"El Lazarillo de Tormes" a folk Spanish novel

"El Lazarillo de Tormes" is a folk Spanish novel written by an anonimous Spanish writer.  It talks about the life of a child, Lázaro Tormes, who lived in the sixteenth century. The novel relates his life from his birth and miserable life until his marriage. "Lazarillo de Tormes" is an ironic and ruthless sketch of the society in that period of time. It also shows the hipocresy of the cleric and religious people.

Lazarus was born in Salamanca, right next to the river Tormes. Was very poor and since childhood had to fend for himself, since he lost his father and her mother. He did not live in a happy world, but he was smart and witty, and he managed to get by. Lazarus had to serve a number of masters who had to cheat in order to survive, what happened much hunger and hardship. "
 

The first version of the book was written for adults, however, there are many things in it that may appeal to children, because a child is the protagonist. That is why each author will speak to him, but always simple terms so you can understand everything easily. So you can teach it to children for ages 9 to 12.

Here you can find both, the Spanish and the English version of the book:

• http://www.elhuevodechocolate.com/cuentos/lazaro.htm (Spanish version adapted to children)

• http://www.lazarillodetormes.com/ingles.htm (English version)

While reading this book with our pupils we can teach them about the Spain of the 16^th century. For instance, we can ask them to answer this questions:

1.   This book reveals that because of the Inquisition many servants were forced to die with their masters on the battlefield (as Lazarillo's father did), thousands of refugees wandering from town to town, poor beggars flogged away by whips because of the lack of food. This is the reason why this book was forbidden by this strict organization until the 19^th century.

However, nowadays in Spain people are allowed to say whatever they want and also to write a book against the church. Do you agree with this? Why?

2.     Lázaro is a boy of humble origins from Salamanca. Do you know any typical monument from Salamanca?

3.     “El Lazarillo de Tormes” is an important novel for Spanish literature of the Golden Age. Do you know why Spanish people call this age like that?

With this question they would find out that the Spanish Golden Age (Spanish: Siglo de Oro, Golden Century) is a period of flourishing in arts and literature in Spain.

4.      Lázaro had to work since he was a child in order to be able to survive. Do you think it is fair that a child work?

With this question we can develop the sense of critical in our pupils. Moreover, it is a way to encourage them to empathize with the character.

Notice that these questions can be adapted to children age. The most adult they are the more they can get into the topic of the questions.

In order to answer your question, Thomas, I have taken a look to the text you suggested me and I think that we could do the next activity:

First of all, we ask our pupils to find a folktale or a novel belonged to their own culture ( for instance they could use "El lazarillo de Tormes". Then, once they have brought them to the class, we choose three from different cultures. After that, we divide the class in three groups and ask each one do the following exercises based on their own novel or folktale:

1.   Could this story be happening in your culture? Why (not)? Support your opinion with examples (similar or different attitude, value systems, festivals and celebrations, rituals, history etc).
2.   Select a passage that you find particularly interesting. Rewrite it as if it were happening in your culture.
3.   Choose a passage from the novel and illustrate it. Compare the illustrations as far as the cultural details are concerned (landmarks, clothes, position of the characters etc)[1].

The purpose of this activity is achieving the intercultural competence in our pupils. It can happen both things that they have to investigate their own culture or a different one. In both cases they will learn about culture. Once the activity is finished, they will talk about what they have done and learnt in front of the class.

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1 file://D:/html-for-web/en/methods-materials-12.htm