Romance Languages and Literatures

The graduate program in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures offers students outstanding opportunities to pursue work in the French and Francophone, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish and Latin American traditions, alone or in combination, leading to Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. After the first two years of graduate study, students receive practical training in teaching both language and literature courses.

The Romance languages and literatures faculty is committed to interdisciplinary work, including history, philosophy, psychoanalysis, film studies, gender studies, literary theory, literary history, and philology. Students are encouraged to situate literature in the broad context of cultural productions, ranging from the canonical to alternative modes. The Harvard program provides students with the opportunity to work in a range of periods, genres, and approaches, and to formulate individual study plans with the help of their advisors. While students take courses primarily with members of the department, they may also participate in courses and seminars with faculty working in related areas in other departments of the University.

Graduate students are encouraged to teach beginning in the third year of the program. Options include teaching a section of an undergraduate language course or leading a discussion section of a literature course taught by a professor. Teaching opportunities in the Core Program and other departments are also available. Harvard provides its teaching fellows with state-of-the-art classroom resources, guidance, and regular evaluations by permanent faculty members. Such ample teaching opportunities reflect a departmental philosophy of nurturing strong candidates for the academic job market..

Master of Arts (AM)

The AM requirements are considered an integral part of the PhD program. Applicants who wish to pursue only the AM are not admitted. However, a terminal AM may be conferred on students who will not be completing requirements for the PhD.

All students are examined at the end of their second term of study in the department. The full section faculty will evaluate each student’s performance in the examination, as well as in courses taken during the first year. This evaluation determines whether further coursework will be required for the AM, and in exceptional cases, whether the student should continue in the program. The same evaluation determines what credit the department will approve for previous graduate work at other universities. Note: The ultimate decision regarding transfer of credit rests with the registrar of the Graduate School.

All course work for the AM must be completed by the end of the second year of graduate study. Successful completion of all AM requirements is a prerequisite for the PhD program.

General Requirements for the AM

1. One year’s residence at Harvard and a program of eight courses, to include three 200-level half-courses.

2. Proficiency in the oral and written use of the chosen Romance language, to be demonstrated either by examination upon entrance or by performance in course work during the period of residence.

3. Students specializing in literature before 1800 must demonstrate the ability to read Latin by successful completion (B- or better, or grade of “Satisfactory”) of Harvard Latin A and Latin B, or their equivalents elsewhere. There will be no graduate credit given for these courses.

Students specializing in literature after 1800 may substitute another language for the elementary Latin requirement. Similarly, no graduate credit is granted for this course work. Note: This language cannot be identical to the second Romance language or its substitute, which is a requirement for the PhD (see 1b under General requirements for the PhD. 4. Sound knowledge of the major aspects of one Romance literature, to be tested by the examination at the end of the first year of study.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

General Requirements for the PhD

1. All students entering the PhD program should expect to take two full years of course work (16 half-courses), including course work done in fulfillment of the AM requirement. The 16 half-courses must include:

a. One half-course in the history of the major Romance language.

b. One half-course in a second Romance literature at the 100 or 200 level. Certain other options (e.g., German, Greek, Romance Studies) may be considered in place of this requirement by petition to the Curriculum Committee and with the approval of the student’s advisor.

c. For students specializing in literature of the Medieval or Renaissance, an additional term of Latin beyond the requirement for the AM.

d. Romance Studies 201. RS 201 is a seminar on approaches to literary and cultural theory specifically designed for all the graduate students in RLL. RS 201 is taught collaboratively among the faculty in RLL and other departments. This course offers students an opportunity to discuss literary theory through a range of readings and perspectives, to get to know the faculty of the department, and to learn from their approaches to the study of literature.

Note: Students should consult with their advisors before registering for 320-level (Supervised Reading and Research) courses for credit.

2. Normally, all students teach for at least one year at Harvard as part of their graduate program. Those teaching courses lettered or numbered below 70 in the Harvard Language Program must take Romance Languages 200, which includes a practicum on teaching techniques; Romance Languages 200 (or an equivalent approved by the Director of Language Programs). This course does not count among the 16 required halfcourses.

3. The passing of a PhD general examination (see Examinations), which should be taken no later than the end of the third year of graduate studies.

4. A dissertation on a subject chosen by the student in consultation with the advisor, to be completed by the end of the sixth year of graduate studies. Following the general examination (at the latest), the student chooses a dissertation director; together they select a committee to supervise the research and writing of the PhD dissertation. The committee, chaired by and including the dissertation director, is made up of three (exceptionally four) faculty members, chosen by the student in consultation with the dissertation director. Two of the three readers must be members of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Visiting professors with renewable term appointments may serve on dissertation committees, but not chair them. Ordinarily, two members of the committee represent the student’s language and field; a third may come from another language or discipline. This committee approves the dissertation prospectus, establishes the schedule for completion, and reviews the student’s progress. The dissertation may be written in English or in the appropriate Romance language. The final manuscript must conform to the requirements described in the booklet, The Form of the Doctoral Dissertation. After acceptance of the thesis by the committee, all PhD candidates make an oral presentation to faculty and students, followed by a question and answer period.

Specific Requirements for the PhD by Language Section

1. French and Francophone, and Italian Literatures. Through a combination of course work, seminars, and individual study, candidates are expected to acquire a general familiarity with major figures, works, and trends in the history of French and Francophone, and Italian literature from the earliest texts to the present day. This competence will be tested at the PhD general examination.

2. Hispanic Literatures. Candidates for the degree are expected to prove evidence of general understanding of the Hispanic literatures. For examination purposes, the field is divided into six areas, three in Spanish Peninsular literature (Medieval, Golden Age, and 18th–20th centuries) and three in Latin American literature (Colonial, 18th–19th centuries, and 20th century).
a. Each student is examined in all six fields, choosing one as a special field. The two parts of the examination (general and special field) may be taken separately.
b. Students of Spanish are required to complete the equivalent of one half-course at the 100 or 200 level in Portuguese or Brazilian literature. (Note: This does not fulfill the requirement for a graduate level literature course in a second language.)

3. Hispanic Literature with a Minor in Portuguese
a. Proven oral and written proficiency in the Portuguese language.
b. A minimum of 18 courses (instead of the standard 16) distributed as follows:
• 14 courses in Spanish, including the required course of History of the Language and Romance Languages.
• Four courses in Portuguese. At least two of those four should be graduate seminars (200 level); the other two may be advanced undergraduate courses (100 level).
c. A general reading list of 24 Portuguese texts (selected by the director of graduate studies in Portuguese). Reading lists of Hispanic texts will remain the same for all students.
d. The general exam will be prepared as follows: a two-hour component of Portuguese literature will be added to the second part of the written exam, that is, to the portion on the student’s field of specialization in Hispanic literature. The rest of the exam will not change.
e. The dissertation topic must address significant issues from both Spanish and Portuguese literature.

4. Portuguese and Brazilian Literatures. Candidates for this degree are expected to acquire a detailed knowledge of four fields: medieval and Renaissance Portuguese literature; colonial Brazilian literature; Portuguese literature from the 18th to the 20th century; and contemporary Brazilian literature.
a. Students specialize in one of these fields.
b. Competence in the chosen field of specialization and two other selected fields will be tested in the general examinations. Requirements for the fourth field can be met by taking one course in this field before the examinations.
c. Students of Portuguese and Brazilian literatures are required to complete one half-course at the 100 or 200 level in Spanish.
(Note: This does not fulfill the requirement for a graduate level literature course in a second language.)

5. Other programs in one Romance literature with a minor in another Romance literature may be arranged in consultation with the Directors of Graduate Study in both languages.

6. For questions concerning the Dual-Track degree, please consult the Director of Graduate Studies or the graduate coordinator.

Examinations

Oral and Written Language Proficiency Examinations for Incoming Students

These are scheduled during the week preceding the first day of classes of the fall term. Incoming students will receive a mailing during the summer prior to entrance specifying the exact time and place of these examinations.

1. First-year Examination. See the General Requirements for the AM section.

2. PhD General Examinations. The General Examinations are made up of written and oral parts; the precise format differs by section. The PhD General Exams are given during the week before classes begin in September, and during the May exam period. Students must take these exams by the end of the third year of graduate study.

3. In the case of unsatisfactory performance, the student may, if the examining board so recommends, take all or part of the PhD Examination a second time, within one year of the first. Failure to pass the PhD General Examination the second time will result in automatic withdrawal from the PhD program.

4. Students have six weeks following formal written notification of their General Exam grade in which to constitute their dissertation committees. When the committees have been constituted, students must submit a contract bearing the signatures of all their committee members, indicating they have agreed to meet the deadline for prospectus turn-in. Electronic signatures are acceptable.

The prospectus, which should be approximately 15 pages in length, should include a statement or outline of the problem to be addressed, a preliminary indication of argument and method, and a representative bibliography. Students have six months from the date on which they receive a grade for their general exams (including the summer for those taking generals in May) in which to complete the prospectus, in consultation with members of their committee. The prospectus will then be reviewed by the committee for formal approval in a meeting at which the student is present.

Dual Track

For more information about the Dual Track in Romance Languages, please visit the department website.

Double Doctorate in Italian Studies and Renaissance Culture

This program, introduced in 2009, allows students to complete both a doctorate in Italian Studies at Harvard University and a doctorate in Renaissance Culture at the Istituto Nazionale di Studi sul Rinascimento (INSR) in Florence, Italy, within a period of 5 to 6 years. After successful dissertation defense, Harvard awards students a PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures, while the INSR grants a “Diploma di perfezionamento in civiltà dell’Umanesimo e del Rinascimento.” The INSR Diploma is legally equivalent to a doctorate awarded by an Italian university.

Required courses

Eighteen courses (that is, two more than in the single track), to be completed in two years. The course distribution between the two languages should be fairly balanced, e.g.: 9:9 or 8:10, and may include Romance Studies courses. (It must include Romance Studies 201.) Students may take a maximum of two courses outside of the Department.

Students must satisfy mandatory course requirements in each of their two languages.

Important University and Departmental Regulations

1. The Graduate School requires that students maintain a B average in order to remain in good standing.

2. The departmental faculty strongly discourages students from taking an Incomplete in a course. The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures adheres strictly to the policies established by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences regarding unfinished coursework. Graduate students in Romance Languages and Literatures may commit to writing a maximum of three article-length research papers per term. Students assigned such papers in 100-level courses should petition for an alternate assignment, such as an exam, a series of smaller papers, etc. Students should consult the graduate coordinator regarding administrative procedures for this.

3. Students must make up Incomplete grades before sitting for examinations.

4. Students must satisfy the Latin (or other language) requirement before taking examinations.

5. Students who have not met all the requirements for the AM degree may not hold appointments as teaching fellows.

6. Detailed regulations concerning residence requirements and credit for work done elsewhere may be found in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Handbook.

Financial Aid

The Graduate School provides five years of full funding to its Ph.D. students (tuition and all fees, and living stipend or teaching fellow salary.) In addition, students receive a summer stipend following years one through four. Many opportunities are available for travel abroad, such as research and/or teaching fellowships and exchanges sponsored by Harvard and outside institutions.

For further details, see the Financial Aid section of the Prospective Students page.

Application Procedures

Applications for admission must be filed electronically through the GSAS website. The online application for the coming year will be available in late August. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. on December 15. Further information regarding courses and programs of study in Romance languages and literatures may be obtained by visiting the department’s Website at www.fas.harvard.edu/~rll.

Faculty List

Recent Dissertations Completed

2011

Jean Eudes Biem (French): Globalization and the Cosmopolitan Reconfiguration of Modernity: Aesthetics, Epistemology, Politics. Advisor: Verena Conley

Adriana Chimu Harley (French): Nerval, la parole à double tranchant. Le théâtre et le temple, ou l’ironie du littéraire. Advisor: Tom Conley [Janet Beizer, Evelyne Ender (Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center.)]

Stacy Giufre (Italian): (November 2010) Speaking Back: Women in the Works of Cesare Pavese. Advisor: Giuliana Minghelli, [Francesco Erspamer, Lino Pertile]

Martin Gaspar (Spanish): La condición traductora. Sobre los nuevos protagonistas de la literatura latinoamericana. Advisor: Prof. Diana Sorensen (advisor) [Prof. Doris Sommer, Prof. Gonzalo Aguilar (Universidad de Buenos Aires)]

Chris Lewis (Portuguese): “When the Glass Slips: Building Bridges to Transmodern Identity in the Novels of Santiago Nazarian and Chico Buarque”. Advisor: Nicolau Sevcenko [Joaquim-Francisco Coelho]

Daniele Turello (Italian): Facing and Interfacing: Technology in Jacopone, Dante, Cellini, Vico. Advisor: Lino Pertile [Francesco Erspamer, Verena Conley]

Alexandra Vega-Merino (Spanish): Sara: chispazos reflexivos en la cinematografia de Tacabo Morales. Advisor: Doris Sommer, [Tom Conley, José Rivera]

2010

Daniel Aguirre Oteiza (Spanish): Descripción de la mentira: contradicciones del testimonio en la poesía de Antonio Gamoneda. Advisor: Luis Fernández Cifuentes [Mary Gaylord, Christopher Maurer (Boston University)].

José Falconi (Spanish): SECOND NATURE: An essay on the nature of landscape in Latin America. Advisor: Doris Sommer [Thomas Cummins, Nicolau Sevcenko].

Caterina Mongiat Farina (Italian): La questione della lingua e i massimi sistemi della cultura.
Advisor: Francesco Erspamer [Lino Pertile, Diego Zancani (Balliol College)].

Manolo Núñez-Negrón (Spanish): Políticas del humor en América Latina Advisor: Diana Sorensen [Doris Sommer, Joaquim-Francisco Coelho].

François Proulx (French): Victims of the Book: Reading Anxieties in the French Novel of Formation, 1880–1914. Advisor: Susan Suleiman [Christie McDonald, Judith Surkis].

Juan de Dios Vázquez (Spanish): “Between Sentences: A Cultural History of “El Palacio de Lecumberri” from Penitentiary to Mexico’s National Archive.” Advisor: Diana Sorensen [Doris Sommer, Hugo Hiriart].

2009

Bruno Carvalho (Portuguese): New City in a New World: Literary Spaces of an Afro-Jewish Brazilian Neihborhood. Advisor: Nicolau Sevcenko [Joaquim-Francisco Coelho, Tom Conley]

Christian Claesson (Spanish): The Role of the Author in Juan Carlos Onetti and Juan José Saer. Advisor: Diana Sorensen [Brad Epps, Mariano Siskind, Julio Premat (Paris VIII)]

Sara Kippur (French): Life-Writing across Languages in the Works of Hector Bianciotti, Jorge Semprun and Raymond Federman. Advisor: Susan Suleiman [Diana Sorensen, Christie McDonald]

María Ospina (Spanish): Prácticas de memoria o cómo resistir el acabóse: Violencia y representación en la narrativa colombiana, 1985-2005. Advisor: Doris Sommer [Diana Sorensen, Francisco Ortega (Universidad Nacional de Colombia)]

Felisa Reynolds (French): “Almost the same, but not quite/Almost the same but not white”: The question of Literary Cannibalism. Advisor: Tom Conley [Abiola Irele, Odile Cazenave, Maryse Condé.]

Joaquín Terrones (Spanish):American Baroques: The ethics of excess in Jorge Luis Borges, Wallace Stevens, José Lezama Lima, José Gorostiza, and Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1935-1940.) Advisor: Doris Sommer [Luis Girón, Arnaldo Cruz-Malave (Fordham U.)]

Vickie Tillson (Italian): From Myth to Borgota: Rome in Postwar Italian Narrative. Advisor: Francesco Erspamer, [Giuliana Minghelli, and Antonio Vitti (Indiana University, Bloomington)].

Julieta Victoria Múñoz (Spanish): La poética de la amistad en Los seis libros de la Galatea. Advisor: Mary Gaylord [Luis Girón-Negrón, Luce López-Baralt (University of Puerto Rico)].

James McMenamin (Italian): The Sequence “Beginning-Middle-End”, Dante and Petrarch. Advisor: Lino Pertile [Luis Girón-Negrón and Jan Ziolkowski]

Antonio Morena (Italian): 1932. Advisor: Lino Pertile [Francesco Erspamer, Ruth Ben-Ghiat (NYU)]

Jerónimo Pizarro (Spanish): La mediación editorial Sobre la vida póstuma de lo escrito. Advisor: Diana Sorensen, [Doris Sommer, Onésimo Almeida (Brown University)]

2008

Margarita del Rosario (Spanish): El mudejarismo en la obra de donn Juan Maneul. Advisor: Francisco Marquez Villanueva [Luis Girón-Negrón, James Monroe]

Lia Brozgal (French): Reading Albert Memmi: Authorship, Identity and the Francophone Postcolonial Advisor: Susan Suleiman [Tom Conley, Abiola Irele]

Natalia Santamaría (Spanish): El Retono de la Carabelas: Ideales Regeneracionistas Espanoles y Latin Americanos. Advisor: Luis Fernandez Cifuentes [Brad Epps, Doris Sommer]

Greg Cohen (Spanish): Cinema, Spatial Thought, and the Ends of Modernity. Argentina and Brazil in the Sixties. Advisor: Diana Sorensen [Doris Sommer, Tom Conley].

Antonio Cordoba (Spanish): “Las relacioné inmediatamente con la literatura”: De la maravilla a la biblioteca en la ciencia ficción latinoamericana contemporánea. Advisor: Doris Sommer [Diana Sorensen, Mariano Siskind]

Dana Lindaman (French): Mapping the Geographies of French Identity: 1871-1914. Advisor: Janet Beizer [Tom Conley, Patrice Higonnet]

Carmen Oquendo Villár (Spanish): Chile 1973: el golpe mediático. Advisor: Luis Cárcamo-Huechante [Doris Sommer, Tom Conley, Diana Taylor (NYU)]

Juan Pablo Rivera Herréra (Spanish): Sexuality, Multilingualism, and the Latin American Diaspora. Advisor: Doris Sommer [Diana Sorensen,Rubén Ríos Ávila (UPR)]

Patricia Vieira (Portuguese): Seeing Politics Otherwise. Representations of Vision in Iberian and Latin American Political Fiction. Advisor: Joaquim-Francisco Coelho [Doris Sommer, Nicolau Sevcenko]

2007

Lison Baselis-Bitoun (French): Le proche et le lointain: herméneutique du cannibale chez Jean de Léry. Advisor: Tom Conley [Virginie Greene, Christie McDonald, Larry Kritzman (Dartmouth College)]

Kim Beauchesne (Spanish): Narrativas de la América marginada: La construcción discursiva de la periferia en el imaginario colonial. Advisor: Jose Antonio Mazzotti, [Mary Gaylord, Tom Conley]

Jennifer Brown Ickenstein (Italian): Tommaso Landolfi between the Giuppe Rosse and middle Europe: 1930-1945. : Franco Fido [Lino Pertile, Francesco Erspamer.]

Santiago Morales Rivera (Spanish): Los Pretextos de la Culpa Javier Marías, Juan José Millás el Compromiso de la Notela Pos franquista con el Azar. Advisor: Luis Fernandez-Cifuentes [Brad Epps, Mary Gaylord.]

Iliana Pagán-Teitelbaum (Spanish): Visible invisible: La doble violencia en dos ciudades latinoamericanas. Jose Mazzotti [Joaquim-Francisco Coelho, Nelson Vieira (Brown Univ.)]

Meriel Baines Tulante (Italian): The Impulse to History: The Novels of Sebastiano Vassalli . Advisor: Lino Pertile [Franco Fido, Diego Zancani.]

Romance Languages and Literatures