Literature and the Cultural Memory of the Spanish Civil War
HISTORY 451E (Literature and History/World/Comparative): LITERATURE AND THE CULTURAL MEMORY OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
Professor Vina Lanzona Department of History, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Study Abroad Program in Spain, Fall 2019, International College of Seville
Seminar Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:30am-12:00pm
Office and Consultation Hours: Wednesday: 12:00-2:00pm
Course Description:
Present day Spain is once again in the midst of political turmoil with Madrid’s refusal to listen to and recognize the demands for independence by the region of Catalonia. Not too long ago, from 1936-1939, Spain was fighting a civil war, still considered as the most significant, and the bloodiest, period in the modern history of Spain. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was marked by a bitter struggle for power between Nationalists (led by General Franco)—composed of Roman Catholics, factions in the military, landowners and businessmen—and Republicans— composed mostly of urban workers, agricultural laborers, and many of the educated middle class. Set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in Europe, the Nationalists were supported by the fascist governments of Germany and Italy, while the Republicans received help from France and the Soviet Union. Indeed, the political and emotional reverberations of the war transcended national boundaries, as the Spanish Civil War became during the late 1930s the site of genuinely international conflict between dictatorship and democracy. In Spain, the war resulted in about a million deaths and years of national evasion and denial which are only now coming to an end.
The Spanish Civil War engaged not only the military and politicians, but also artists, poets, writers, activists and intellectuals, many of whom participated in the war and produced profound and dramatic works of art and literature. In this course, we will read the moving poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca, Antonio Machado and Pablo Neruda, deconstruct the majestic painting of “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso, and follow the lives and works of non-Spanish fellow travelers like George Orwell, John Dos Passos, and Ernest Hemingway. Through their works, we will examine the interrelationships between history and literature, including how literature reflects and shapes society, the effects of history on literature, and the effects of literature on historical memory. Finally, we will trace the way contemporary debate about the Spanish Civil War continues to shape Spanish society.
Seville was one of the first provinces to fall under General Franco’s Nationalist forces leading to the false impression that much of the population supported fascism. But this is arguable, and all over the city, you could still see traces of the war and the divisiveness it has caused the people of Seville. There is the memorial dedicated to those who fought for the Republic in the Old “Muralla” and then the disturbing tombstone in the Church of La Virgen Macarena dedicated to Quiepo de Lleno, one of Franco’s generals. Part of our course in our Study Abroad program is to find people who had memories of the war and reflect on their thoughts and experiences, and to explore various “traces” of the war in order to understand how the people of Seville had come to terms with the war, while still remaining divided over its memory.
1 Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this course will:
1. Identify crucial developments in the Spanish civil war, one of the most painful episodes in the history of modern Spain through the discussion of significant events and issues, and different renditions of the event by writers, poets, artists and other witnesses.
2. Articulate past and current critical issues and debates about the legacy of the Spanish civil war. They will, therefore, acquire improved historical knowledge of Spain’s past and should be able to apply this knowledge to understanding current issues and events in contemporary Spain.
3. Demonstrate skills in critical thinking and historical interpretation through close readings of both primary and secondary texts. They will, therefore, acquire proficiency in working with and interpreting primary and secondary sources. They will also be able to provide summaries and analysis of materials and therefore demonstrate their writing and oral skills through essays, presentations and other assignments.
4. Exhibit some basic familiarity with Spanish language and culture through conversational exercises and journal entries about daily experiences in Spain. They will, therefore, immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of Seville and Spain.
5. By living and studying in Seville, students have the unique opportunity to see how “history comes alive” and gain a deeper appreciation of how history shapes contemporary societies.
Requirements:
Students from diverse backgrounds are welcome and no previous knowledge of the subject is required. The purpose of the Study Abroad is to familiarize and open ourselves to the surroundings and history of Seville and modern Spain. Requirements in this course are therefore flexible and grades for the course will be centered around essays reflecting on the assigned books, as well as a journal of the student’s weekly reflections on the history of and their experiences in Spain.
Grades in the class will be based on the following:
1. Five Short Essays (3-5 pages) 50 points --Choose 5 out of the 6 required books
2. Final Paper (10-15 pages) 20 points
3. Oral Presentation/s 10 points
3. Weekly Journal in Spain 10 points
4. Attendance, participation and discussion 10 points
TOTAL: 100 points
2 Each student is required to write four review essays discussing four out of the five required books and readings. These essays should be submitted on the date specified on the syllabus. Students are expected to read all the required books and make 1-2 presentations in class during the semester. Instructions for the Final Paper will be distributed during the first weeks of the semester.
Writing Feedback:
The instructor will consistently put comments on the student’s papers and will meet regularly with students to give them feedback on their writing. At any time, students can approach the instructor for advice on how to improve their writing. For the final paper, the student will first give the instructor a rough draft. The instructor will give comments on the draft and meet with students for feedback. Students will then submit a final draft that incorporates the instructors’ feedback.
Required and Optional Readings:
Students must read all required readings listed in the syllabus. Some optional readings—short essays or chapters in books—will be available through Laulima.
For Historical Background:
Helen Graham, Spanish Civil War (A Very Short Introduction), Oxford, 2005. Required.
Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, Penguin, 2006. Optional.
Paul Preston, The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge, W.W. Norton, 2007. Optional.
Ronald Fraser, The Blood of Spain: An Oral History of the Spanish Civil War, Knopf, 1980. Optional.
Required Books:
George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, Harvest Books, 1980.
Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Scribner, 1995.
Pablo Neruda, Spain in our Hearts/Espana en el Corazon, New Directions, 2005.
Giles Tremlett, Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past, Walker and Company, 2007.
James Yates, Mississippi to Madrid: Memoir of a Black American in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Open Hand Publishing, 1988.
Adam Hochschild, Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 Mariner Books, 2017.
3 Optional Books:
The Selected Poems of Federico Garcia Lorca, New Directions, 2005.
Russell Martin, Picasso’s War: The Destruction of Guernica and the Masterpiece that Changed the World, Penguin, 2003.
Articles and other materials will be uploaded in the Laulima website.
Antonio Machado's Writings on the Spanish Civil War including Juan de Mairena (1936), La Guerra (1937), Hora de España (1937–38), La Vanguardia (1938–39). John Dos Passos, Adventures of a Young Man (1940).
With the Reds in Andalusia, a memoir by Irish volunteer Joe Monks, 1985.
Writings from the International Brigades.
Schedule: The 16-week schedule is organized around particular themes. The class will meet every week, unless otherwise indicated. Students are expected to have read all the required readings for the weekly class. Topics for discussions and readings for each class are indicated by the numbers below:
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1: Introductions
Welcome to Seville! Understanding its place in modern Spanish history.
What is the Spanish Civil War?
How do we understand the connection between history and literature?
Week 2: The Spanish Civil War: Origins
Main Text:
Graham, Chapters 1-5. Background of the Spanish Civil War.
Submit Weekly Journal. Finding “traces” of the war in Seville.
Weeks 3-5: Spanish Yearnings (or Yearnings in Spanish)
1. Federico Garcia Lorca and Antonio Machado
Readings:
Federico Garcia Lorca, poems and essays from A Season in Granada (London, 1998). C. Brian Morris, Son of Andalucia, selected chapters (1997). Antonio Machado, selected poems in Border of a Dream (2004).
4 All readings will be available at Laulima.
Optional: Ian Gibson, Lorca’s Granada, A Practical Guide (1992), selected chapters. Juan de Mairena (1936), La Guerra (1937), Hora de España (1937–38), La Vanguardia (1938–39) in Whiston’s Antonio Machado's Writings and the Spanish Civil War
2. Picasso and Guernica
Readings: Gijns van Hensbergen, Guernica: The Biography of a Twentieth Century Icon (2004). Russell Martin, Picasso’s War, The Destruction of Guernica, and the Masterpiece that Changed the World (Penguin, 2002), chapters 1, 3 and 4.
Chapters are available at Laulima.
3. Pablo Neruda
Text: Neruda, Spain in our Hearts/Espana en el Corazon
Book of poetry is available at Laulima.
First Paper Due (on Lorca, Picasso or Neruda)
Weeks 6-12: Compatriots and Travellers from Other Worlds
1. The International Brigades
Text: Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, Part 1.
2. From the Northern Front
Text: Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, Part 2.
Second Paper Due (on Orwell)
3. An African-American in the War
Text: James Yates, Mississippi to Madrid: Memoir of a Black American in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, On Laulima.
Submit Weekly Journal. Reflections on Being a “Foreigner in Spain”
4. Captured Hearts and Minds, Part 1
Text: Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part 1.
5 5. Captured Hearts and Minds, Part 2
Text: Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part 2.
Third Paper Due (on Hemingway)
6. Movie: Land and Freedom.
Reaction Paper on Movie Due.
7. Americans in the Spanish Civil War, Part 1
Text: Hochschild, Spain in Our Hearts
8. Americans in the Spanish Civil War, Part 2
Text: Hochschild, Spain in Our Hearts
Fourth Paper Due (on Hochschild)
9. Memoirs and Memories
Students will present reflections from one the following readings:
John Dos Passos, writings in John Dos Passos, The Major Nonfictional Prose (1988).
Martha Gellhorn, Face of War (1986).
Readings: Memories from the International Brigades
Students can also choose and present from materials available at the following sites: http://www.geocities.com/irelandSCW/index.htm http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/ (Sites of the International Brigade)
Fifth Essay Due (on Presentation)
Field Trip: War, Memory and Andalucia We will attempt to explore “traces” and “memories” of the Spanish Civil War in Seville. Places to visit: The house of Federico Garcia Lorca (to coincide with the trip to Granada). Monument at the “La Muralla” Tombstone of Quiepo de Lleno, Catedral de la Virgen de Macarena
Submit Weekly Journal. Reflections on “living history,” walking around monuments and reminders of the War in Andalucia.
6 Weeks 14-16: The Spanish Civil War: Historical Memory and Contemporary Musings
10. The Ghosts of War, Part 1.
Tremlett, Ghosts of Spain, Part 1.
11. The Ghosts of War, Part 1.
Tremlett, Ghosts of Spain, Part 2.
Sixth Paper Due (on Tremlett)
12. History and Memory
Completed Weekly Journal Due.
13. Presentations on Research for Final Paper.
Final Paper Due. Instructions on Paper will be given at the start of the semester. (See attached.)
7 HOMAGE TO ANDALUCIA Notes on the Final Paper for the class: History and Literature of the Spanish Civil War
Taking as our inspiration George Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia, I want you to write a paper as an “Homage to Andalucía,” focusing on the experience and legacy of the Spanish Civil War in the Andalucia region. You don’t have to write this paper as a memoir (like Orwell’s) because obviously you did not experience the Spanish Civil War yourselves.
Instead, I want you to “find” the Spanish Civil War in the region of Andalucia and its people using all the books and writings we read, including:
--Orwell’s book --Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls --Poems by Federico Garcia Lorca --Writings of Antonio Machado --Graham’s The Spanish Civil War --Tremlett’s Ghosts of Spain --Fraser’s The Blood of Spain: An Oral History of the Spanish Civil War (available on Laulima)
How did these writers or these works describe and elucidate Andalucían culture and its people?
What were the specific experiences as well as feelings, emotions did the Andalucians face during the war?
What were the different ways did the Andalucians receive, accept or live with the inevitability of war?
What were the ways did the Andalucians support the Republicans and resist the Nationalists?
What were the divisions that were apparent in Andalucian society?
Do you see “traces” or “remnants” of the war in Andalucia?
How do the Andalucians/Sevillenas come to terms with the war? Have they or have they not?
How do the Andalucians/Sevillenas want to remember the Spanish Civil War?
These are just some of the questions that can guide you in writing the paper. You can also use other sources, including internet sources (BUT please, don’t rely solely on Wikipedia). Please Note:
The people that you will meet in Seville could be your most important sources. Once you feel comfortable with them, you can start asking them about their views/experiences in the Civil War. You can even interview those with personal knowledge of the war, but only when they will feel comfortable to talk about this. Remember, this wound is still healing for many Spanish people so you need to be incredibly sensitive to bring this issue up and ask questions. Remember to just LISTEN. Your conversations/interviews with them could be the bases of your paper.
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