Literatura Gauchesca

In this course we will examine the roots of the culture of the Río de la Plata region through the study of gauchesca literature. We will concentrate on issues of the formation of national identity; city vs. Pampa; written vs. oral texts; the transformation of the gaucho from vagabond to national myth; and the use of literature as a political tool. Authors include Hidalgo, Pérez, Ascasubi, del Campo, Hernández, Gutiérrez, Güiraldes and Borges. (Senior majors with at least two Spanish courses numbered 0350 or above, or by waiver) 3 hrs. sem.