Daniel Hartnett joined the Kenyon faculty in 2009. He received his Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Virginia with his dissertation focusing on the political and social uses of Dante in 15th century Iberia. He has lived and studied in Paris and St. Malo, France; Salamanca and San Sebastian, Spain; and Coimbra and Lisbon, Portugal.
Hartnett's primary research interests involve the medieval, renaissance and baroque literature of Spain and Portugal. He travels often and encourages his students to do the same. In his free time, Dan is an avid cellist and cook. He is from rural western New York.
Areas of Expertise
Medieval court poetry, early modern Iberian gender studies, transcultural Mediterranean exchanges.
Education
2009 — Doctor of Philosophy from University of Virginia
2003 — Master of Arts from University of Virginia
1999 — Bachelor of Arts from Wabash College, summa cum laude
Courses Recently Taught
CWL 333
Reading World Literature
CWL 333
The course is team-taught by two faculty members from English and MLL. It explores what it means to read world literature by focusing on a single theme or problem common to many cultures that takes different forms in each local environment. For example, the course might focus on the problem of migrations to see how global literary forms have found different ways to represent what happens when people move from place to place. Or the course might focus on the different ways of representing coming of age. Yet another theme that the course might explore centers on the Anthropocene and how the environment is figured across cultures. Earlier iterations of the course have focused on travel, print cultures and book history, and global poetry; consequently, readings may include “Gilgamesh,” Laila Lalami’s “The Moor’s Account,” Aphra Behn’s “Oroonoko,” Marco Polo’s “The Travels” and Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49.” This course paired with any CWL course counts towards the Humanities diversification requirement. These courses must be taken at Kenyon. Prerequisite: CWL 220 or permission of instructor. Offered every other spring.
SPAN 213Y
Language and Culture: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 213Y
This first half of the yearlong intermediate-level language course is focused on language and culture for students who are interested in developing their ability to speak, read, write and understand Spanish. In addition to a comprehensive grammar review, the primary texts chosen for the course serve as a general introduction to Hispanic culture and literature. Other materials include short essays, newspaper articles, films, television series and songs, which together will provide a point of departure for discussions on a range of issues. This course includes required practice sessions with an apprentice teacher (AT), which will be scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled in this course will automatically be added to SPAN 214Y for the spring semester. Prerequisite: SPAN 111Y-112Y or equivalent. Offered every year.
SPAN 214Y
Language and Culture: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 214Y
This second half of the yearlong intermediate-level language course builds on the concepts and skills addressed in the first semester, with a continued focus on language and culture for students who are interested in developing their ability to speak, read, write and understand Spanish. Students will be exposed to more complex Spanish grammar, while also expanding their vocabulary in context, using authentic materials similar to those of the first semester (including short novels, stories, essays, newspaper articles, films, television series, and songs). Students will produce more advanced analytic and creative writing assignments, and will be asked to actively discuss a range of challenging topics in class with increased proficiency (compared to fall semester). Like SPAN 213Y, this course includes required practice sessions with an apprentice teacher (AT), though the days and times for these may be different from the fall semester. Prerequisite: SPAN 213Y or equivalent. Offered every year.
SPAN 361
Spanish Literature of the Golden Age
SPAN 361
This course invites students to explore some of the great works of literature produced in Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries. We will read poems by Fray Luis de León, Garcilaso de la Vega, Francisco de Quevedo, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Lope de Vega and Luis de Góngora; religious prose by Santa Teresa de Jesús; plays by Lope de Vega and Tirso de Molina; and short novels by Miguel de Cervantes and María de Zayas. Textual analysis will be stressed, but we also will consider the social, economic and political realities that helped to shape literary and artistic production during this period. Prerequisite: SPAN 321 or equivalent. Generally offered every three years.
SPAN 370
Origins of Spanish Language and Literature
SPAN 370
Where did that word come from and what does it really mean? This is a common question that we ask ourselves or our teachers at some point in our Spanish education. The first part of this course will address this question and many others as it discusses the development of the Spanish language from Latin to Old Castilian to modern Spanish. The second part of the course will provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of the development of Spanish to the earliest manifestations of Castilian literature. Through a variety of activities they also will gain an understanding of some of the difficulties faced by scholars and students alike when interpreting these works. Students will read parts of the following texts in the original Old Spanish: a selection of romances, El poema del mío Cid, "Los Milagros de Nuestra Señora," "El Libro de Buen Amor," "El Conde Lucanor," a selection of poesía cancioneril and "La Celestina." Prerequisite: SPAN 321 or equivalent. Generally offered every three years.
SPAN 391