EDGAR ALLAN POE - WILLIAM FAULKNER - EUDORA WELTY - FLANNERY O’CONNOR

Fundamentación:

En este curso abordaremos una región culturalmente idiosincrásica, el sur profundo en los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, con sus temas y tropos recurrentes tales como el sur galante y pseudo-aristocrático, el grotesco, la esclavitud, las plantaciones, la comunidad y el gótico. En cada lectura nos adentraremos en las profundidades sureñas de la mano de autores que nos ofrecen diversas miradas de un mismo fenómeno.

Objectivos:

-Explorar los temas y tropos recurrentes del “The Deep South” en los Estados Unidos.

-Participar en conversaciones alrededor de la lectura activa de los relatos seleccionados de tres autores paradigmáticos: Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty y Flannery O’Connor.

-Participar en la construcción de comunidades de lectores literarios en lengua inglesa.

Modalidad de trabajo:

Taller interactivo. Los participantes comparten y discuten sus interpretaciones de los textos literarios. La docente interviene formulando preguntas disparadoras para iniciar el diálogo u ofreciendo breves presentaciones expositivas sobre aspectos culturales, históricos, literarios o lingüísticos relacionados con la temática a tratar.

Los encuentros se dictarán en inglés, por este motivo será imprescindible un nivel intermedio-avanzado.

Contenido & Cronograma:

v Primer encuentro

Introducción al gótico sureño en los Estados Unidos.

Temas recurrentes. Autores paradigmáticos.

William Faulkner en escena: Luz, cámara, acción.

Texto literario (relato):

- “Dry September”

Textos críticos:

- Beacon, G. (2004). African Americans and racial prejudice in the USA. Reflexiones sobre cultura estadounidense. Eds. Costa Picazo, R. & Capalbo, A. Bmpress. pp. 153-8.

v Segundo encuentro

La aristocracia agraria. La decadencia del Sur tras la guerra de la secesión.

William Faulkner – Parte 2 y Eudora Welty

Texto literario (relato):

- “A Rose for Emily” de William Faulkner

- “Clytie” de Eudora Welty

Textos críticos:

- Fetterley, J. (92005). A Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Booth, J., Hunter, P. J. & Mays, K.J. pp 489-95.

v Tercer encuentro

El grotesco después de Faulkner.

Flannery O’Connor en escena: Luz, cámara, acción.

Textos literarios (relatos) :

- “A Good Man is Hard to Find”

- “Good Country People”

Texto crítico:

- Nadal, M. (2019). Southern Gothic: The Monster as Freak in the fiction of Flannery O’Connor. Monsters and Monstrosity. De Gruyter. pp. 205-18.

v Cuarto encuentro

Del gótico europeo al gótico sureño.

Edgar Allan Poe en escena: Luz, cámara, acción.

Texto literario (relatos):

- “The Fall of the House of Usher”

- “Berenice”

Textos críticos:

- Pang, W., Wang, D. and Hu, S. (2015). Gothicism in The Fall of the House of Usher. Advances in Literary Study, 3, 15-20.

Bibliografía obligatoria:

Selección de relatos.

Beacon, G. (2004). African Americans and racial prejudice in the USA. Reflexiones sobre cultura estadounidense (pp. 153-158). Eds. Costa Picazo, R. & Capalbo, A. Bmpress.

Fetterley, J. (92005). A Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Booth, J., Hunter, P. J. & Mays, K.J. pp 489-95.

Nadal, M. (2019). Southern Gothic: The Monster as Freak in the fiction of Flannery O’Connor. Monsters and Monstrosity. De Gruyter. pp. 205-18.

Pang, W., Wang, D. and Hu, S. (2015) Gothicism in The Fall of the House of Usher. Advances in Literary Study, 3, 15-20. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=53442

Bibliografía de consulta:

Bloom, H. (2008). William Faulkner. Updated edition. Blooms Literary Criticism

Castillo Street, S. & Charles L. Crow (Eds). (2016). The Palgrave Handbook of the Southern Gothic. Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Magny, C. E. (1966). "Faulkner or Theological Inversion." In Faulkner: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. R. Penn Warren. Prentice-Hall, pp. 66-78.

O’Connor, F. (1970). Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose. Ed. S. Fitzgerald & R. Fitzgerald. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

O’Connor, F. (1971). The Complete Stories. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Whitt, M. E. (1997). Understanding Flannery O’Connor. University of South Carolina Press.

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Rationale:

In this course, we will explore the Deep South of the United States, a region with a distinct and complex cultural identity. We will examine its defining themes and tropes, including the myth of the gallant, pseudo-aristocratic South, the grotesque, slavery, the plantation system, community-based relationships, and the Southern Gothic tradition.

Each session will immerse us in the Deep South through the works of its most emblematic writers, who offer diverse perspectives on this multifaceted world.

Aims:

· Explore the recurring themes and tropes of “The Deep South” in the United States.

· Engage in discussions based on an active reading of selected short stories by four iconic writers: Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Flannery O’Connor.

· Take part in building literary communities that read in English.

Methodology:

Interactive Workshop: Participants share and discuss their interpretations of the stories. The trainer facilitates dialogue by posing thought-provoking questions and providing brief presentations on cultural, historical, literary, or linguistic aspects relevant to the discussion.

Content & Schedule:

v 1st session – Wednesday, 14. May 2025 (06:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

Introduction to the Southern Gothic in the USA.

Recurrent themes. Iconic writers.

William Faulkner in focus: Light, camera, action.

Literary text (short story):

- “Dry September”

Critical text:

- Beacon, G. (2004). African Americans and racial prejudice in the USA. Reflexiones sobre cultura estadounidense. Eds. Costa Picazo, R. & Capalbo, A. Bmpress. pp. 153-8.

v 2nd session – Wednesday, 21. May 2025 (06:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

Southern agrarian aristocracy: Decadence post-civil war.

William Faulkner – Part 2 & Eudora Welty

Literary texts (short stories):

- “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

- “Clytie” by Eudory Welty

Critical text:

- Fetterley, J. (92005). A Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Booth, J., Hunter, P. J. & Mays, K.J. pp 489-95.

v 3rd session - Tercer encuentro –Wednesday, 28. May 2025 (06:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

Te grotesque after Faulkner.

Flannery O’Connor in focus: Light, camera, action.

Literary texts (short stories):

- “A Good Man is Hard to Find”

- “Good Country People”

Critical text:

- Nadal, M. (2019). Southern Gothic: The Monster as Freak in the fiction of Flannery O’Connor. Monsters and Monstrosity. De Gruyter. pp. 205-18.

v 4th session - Miércoles, 4. June 2025 (06:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

European Gothic versus Southern Gothic.

Edgar Allan Poe in focus: Light, camera, action.

Literary texts (short stories):

- “The Fall of the House of Usher”

- “Berenice”

Critical texts:

- Pang, W., Wang, D. and Hu, S. (2015). Gothicism in The Fall of the House of Usher. Advances in Literary Study, 3, 15-20.

Required Bibliography:

Beacon, G. (2004). African Americans and racial prejudice in the USA. Reflexiones sobre cultura estadounidense (pp. 153-158). Eds. Costa Picazo, R. & Capalbo, A. Bmpress.

Fetterley, J. (92005). A Rose for ‘A Rose for Emily’. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Booth, J., Hunter, P. J. & Mays, K.J. pp 489-95.

Nadal, M. (2019). Southern Gothic: The Monster as Freak in the fiction of Flannery O’Connor. Monsters and Monstrosity. De Gruyter. pp. 205-18.

Pang, W., Wang, D. and Hu, S. (2015) Gothicism in The Fall of the House of Usher. Advances in Literary Study, 3, 15-20. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=53442

Further Reading:

Bloom, H. (2008). William Faulkner. Updated edition. Blooms Literary Criticism

Castillo Street, S. & Charles L. Crow (Eds). (2016). The Palgrave Handbook of the Southern Gothic. Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Magny, C. E. (1966). "Faulkner or Theological Inversion." In Faulkner: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. R. Penn Warren. Prentice-Hall, pp. 66-78.

O’Connor, F. (1970). Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose. Ed. S. Fitzgerald & R. Fitzgerald. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

O’Connor, F. (1971). The Complete Stories. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Whitt, M. E. (1997). Understanding Flannery O’Connor. University of South Carolina Press.