Estructuras y formas, Ariel, Barcelona, 1983.

Mora Sánchez, Rosabel, Apuntes de literatura española medieval, Sevilla, 2013.

Literatura hispázmica medieval: "libros, lecturas y reelecturas", corrd, María Jesús Lacarra, San Millán de la Cogolla, 2019.

 

Other references of interest

Gian Mario Anselmi (ed.), Mapas de la literatura europea y mediterranea, Crítica, Barcelona, 2002.

Erich Auerbach, Mimesis, Fondo de Cultura Económica,Madrid, 1983.

Ernst Robert Curtius, Literatura europea y Edad Media latina, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Madrid, 1999.

Peter Dronke, La lirica en la Edad Media, Ariel, 1995.

Otis H. Green, Espana y la tradicion occidental, Gredos, Madrid, 1969.

Erich Köhler, La aventura caballeresca, Sirmio, Barcelona, 1991.

Ramón Menéndez Pidal, Poesia juglaresca y juglares: origenes de las literaturas romanicas, Espasa-Calpe, Madrid, 1990.

Howard Patch, El otro mundo en la literatura medieval, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Madrid, 1983.

Martín de Riquer, Cantares de gesta franceses, Gredos, Barcelona, 2009.

Giuseppe Sergi, La idea de la Edad Media, Crítica, Barcelona, 2001.

Leo Spitzer, Estilo y estructura en la literatura espanola, Crítica, Barcelona, 1980. Paul Zumthor, La letra y la voz de la literatura medieval, Cátedra, Madrid, 1989.


Software

No specific program is necessary.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed