Tornasol: Guía para la interpretación de textos literarios y cine by Antonio Sobejano-Morán (review)

Tornasol: Guía para la interpretación de textos literarios y cine is a textbook designed to develop critical and analytical skills for the university student who has attained an advanced mastery of the Spanish language. The textbook’s focus is on the introduction of literary and filmic analyses. Although it is written in Spanish, there are allowances for English translation of advanced vocabulary and phrases that may be out of the advanced student’s reach. Because the text is written in the target language and focuses on critical thinking skills, it is best suited for upper division courses on literature and film. It would also be excellent for an Introduction to Literary Genres Course.

Tornasol is an invaluable instrument that prepares students to produce close readings from a critical and theoretical perspective. This is accomplished by the text’s methodical and contextual explanations of theoretical terms, concepts and literary devices that are essential for the student to substantiate their interpretations vis-à-vis a critical lens.

Each of the five very well organized chapters are divided by genres: “La narrativa,” “El ensayo,” “El cine,,” “La poesía,” and “El teatro.” Too often, theatre and film are left out of introductory literary texts. Their inclusion, more specifically, the incorporation of film, is of special interest and a definite highlight. Although the textbook that has been widely used in Introduction to Literary Genres courses, Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica, by Virgilio Carmelo et al., has a similar organization, it does not include film. The presence of film in Tornasol: Guía para la interpretación de textos literarios y cine sets it apart from this well-known counterpart and gives it an edge.

Each chapter of Tornasol begins with an overview that first presents the genre with a succinct definition and its brief sociohistorical context. The definition, followed by the context provides the student with an understanding of the genre’s inextricable link to its sociohistorical context. Additionally, a more detailed description of the genre is provided with bolded and defined literary terms. In each chapter, the author methodically leads the student, with a “Guía para el análisis” that is specific to the literary genre. This guide is presented with bulleted points and includes analytical questions that employ the new literary terms, in bold print, that were previously presented. The bolded terms are especially helpful because they emphasize the importance of using the appropriate terminology. The way in which the guide is organized facilitates the students’ first steps towards critical analysis. In addition to the bulleted points, the texts provides an appendix replete with a glossary of literary terms.

The “Guía para el análisis” is followed by a short literary excerpt along with an example of a literary critique. The critique example accurately describes, through a step-by-step explanation, the methods utilized to produce it. This element of the text is crucial as it not only provides an example of critical analysis but it simultaneously dialogues with the student and leads them in a detailed description of how one aspect of analysis leads to the other. This is an asset because it offers a step-by-step guide and an example of the processes involved in a critical analysis of a literary or filmic text.

After the introductory overview of the genre, each chapter is divided into “Unidades.” The “Unidades” portion of the chapters further explains the literary terms that were introduced in the overview. Each “Unidad” subsequently includes a wide variety of supplementary readings that are inclusive of both Hispanic American and Spanish literature. Each reading includes: an accompanying brief biography, an overview of the author’s work and criticism, followed by a reading guide that provides a brief summary of the literary piece as well as highlights the literary terms that were previously defined with relation to the reading. In the...