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BASQUE STUDIES
Tutorial Ph D
Minor
Online courses
Course Syllabi
Language
Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga
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Syllabus for BASQ 451/651:
Basque Literature
Instructor: Maria Jose Olaciregui
Office: Center for Basque Studies / Getchell Library 281
Office hours: Mondays 1:00–3:00 pm
Phone: 682.5576
mjolaciregui@unr.edu
1. Course Description
The aim of this course is to study Basque
literature, with a focus on contemporary Basque narrative and
especially on Bernardo Atxaga’s work. We will follow the evolution
of Basque literature, identify its most distinctive features and
discuss contemporary trends. We will then move on to analyze the
works of our most acclaimed Basque authors, such as, Ramon
Saizarbitoria, Lourdes Oñederra, Anjel Lertxundi, and Bernardo
Atxaga. We will approach the subject from different perspectives,
comparing literary texts, contextualizing them in historical and
sociological terms and investigating literature’s relationship to
other art forms, such as music and cinema. Our goal is to
investigate what defines this minority literature. We will also
explore the enthusiastic global reception of Atxaga’s fiction—in
particular Obabakoak, which has been translated into
twenty-six languages—and study his short stories and novels.
2. Course Goals
- To gain an overview of the development of Basque literature.
- To reflect on the differences between “major” and “minor” literatures.
- To discuss the relationship between identity, culture and literary tradition.
- To analyze the postmodern characteristics of contemporary Basque literature.
- To identify the contribution of contemporary Basque literature to Iberian literature.
- To sharpen close reading and critical thinking and writing skills.
- To discuss what it means to be a Basque writer in the age of globalization.
- To kindle a life-long interest in the Basque Culture and its literature.
3. Required Texts
Bernardo Atxaga, The Lone Man, trans. Margaret Jull Costa
(London: Harvill, 1996).
Bernardo Atxaga, Two Brothers, trans. Margaret Jull Costa
(London: Harvill, 2001).
Bernardo Atxaga, The Lone Woman, trans. Margaret Jull Costa
(London: Harvill Press, 2003)
Olaziregi, Mari Jose (compiler), An Anthology of Basque Short
Stories (Reno: Center for Basque Studies, 2005)
Olaziregi, Mari Jose, Waking the Hedgehog. The Literary Universe
of Bernardo Atxaga, trans. Amaia Gabantxo (Reno: Center for
Basque Studies, 2005)
Saizarbitoria, Ramon, Rossetti’s Obsession, trans. Madalen
Saizarbitoria (Reno:Center for Basque Studies, 2006)
4. Required Films
Obaba (2005), by Montxo Armendariz.
The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003), by Julio Medem.
5. Course Requirements
Grading:
Short Writing Assignments: 15 %
Class Participation: 15 %
Paper # 1: 15 %
Paper # 2: 15 %|
Group Presentation:
20 %
Take-home final exam: 20 %
As we are dealing with literature, most of the lessons included in
this schedule require reading literary texts, as well as other
suggested activities (watching films, listening to music, etc). The
student is expected to read the materials in order to be able to
summarize, comment, present objections, draw inferences, as well as
compare and contrast with other relevant literature covered by the
course. Most of the readings will be posted at the Library’s
website.
Attendance: Perfect attendance raises your final grade by one
step (ex. C- to C). 1-3 absences have no effect. 4 or more absences
lowers grade.
Assignments: The student will be asked to write a two pages
assignment every week on a suggested topic.
Essays: Essays topics will be assigned in advance. They will ask
the student to analyze, discuss, and summarize the readings,
offering textual evidence to support his/her argument. Each essay is
1500-1800 words, typed, double-spaced, pages numbered. The essays
are due at the beginning of class (for each day a essay is late, the
grade will be lowered one-half letter: for instance, a B- turned in
two days late would be lowered to C+.
The Final Exam is optional and it will be provided on the last
class-day of the term (the teacher will let know the students when
the take-home final exam should be turned in). If the student takes
it, it will count 20 % toward his/her final grade. It will be a
take-home final exam, consisting of some essay questions to choose
from.
Group Presentation: The students will have to give a 15-20
minute presentation in which they will close-read one of the works
of fiction we have studied this semester. Presentations will be
given during the last weeks of the term.
Graduate Students: They should fulfill the basic requirements
listed above and contact the teacher about the essay requirement.
6. Course Schedule
WEEK 1 (8/28–30) Basque Literature, a Brief Introduction
What are the cultural, historical and geographic characteristics of the Basque
country? Who are the most relevant protagonists in its history? Who
are the most important contemporary writers in all the different
literary genres?
Required Reading and Viewing:
Atxaga, B., “Travels with Mixelena Q,” Guggenheim, vol.11, Fall 1997,
pp. 42–49 (Electronic Reserve)
Olaziregi, M. J., “Basque literature: a brief introduction,” in Olaziregi, M. J.,
Waking the Hedgehog. The Literary Universe of Bernardo Atxaga, Center for Basque
Studies, 2005, pp. 11–24
EITB: The Magic Glance(film), 2005.
WEEK 2 (9/4–6). Basque Literature, a Brief Introduction (II)
Required Reading
Olaziregi, M.J., “Foreword,” in An Anthology of Basque Short Stories,
Center for Basque Studies, University of Nevada, Reno, pp. 11–27 (Electronic Reserve)
Cillero Goiriastuena, Javier, “Contemporary Basque Fiction Revisited,” in Douglass et al.
Basque Cultural Studies, Center for Basque Studies, 1999, pp. 84–105.
(Electronic Reserve)
Sarasua, Jon, “Present Day Bertsolaritza: Reality and Challenges”,
in Armistead, S.G. & Zulaika, J., Voicing the Moment. Improvised
Oral Poetry and Basque Tradition (Reno: Center for Basque
Studies, 2005) pp. 305–322.
WEEK 3 (9/ 11-13). The Basque Literary System
What are the weak points of the Basque literary system? What are the historical events
that prompted the renewal of Basque literature from 1960 onwards?.
Required Reading
Kurlansky, M., “Chapter 12: Eventually, Night Falls” and “Chapter 16: The Nation,” in
The Basque History of the World, Penguin, New York, 1999 (Electronic Reserve)
Olaziregi, M. J., “The Basque literary system,” in Olaziregi, M J, Waking the Hedgehog.
The Literary Universe of Bernardo Atxaga, Center for Basque Studies, 2005, pp. 25-39.
Watson, C., “Basque Culture and Society at the Close of the Twentieth Century,” in
Modern Basque History, Eighteenth Century to the Present, Center for Basque Studies,
2000. (Electronic Reserve)
WEEK 4 (9/18–20). Contemporary Basque Short Stories
In this lesson we will gain an overview of the development of contemporary Basque
narrative, and its connections with Western literary tradition. With that aim, we will
read an anthology of Basque short stories and discuss contemporary literary trends.
Questions about literature’s relationship with other art forms, such as music and cinema,
will arise in class.
Required Reading
Olaziregi, M. J. (comp.) An Anthology of Basque Short Stories, Center for Basque
Studies, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004
Suggested Reading
Gracia, J., "Los nuevos nombres: 1975–2000," in Rico, F. Historia y Crítica de la
Literatura Española, Vol. 9/1 (Barcelona: Critica, 2000).
WEEK 5 (9/ 25–27). Contemporary Basque Novel and Postmodernity. The
Works of Ramon Saizarbitoria
After having read some introductory material about the presence and survival of ‘Realism’
in the Iberian tradition of Postmodernism, we will try to analyze Saizarbitoria’s
Rossetti’s Obsession. Reflections on the connections between the cronotophical
realism and the obsessive neurosis of the main character will complete our approach.
Required Reading
Bennett, Andrew, “The Postmodern”, in Introduction to Literature, Criticism, and
Theory (London: Longman, 2004) (Electronic Reserve)
Laraway, D., “Rossetti’s Obsession. Review”, World Literature Today, May-June 2007
(71-71)
Saizarbitoria, R., Rossetti´s Obsession (Reno: Center for Basque Studies, 2005).
Alexander, M., Flights from Realism: Themes and Strategies in Postmodernist British and
American Fiction (London: Arnold, 1990)
Harvey, D., The Condition of Posmodernity (Cambridge: Basil Blackwell, 1989)
Hassan, I., “The Culture of Postmodernism”, Theory, Culture and Society, vol. 2,
nº 3, 1985, 119-131
McHale, B., Postmodernist Fiction (London: Rouletdge, 1987)
Villanueva, D. (Ed.) Los nuevos nombres: 1975-1990, in Rico, F. Historia y
Crítica de la Literatura Española, Vol. 9 (Barcelona:Critica, 1992).
WEEK 6 (10/2–4). Bernardo Atxaga’s Literary Universe
After having gained an overview of the author’s bio/bibliographical evolution, we will
analyze the socio-historical context of his career and we will become acquainted
to his literary attitudes. The analysis of Atxaga’s current position in the contemporary
Basque literary system will complete our approach.
Required Readings
Atxaga, Bernardo, “By Way of an Autobiography,” in Obabakoak (New York: Vintage,
1994), pp. 323–26.
Atxaga, Bernardo, “Confession,” Metamorphoses, Spring/Fall, 2004 (Electronic Reserve).
Caistor, N., “The Deceptive Caress of a Giraffe,” The Independent, 12/9/92
(Electronic Reserve).
Hopkinson, A., “The Age-Old Siege Mentality,” Independent on
Sunday, 25/8/1996 (Electronic Reserve).
May, J., “Tongue Tied,” New Statesman, 9/8/1996 (Electronic Reserve).
Olaziregi, M.J., “Bernardo Atxaga’s Literary Universe” and “International Reception,” in
Olaziregi, M.J., Waking the Hedgehog. The Literary Universe of Bernardo Atxaga
(Reno: Center for Basque Studies, 2005), pp. 40–73.
Suárez-Galbán, E., “A Village in the Palm of One’s Hand,” The New York Times Book
Review, 20/6/93 (Electronic Reserve).
Traugott, M., “Waking the Hedgehog,” The Independent on Sunday, 30/8/92
(Electronic Reserve)
Suggested Reading
Atxaga, B., “Interiores y exteriores de la literatura (vasca),” Moderna Sprak,
vol. 91, 1996, pp.86–94.
Etxeberria, H., “Bernardo Atxaga,” in Cinco escritores vascos, (Irun: Alberdania,
2002), pp. 315–370 (Provided by the teacher).
Gabastou, A., “De Bilbao à Vigo,” Magazine Littéraire (France), March 95, vol. 330,
pp.38–39.
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