Comparative Studies in Genre (414-0-1)
Topic
Reading the 19th Century Brazilian Novel with Mach
Instructors
Cesar Braga-Pinto
Meeting Info
Kresge 3535 Span & Port Sem Rm: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Reading the 19th Century Brazilian Novel with Machado de Assis
In this course we will read 19th century, mostly canonical novels from Brazil, alongside short stories by the afro-descendent writer Machado de Assis (1839-1908), widely considered critics to be the most important author in the entire history of Brazilian literature. Each week we will read one novel and two or three of his short stories by Machado dealing with the same themes, such as: slavery, indigeneity, race and racial mixture, fugitivity, finances, education and the bildungsroman, queer kinship, gender, sexuality and adultery. The purpose of the course is threefold: first, to offer an in-depth survey of the foundational writings and authors of Brazilian literature; second, to understand, from a comparative approach, how these writers approached some of the most pressing issues of 19th-century; third, to imagine Machado de Assis no only as a fiction writer, but as a theorist. Because I want you to expose you to as much Brazilian fiction as possible, the class discussions will not require any secondary readings, although a list of relevant contemporary theory and criticism will be provided and may be utilized in the oral presentations, exam or research paper. All readings will be available in Portuguese and English translations, and almost all in Spanish translations. I will also try to make them available on reserve in the Northwestern library.
NOTE: For the first class, we will discuss the short story/novella O Alienista (The alienist)
Graduate students; Advanced undergraduate students my register with permission of the professor.
Registration Requirements
Graduate students; Advanced undergraduate students my register with permission of the professor.
Learning Objectives
• Knowledge of 19th century literature from Brasil
• In depth understanding of the works of Machado de Assis
• Critical thinking
• Familiarity with different methodologies and approaches
Class Materials (Required)
• Manoel Antônio de Almeida, Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias.
o Spanish: ISBN 980-276-044-7 (free download available)
o English: ISBN-10 : 019511549X / ISBN-13: 978-0195115499
o **There is also a bilingual edition E/P (library).
• Maria Firmina dos Reis, Úrsula
o English: ISBN-10 : 1951470095 / ISBN-13 : 978-1951470098
o Spanish (Mandacaru Ed.) ISBN: 978-987-82956-0-2
• Maria Firmina dos Reis, "A escrava"
o English & Spanish available online
• José de Alencar, Iracema
o English: ISBN-13 : 978-0199938865
o Spanish (preferred translation): ISBN-10 : 8477207852 /ISBN-13 : 978-8477207856
• Bernardo Guimarães, A escrava Isaura
o English: English translation available on Amazon, no ISBN
o Spanish: ISBN-10 : 1930744404 / ISBN-13 : 978-1930744400
• Raul Pompeia, O Ateneu.
o English: ISBN-13 : 978-0810131064
o Spain: ISBN-10 : 8493793272 / ISBN-13 : 978-8493793272
o Mexico: ISBN: 9786075169118
o Argentina: ISBN: 978-950-563-089-9
• Adolfo Caminha, Bom Crioulo
o English: ISBN-10 : 0917342879 (Out of print, on Canvas)
o Spain (Buen Criollo): ISBN-13 : 978-8415574347
o Mexico (El buen negro): ISBN-10 : 6070002644
• Júlia Lopes de Almeida, A falência
o Portuguese
o English: EPUB ISBN: 9781800085695 (open access)
o Spanish (La Bancarrota): ISBN-13 : 978-8419386663
• Coelho Neto, Esfinge
o English: ISBN-13 : 978-1603296243
o .Portuguese: SBN-13 : 978-1603296229
o **not translated into Spanish.
• Machado de Assis
o The collected short stories (ENG); ISBN-10 : 0871404966 / ISBN-13 : 978-0871404961
o Cuentos sobre la esclavitud: ISBN-10 : 6071672031 / ISBN-13 : 978-6071672032
o the individual stories are available in PORT and SPAN (many are included in CUENTOS). I highly recommend Cuentos sobre la esclavitud, as we will read all four courses in this collection. Ebook available for about US$ 2.
Class Notes
Enrollment Requirements: Please contact the department of Spanish & Portuguese to request a permission number, spanish-portuguese@northwestern.edu.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.