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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : European Languages and Cultures - Hispanic Studies

Undergraduate Course: Reading Latin American Poetry (Ordinary) (ELCH09005)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course gives a broad introductory survey of poetry from Latin America. Its primary focus will be on close reading of individual poems, but with reference to their wider political and cultural context. Through reading poetry ranging in style from the intimate and lyrical to the epic and social, this course aims to foster appreciation of the huge variety of Latin American poetry, and stimulate an understanding of the value of poetry and of the challenges peculiar to reading, interpreting and indeed defining poetry.
Course description What is poetry? What is, or has been, its role in Latin American society? Who is poetry for? What are the different ways of writing poetry? Such questions will propel our exploration of a diverse range of Latin American poets. Seminars will focus on key topics such as gender, revolution, nature, the city, identity, and will use contrasting poems by poets from different Latin American countries and contexts to illuminate these topics. Each seminar will include close reading, reading aloud and listening to poets' own recordings of individual poems where available.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Ordinary and visiting students only.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesThis course is taught in English. In order to be eligible to take 4th Year Options, Visiting Students should have the equivalent of at least two years of study at University level of the appropriate language(s) and culture(s).
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  2
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 196 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 40% - pair or individual podcast involving presentation and reading of a poem
60% - 1000 word commentary on a poem
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate analytical and interpretive skills through close reading of, and textual commentary on, a range of poetry from Latin America from different periods, authors and countries.
  2. Compare and contrast different styles and forms of poetry.
  3. Explain the socio-cultural context and wider literary movements associated with these poems.
  4. Express an understanding of the poem delivered as performance, including being able to identify and discuss elements such as rhetoric, rhythm, sonic effects, accent.
Reading List
The reading list will vary from year to year. The themes covered will be drawn from the following:
Metrical considerations, common forms, common devices;
The nature of poetry;
The poet's task, the arte poética;
Isolation and community, the solitary versus solidarity;
Sense of place and identity, national and transnational, relationship to 'Latin America';
Genders;
Indigenous cultures;
Religions;
Political movements, revolution, repression;
Specific social issues such as poverty, education, corruption, violence;
The everyday versus the extraordinary;
Language, language and 'the world';
Urban and rural environments, ecocriticism;
Intermedial gestures towards painting, photography, music etc;
Intertextualities - references to earlier poets/writers and biblical/mythical references.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsLatin America,Poetry,América Latina,Poesía
Contacts
Course organiserDr Fiona Mackintosh
Tel: (0131 6)50 8303
Email: f.j.mackintosh@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Hope Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)50 4167
Email: hope.hamilton@ed.ac.uk
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