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Narcís Oller and Realism in European Literature

Code: 105855
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OP 4
English and Catalan Studies OP 3
English and Catalan Studies OP 4
Catalan and Spanish Studies OP 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Francesc Foguet Boreu
Email :
francesc.foguet@uab.cat

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

Passion for reading

Objectives

The main objective of the course is twofold: on the one hand, to situate Narcís Oller in the context of Catalan and European literature of his time and, on the other, to analyse his novels in the light of the aesthetics and the great names of European realism and naturalism.

Learning outcomes

  1. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.
  2. Identify principal and secondary ideas and express them using correct language.
  3. Comment on literary texts, using the instruments acquired, with regard to the historical, social and cultural context.
  4. Critically interpret literary works, taking into account the relationships between the different areas within literature and their relationship to humanistic, artistic and social areas.
  5. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  6. Produce written work and oral presentations that are effective and framed in the appropriate register.
  7. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  8. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  9. Respect the opinions, values, behaviour and customs of others.
  10. Use IT tools and be able to consult specific documentary sources.
  11. Present knowledge of history, art or other cultural movements.
  12. Produce work in accordance with academic ethics.
  13. Identify the main and secondary ideas and express them with linguistic correctness.
  14. Properly apply the knowledge gained to data collection and management of documentary sources application to the study of Catalan language and literature.
  15. Work independently in the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  16. Produce written and oral texts with correction rules.
  17. Maintain an attitude of respect for the opinions, values, behaviors and practices of others.
  18. Identify relationships between literature and history, art and other cultural movements.
  19. Comment on literary texts, apply the acquired tools and take into account the historical and sociocultural context.
  20. Critically interpret literary works take into account the relationships between different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  21. Master oral and written expression in Catalan.
  22. Expose knowledge about the history, art and other cultural movements.
  23. Recognise the principles of the discipline of study and its main sources.
  24. Critically interpret literary works taking into account their historical and social context.
  25. Recognise the main periods of Western literary history and their general features.
  26. Write a summary of contents in a coherent and cohesive way.
  27. Relate an author to his or her period and its literary features.
  28. Recognise the literary sources of a text.
  29. Know how to comment critically on a text from a basic analytical reading.
  30. Develop effective written work and oral presentations and adapted to the appropriate register.
  31. Strengthen the capacity of reading, interpretation and critical analysis of literary texts and language.
  32. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  33. Identifying the relationships of literature with history, art or other cultural movements.
  34. Identifying the key elements of the Western culture from the 19th century to the present.
  35. Commenting on literary texts, applying the acquired tools and taking into account the historical and sociocultural context.
  36. Critically interpreting literary works taking into account the relationships between the different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  37. Interpret Western cultural tradition from the 19th century to the present day, pinpointing features of the Western tradition in a contemporary text.
  38. Demonstrate a solid knowledge of subjects related to the study of Literature and Culture in general.
  39. Organise the autonomous component to the learning process in an effective manner.
  40. Express oneself effectively by applying argumentative and textual procedures in formal and scientific texts, in the language studied.
  41. Rigorously assess the values conveyed by the texts analysed, making constructive criticism.

Contents

Themes

 

1. Overview of European realism and naturalism

2. French realism: Honoré de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert and Émile Zola

3. Spanish realism: Benito Pérez Galdós, Emilia Parzo Bazán and Leopoldo Alas (Clarín)

4. The Reception of Realism and Naturalism in Catalan Literature

5. The trajectory of Narcís Oller and the situation of his narrative within the framework of European realism

6. Reading and analysis of the novel La Papallona (1882)

7. Reading and analysis of the novel L'Escanyapobres (1884)

8. Reading and analysis of the novel Vilaniu (1886)

9. Reading and analysis of the novel La febre d'or (1890-1892)

10. Reading and analysis of the novel La bogeria (1899)

11. Reading and analysis of the novel Pilar Prim (1906)

12. The last years

 

Readings

 

1. La Papallona (1882)

2. L'Escanyapobres (1884)

3. Vilaniu (1885)

4. La febre d'or (1890-1892)

5. La bogeria (1899)

6. Pilar Prim (1906)

 

We will work with the edition of the “Obres Completes” by Cossetània Edicions, in fifteen volumes (with prologues by several of the author's specialists).

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral or written commentary on classroom readings 28 1.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41
Theoretical classes and seminars for discussion of texts 28 1.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41
Documentation, reading, writing and study 28 1.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41

The course combines theory classes with reading seminars, tutorials and the preparation and presentation of individual and group work.

The detailed timetable with the content of the different sessions will be published on the day of the presentation of the course. It will also be published on the Virtual Campus, where students will be able to find a detailed description of the exercises, the different teaching materials and the information necessary to follow the course properly.

In the event of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, the lecturer will inform the students in due time of the changes that will take place in the course programme and in the teaching methodologies.

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

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Attendance and active participation in class/lectures/complementary activities 10 % 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41
Development of an individual exercise 30 % 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41
Written test and review of the evaluation 30 % 6 0.24 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41
Group presentation 30 % 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41

Continuous assessment

1. The individual exercise consists of writing, in class, a review of La Papallona by Narcís Oller. Length: one side of a sheet of paper. (30 %)

2. The oral presentation (in groups of 2) will consist of a comparison between a novel by Oller and a European novel. Duration: 15 minutes. (30 %)

3. The written test will ask an open question on one of the contents that have been worked on in class. The length of the answer may not exceed one side of a sheet of paper. (30 %)

Attendance, active participation in class and the implementation of the student in the subject will be assessed (10 %). Intervention in the debates in the reading seminars will be taken into account.

The student will have the right to take advantage of the recovery process if he/she obtains between a 3.5 and a 4.9 final average grade. However, activities based on participation or group work (up to 50%) cannot be recovered. The overall maximum mark for the make-up is a 5.

Single assessment

1. Writing a review of La Papallona. Length: 2.100 characters with spaces. (25 %)

2. Oral presentation comparing one of Narcís Oller's novels with a similar European novel. (25 %)

3. Written test on the contents of the subject. (50 %)

The same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.

It should be remembered that opting for single assessment does not exempt the student from attending class.

Additional marks:

1. In the event that the tests cannot be taken in person, their format will be adapted (maintaining the weighting) to the possibilities offered by the virtual tools of the UAB. Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussions of exercises through Teams, ensuring that all students can access them.

2. At the time of the completion ofeach assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle)of the procedure and the date of revision of the qualifications.

3. In the event that the student commits any type of irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the qualification of an assessment activity, this will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may result from this. In the event that several irregularities are verified in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

4. In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed at any stage. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grade for the assignment, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

5.The student will receive a grade of “Not assessed” if they have not submitted more than 30 % of the assessment activities.

6. Exchange students who request to take an exam earlier must submit to the professor an official document from their home university justifying their request.

Bibliography

Balzac, Honoré de (2000): Écrits sur le roman, París: Libraire Générale Française.

Bartolí, Gemma (2023): "Introducció", a Narcís Oller, La febre d'or, Barcelona: Barcino, p. 7-32.

Beser, Sergi (1967): “La novel·la d’un personatge sense novel·la: el Josep Rodon de Narcís Oller”, Serra d’Or, núm. 3 (març), p. 53-58.

Beser, Sergi (1977): “Les limitacions narratives de Narcís Oller”, a Germà Colon (cur.), Actes del Quart Col·loqui Internacional de Llengua i Literatura Catalanes. Basilea, 22-27 de març de 1976, Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat, p. 333-347.

Beser, Sergi (1985): “La novel·la realista”, a Lliçons de literatura comparada catalana i castellana (segles XIX i XX), Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat, p. 7-25.

Beser, Sergi (1986): “La bogeria, historia y discusión de una locura anunciada”, a Narcís Oller, La Locura, Barcelona: Llibres del Mall, p. 9-34.

Beser, Sergi (1990): “La bogeria dintre el món narratiu de Narcís Oller”, a Narcís Oller, La bogeria, Barcelona: La Magrana, p. 5-16.

Bonet, Laureano (1983): “Luces de la ciudad. Notas sobre la aparición de la metròpoli capitalista en la narrativa de Narcís Oller”, a Literatura, regionalisme y lucha de clases (Galdós, Pereda, Narcís Oller y Ramón D. Perés), Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona, p. 65-115.

Cabré, Rosa (2009): “Narcís Oller”, a Enric Cassany (dir.), Panorama crític de la literatura catalana, vol. IV (segle XIX), Barcelona: Vicens Vives, p.429-447.

Camps, Josep (2005): “Introducció”, a Narcís Oller, La bogeria, Barcelona: Proa, p. 7-55.

Cassany, Enric (1992): “Narcís Oller”, a El costumisme en la prosa catalana del segle XIX, Barcelona: Curial, p. 226-230.

Cassany, Enric (dir) (2009): Panorama crític de la literatura catalana IV. Segle XIX, Barcelona: Vicens Vives.

Cassany, Enric (2018): “Narcís Oller”, a Enric Cassany i Josep M. Domingo (dir.), Història de la literatura catalana, vol. V, Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana, Editorial Barcino, Ajuntament de Barcelona, p. 517-552.

Dasca, Maria (2016): Entenebrats. Literatura catalana i bogeria, Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.

Dorca, Toni (2001): “The town and the City in the Narrativa of Narcís Oller”, Catalan Review, XV, 2, p. 61-77.

Ferrater, Gabriel (1979): “Carta a un neòfit castellà, sobre literatura catalana, seguida de cinc anotacions de diari, sobre Oller i Vayreda”, a Sobre literatura, Barcelona: Edicions 62, p. 127-137.

Gallén, Enric (2001): “Estudi introductori”, a Narcís Oller, Memòries teatrals, Barcelona: La Magrana, p. 7-50.

Gaziel [Agustí Calvet] (1962): “Una època memorable. Pròleg”, a Narcís Oller, Memòries literàries. Història dels meus llibres, Barcelona: Aedos.

Grilli, Giuseppe (1991): “Estudi introductori”, a Narcís Oller, Isabel de Galceran i altres narracions, Barcelona: Edicions 62, p. 7-40.

Malé i Pegueroles, Jordi (1989): “La Papallona: gènesi d’una novel·la a partir d’un quadre de costums”, Quaderns de Vilaniu, núm. 15, p. 3-25.

Martori, Joan (2009): “Estudi introductori”, a Narcís Oller, Pilar Prim, Barcelona: Edicions 62, p. 13-71.

Maseras, Alfons (1996): Vida de Narcís Oller, ed. Montserrat Corretger, Tarragona: Edicions el Mèdol.

Moragas i Rodes, Vicenç de (1995): Narcís Oller i de Moragas. La seva vida vista per un contemporani, Valls: Institut d’Estudis Vallencs.

Montoliu, Manuel de (1948): “Estudi crític”, a Narcís Oller, Obres completes, Barcelona: Selecta, p. 13-33.

Nunes i Alfonso, Maria (1987): “El boc emissari. Sobre la funció dels personatges romàntics en la literatura realista, a propòsit de Narcís Oller”, Quaderns de Vilaniu, núm. 12, p. 5-21.

Oller, Narcís (2010): Àlbum Narcís Oller, edició a cura de Roger Roig, Valls: Cossetània.

Oller, Narciís (2014): Memòries. Història de mos llibres i relacions literàries, edició a cura d'Enric Cassany i Arnau Soler Pejoan, Valls: Cossetània.

Sardà, Joan (1997): Art i veritat. Crítiques de novel·la vuitcentista, edició a cura d’Antònia Tayadella, Barcelona: Curial.

Serrahima, Maurici (1948): “El món de Narcís Oller”, a Narcís Oller, Obres completes, Barcelona: Selecta, p. 1061-1093.

Shoemaker, William H. (1964): “Una amistad literaria: la correspondencia espistolar entre Galdós y Narciso Oller”, Butlletí de la Reial Acadèmia de Bones Lletres de Barcelona, vol. 30, p. 247-306.

Sunyer, Magí. 2026. El clixé i el batec. Estudis sobre costumisme i realisme. Tarragona: Publicacions de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili.

Sunyer, Magí (cur.) (1999): El Segle Romàntic. Actes del Col·loqui Narcís Oller, Valls: Cossetània. (Especialment els articles de Pere Anguera, Margarida Casacuberta, Enric Cassany i Magí Sunyer).

Tayadella, Antònia (1986): “Narcís Oller i el naturalisme”, a Joaquim Molas (dir.), Història de la literatura catalana, vol. VII, Barcelona: Ariel, p. 605-667.

Tayadella, Antònia (2012): “Narcís Oller”, a Josep M. Domingo (cur.), Sobre literatura del segle XIX, Lleida: Punctum, p. 141-257.

Triadú, Joan (1955): Narcís Oller. Resum biogràfic, Barcelona: Barcino.

Vall, Xavier (1994): “Valls en la composició de L’Escanyapobres de Narcís Oller”, Quaderns de Vilaniu, 26, p. 89-101.

Yates, Alan (1998): Narcís Oller.Tradició i talent individual, Barcelona: Curial.

Yxart, Josep (1991): Novel·listes i narradors, edició a cura d’Enric Cassany, Barcelona: Curial.

Zola, Émile (1998): El naturalismo, ed. Laureano Bonet, Barcelona: Península.

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AELC https://www.escriptors.cat/

Espais Escrits https://www.espaisescrits.cat/

Lletra (UOC) https://lletra.uoc.edu/

Societat Narcís Oller https://narcisoller.cat/

Traces https://traces.uab.cat/

Software

Teams

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed