Epic Poetry in Spanish Lessons: Cantar de Mio Cid
Rita Mercedes Begines Cid
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Rationale
The core of this unit will be centered on the epic poem El Cantar de Mio Cid. In this line, students will get to know more about Spanish literature - specifically about epic poetry or Cantar de Gesta “song of heroic deeds” -. This unit will focus on the deeds of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador, a famous warrior who lived in the 11th century and whose accomplishments led to a number of historical accounts, legends, and myths that were passed down orally. El Cid is the medieval character with the greatest cultural relevance nowadays (Peña Pérez, 2018). Still, it is important to highlight the lack of historical consistency in the story, as the Poem of Mio Cid is fictional, even though there was in fact a Mio Cid who became a legend after his death.
Additionally, students will be able to relate to the story as El Cid unfolds in a territory where two different cultures coexist, which is pertinent in the current multicultural society in the United States. Not to mention how this coexistence mirrors their own experiences, as they or their ancestors came from a Hispanic background to the United States and encountered a new life surrounded by different cultures.
