I like the term Golden Age, though as a medievalist I'm supposed to object to it since it privileges the supposed intellectual and artistic superiority of the 16th/17th centuries while neglecting the accomplishments of, say, Alfonso X.
What to teach in a survey? I have taught surveys, but not exclusively of the Golden Age, and I have taught Golden Age, but never a comprehensive survey. Here are a few of my thoughts, though:
1. I can't imagine teaching Don Quijote in anything less than a semester. Perhaps it can be done, but I think it would overtax the students. Better to choose some representative Novelas ejemplares. La fuerza de la sangre is always a good one.
2. Definitely Garcilaso, San Juan, Fray Luis de Leon, Gongora, Quevedo.
3. Lazarillo. Read it in conjunction with the 1961 movie version.
4. Fuenteovejuna is a standard that must be in any G.A. survey. Other good theater: La vida es sueno, El burlador de Sevilla.
5. Balance out the ticket with some Santa Teresa, if you like, but you should definitely include Maria de Zayas. She has some really funky novelas.
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Thanks for the suggestion re: Novelas Ejemplares. I'm going to look into that one. Problem I have with NE is that none of them really resembles DQ at all, or am I missing something?
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