Reimagining Virginia Woolf: Biofiction and the Blurred Boundaries of Life and Literature.
Authorship
A.A.R.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
A.A.R.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
Defense date
07.16.2025 10:00
07.16.2025 10:00
Summary
In contemporary fiction, the boundaries between biography and invention are increasingly fluid. Through the lens of biofiction, literary figures like Virginia Woolf are not merely remembered, they are reimagined. The Hours constructs a multilayered narrative in which Woolf exists simultaneously as author, character, and cultural echo, challenging traditional ideas of authorship, memory, and historical truth. Feminist theory, metafictional techniques, and intergenerational storytelling converge to explore how literature can preserve, transform, and democratize legacy. Digital storytelling technologies further expand these possibilities, inviting readers to become participants in reshaping biographical meaning across media.
In contemporary fiction, the boundaries between biography and invention are increasingly fluid. Through the lens of biofiction, literary figures like Virginia Woolf are not merely remembered, they are reimagined. The Hours constructs a multilayered narrative in which Woolf exists simultaneously as author, character, and cultural echo, challenging traditional ideas of authorship, memory, and historical truth. Feminist theory, metafictional techniques, and intergenerational storytelling converge to explore how literature can preserve, transform, and democratize legacy. Digital storytelling technologies further expand these possibilities, inviting readers to become participants in reshaping biographical meaning across media.
Direction
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Court
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
ESTEVEZ SAA, MARGARITA (Chairman)
JIMENEZ PLACER, SUSANA MARIA (Secretary)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Member)
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
ESTEVEZ SAA, MARGARITA (Chairman)
JIMENEZ PLACER, SUSANA MARIA (Secretary)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Member)
Proposal of creating an online dictionary of idioms for advanced learners of Russian as a foreign language
Authorship
V.B.
Master's Degree Erasmus Mundus in Lexicography (2nd Ed.)
V.B.
Master's Degree Erasmus Mundus in Lexicography (2nd Ed.)
Defense date
07.17.2025 10:00
07.17.2025 10:00
Summary
This master’s thesis proposes the development and design of an online dictionary specifically tailored for advanced learners (B1-C1 CEFR levels) of Russian as a foreign language, focusing on idiomatic expressions that feature nouns as their main component. The study addresses the challenges learners face in mastering multi-word idiomatic lexemes, which are crucial for achieving communicative competence at intermediate and advanced levels. The research combines corpus-based analysis with pedagogical lexicography to ensure the selection of relevant, contemporary idioms from both literary and web-based sources, while excluding obsolete or infrequent expressions. The proposed dictionary structure emphasizes user-friendly access, multimedia integration, and clear presentation of semantic, grammatical, and contextual information. The methodology involves compiling an idiomatic minimum, analysing corpus frequency, and reviewing existing phraseological resources. The findings highlight the importance of digital lexicography in supporting language acquisition and suggest practical recommendations for dictionary design and implementation.
This master’s thesis proposes the development and design of an online dictionary specifically tailored for advanced learners (B1-C1 CEFR levels) of Russian as a foreign language, focusing on idiomatic expressions that feature nouns as their main component. The study addresses the challenges learners face in mastering multi-word idiomatic lexemes, which are crucial for achieving communicative competence at intermediate and advanced levels. The research combines corpus-based analysis with pedagogical lexicography to ensure the selection of relevant, contemporary idioms from both literary and web-based sources, while excluding obsolete or infrequent expressions. The proposed dictionary structure emphasizes user-friendly access, multimedia integration, and clear presentation of semantic, grammatical, and contextual information. The methodology involves compiling an idiomatic minimum, analysing corpus frequency, and reviewing existing phraseological resources. The findings highlight the importance of digital lexicography in supporting language acquisition and suggest practical recommendations for dictionary design and implementation.
Direction
MELISS , MEIKE (Tutorships)
MELISS , MEIKE (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ VAZQUEZ, MARIA JOSE (Coordinator)
PEREIRA FARIÑA, MARTIN (Chairman)
Margalitadze , Tinatin (Secretary)
Gouws , Rufus Hjalmar (Member)
DOMINGUEZ VAZQUEZ, MARIA JOSE (Coordinator)
PEREIRA FARIÑA, MARTIN (Chairman)
Margalitadze , Tinatin (Secretary)
Gouws , Rufus Hjalmar (Member)
The theme constituent in Galician
Authorship
R.B.G.
Master in Applied Linguistics
R.B.G.
Master in Applied Linguistics
Defense date
07.22.2025 10:00
07.22.2025 10:00
Summary
The theme constituent in Galician is a very understudied subject in Galician linguistics, and it is usually only addressed by the morphology chapters in Galician grammars: there are not many works dedicated entirely to this topic. Even more, the theme vowel of verbs has always received more attention than other kinds of theme constituents. In this paper I will explore alternatives to issues present in traditional grammars regarding the theme constituent, often overlooked because of the little attention given to this subject. I will discuss, aside from the theme constituent from a global perspective, the theme vowel of rhizotonic verbs, the notion of gender inflection and the derivational processes of conversion, parasynthesis and circumfixation. I will examine the lexical nature of the theme constituent, its function in selecting the theme class, the way it works in the different lexical classes, and the peculiarities of its behaviour in each of them. I will challenge the association between theme indexes and gender morphemes in nouns, adjectives and pronouns, and I will reject the notion of gender inflection in Galician. I will also explore the role of the theme constituent in the derivational processes of conversion and parasynthesis (or circumfixation).
The theme constituent in Galician is a very understudied subject in Galician linguistics, and it is usually only addressed by the morphology chapters in Galician grammars: there are not many works dedicated entirely to this topic. Even more, the theme vowel of verbs has always received more attention than other kinds of theme constituents. In this paper I will explore alternatives to issues present in traditional grammars regarding the theme constituent, often overlooked because of the little attention given to this subject. I will discuss, aside from the theme constituent from a global perspective, the theme vowel of rhizotonic verbs, the notion of gender inflection and the derivational processes of conversion, parasynthesis and circumfixation. I will examine the lexical nature of the theme constituent, its function in selecting the theme class, the way it works in the different lexical classes, and the peculiarities of its behaviour in each of them. I will challenge the association between theme indexes and gender morphemes in nouns, adjectives and pronouns, and I will reject the notion of gender inflection in Galician. I will also explore the role of the theme constituent in the derivational processes of conversion and parasynthesis (or circumfixation).
Direction
Dubert García, Francisco Xosé (Tutorships)
Dubert García, Francisco Xosé (Tutorships)
Court
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
Construction of unusual spaces: frontier and liminal representations in Galician narrative
Authorship
I.C.N.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
I.C.N.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 10:00
07.16.2025 10:00
Summary
The usage of the notion of liminality in space studies post-spatial turn meant a paradigm shift when it came to analyse certain places defined by their transitory characteristics, places where border indetermination determines a reality in itself. This is the case of frontier spaces, where the delimitation of the symbolic values that define the external is questioned. In the Galician context, frontier has historically enjoyed a productive representation in literature, given the importance it had in the formation of the communitarian identity, as well as its potential to build the fantastic, one of the most important autochtonous genres. This study pretends, using two contemporary novels, O bosque é grande e profundo by Manuel Darriba and Ninguén Queda by Brais Lamela, one realistic and one fantastic, dig deep in the way the frontier is built through the subversion and transformation of the border's significance, as well as evaluate the different results this elaboration presents based on the narrative paradigm It is inscribed upon.
The usage of the notion of liminality in space studies post-spatial turn meant a paradigm shift when it came to analyse certain places defined by their transitory characteristics, places where border indetermination determines a reality in itself. This is the case of frontier spaces, where the delimitation of the symbolic values that define the external is questioned. In the Galician context, frontier has historically enjoyed a productive representation in literature, given the importance it had in the formation of the communitarian identity, as well as its potential to build the fantastic, one of the most important autochtonous genres. This study pretends, using two contemporary novels, O bosque é grande e profundo by Manuel Darriba and Ninguén Queda by Brais Lamela, one realistic and one fantastic, dig deep in the way the frontier is built through the subversion and transformation of the border's significance, as well as evaluate the different results this elaboration presents based on the narrative paradigm It is inscribed upon.
Direction
VILAVEDRA FERNANDEZ, DOLORES (Tutorships)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, PABLO (Co-tutorships)
VILAVEDRA FERNANDEZ, DOLORES (Tutorships)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, PABLO (Co-tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
Diagnosing the Unseen: The Evolution of ‘Female Madness’ and Societal Constraints in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Meg Mason’s Sorrow and Bliss
Authorship
N.C.V.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
N.C.V.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
Defense date
07.16.2025 11:00
07.16.2025 11:00
Summary
The literary figure of the madwoman has long reflected male-centric ideals of femininity and psychiatric discourse that historically portrayed women as irrational, insane, or emotionally unstable, especially when they failed to conform to patriarchal norms. Nonetheless, evolving perspectives on mental health and gender have begun to reshape this trope. Over time, the madwoman has been reimagined from the passive or hysterical victim of male-defined narratives to a complex character offering a deep analysis of their surroundings and how they affect them. This master’s thesis offers a comparative analysis between The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath and Sorrow and Bliss (2020) by Meg Mason, exploring how each novel reflects and challenges traditional representations of female madness across two different eras. By analysing the first-person narratives of the protagonists, this study seeks to demonstrate the shift in the representation of women’s mental illness, considering the influence of gendered expectations. While the 1950s were characterised by excessive stigma and rigid gender roles, the 2020s reflect a move toward destigmatisation. Although the “madwoman” trope has changed, this dissertation reveals how gender continues to shape women’s experiences. To accomplish these objectives, this thesis’ methodology used an in-depth exploration of “madness” as a culturally constructed phenomenon influenced by patriarchal norms, drawing on foundational concepts such as Elaine Showalter’s “The Female Malady” and Betty Friedan’s “The Problem with No Name”. Among the critical works dealing with this topic, this dissertation will consider “Women and Hysteria in the History of Mental Health” by Cecilia Tasca explores the history of women’s link to hysteria, and Gilbert and Gubar’s (1979) “The Madwoman in the Attic” depicts the vilification of women throughout history.
The literary figure of the madwoman has long reflected male-centric ideals of femininity and psychiatric discourse that historically portrayed women as irrational, insane, or emotionally unstable, especially when they failed to conform to patriarchal norms. Nonetheless, evolving perspectives on mental health and gender have begun to reshape this trope. Over time, the madwoman has been reimagined from the passive or hysterical victim of male-defined narratives to a complex character offering a deep analysis of their surroundings and how they affect them. This master’s thesis offers a comparative analysis between The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath and Sorrow and Bliss (2020) by Meg Mason, exploring how each novel reflects and challenges traditional representations of female madness across two different eras. By analysing the first-person narratives of the protagonists, this study seeks to demonstrate the shift in the representation of women’s mental illness, considering the influence of gendered expectations. While the 1950s were characterised by excessive stigma and rigid gender roles, the 2020s reflect a move toward destigmatisation. Although the “madwoman” trope has changed, this dissertation reveals how gender continues to shape women’s experiences. To accomplish these objectives, this thesis’ methodology used an in-depth exploration of “madness” as a culturally constructed phenomenon influenced by patriarchal norms, drawing on foundational concepts such as Elaine Showalter’s “The Female Malady” and Betty Friedan’s “The Problem with No Name”. Among the critical works dealing with this topic, this dissertation will consider “Women and Hysteria in the History of Mental Health” by Cecilia Tasca explores the history of women’s link to hysteria, and Gilbert and Gubar’s (1979) “The Madwoman in the Attic” depicts the vilification of women throughout history.
Direction
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Court
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Chairman)
Pereira Ares, Noemí (Secretary)
JIMENEZ PLACER, SUSANA MARIA (Member)
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Chairman)
Pereira Ares, Noemí (Secretary)
JIMENEZ PLACER, SUSANA MARIA (Member)
Master Dissertation: The Presence of Medieval GalicianPortuguese Lyric Poetry in Academia in Galicia and Portugal (1974/75Present).
Authorship
M.F.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
M.F.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 10:40
07.16.2025 10:40
Summary
The GalicianPortuguese troubadour lyric stands as one of the richest literary heritages of the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. Its reception has followed diverse paths on both sides of the Minho River, revealing how a shared literary tradition can be mobilized in service of broader cultural and identity strategies. As a common heritage, it encourages a comparative approach and offers a fertile ground for understanding the processes through which narratives are shaped and disseminated from a shared repertoire. This research, with a primarily practical orientation, aims to examine the presence of medieval poetry in Galicia and Portugal from the end of their respective dictatorships to the present day, with a focus on the academic dimension. By analyzing school textbooks, educational curricula, and literary histories, the study explores the forms, didactic dynamics, and language through which this literary legacy is appropriated and experienced. The proposal seeks to contribute to the reflection on the construction and use of literary memory in transnational contexts.
The GalicianPortuguese troubadour lyric stands as one of the richest literary heritages of the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. Its reception has followed diverse paths on both sides of the Minho River, revealing how a shared literary tradition can be mobilized in service of broader cultural and identity strategies. As a common heritage, it encourages a comparative approach and offers a fertile ground for understanding the processes through which narratives are shaped and disseminated from a shared repertoire. This research, with a primarily practical orientation, aims to examine the presence of medieval poetry in Galicia and Portugal from the end of their respective dictatorships to the present day, with a focus on the academic dimension. By analyzing school textbooks, educational curricula, and literary histories, the study explores the forms, didactic dynamics, and language through which this literary legacy is appropriated and experienced. The proposal seeks to contribute to the reflection on the construction and use of literary memory in transnational contexts.
Direction
FEIJO TORRES, ELIAS JOSE (Tutorships)
FEIJO TORRES, ELIAS JOSE (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
Unsettling Boundaries: Liminality, the Gothic and Midcentury Femininity in Daphne du Maurier’s The Breaking Point
Authorship
A.F.B.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
A.F.B.
Master in Advanced English Studies and its Applications
Defense date
07.16.2025 12:30
07.16.2025 12:30
Summary
The post-war period in Britain marked a reassertion of traditional gender roles, as dominant Western values reinforced women's subordination to patriarchal authority and confined them largely to the domestic sphere. In the 1950s, many women felt trapped in their role as housewives, experiencing anguish and a sense of purposelessness. Daphne du Maurier, a leading Gothic writer of the time, captures these anxieties in The Breaking Point (1959), a work composed of eight stories, each depicting a psychological turning point that alters the protagonists’ worldview. While scholars such as Gina Wisker (2022) and Setara Pracha (2023) have examined female subservience in individual stories, little attention has been paid to how The Breaking Point systematically challenges dominant gender narratives. Drawing on Gothic Studies within a framework of gender theory, and studies on liminality, this dissertation seeks to analyse four stories from The Breaking Point that stand out for their exploration of male-female dynamics, namely “The Alibi”, “The Blue Lenses”, “The Pool” and “The Chamois”. In this light, this dissertation argues that the selected stories challenge the cultural narratives underlying the construction of gender roles in The Breaking Point. As the analysis demonstrates, it is through Gothic strategies such as defamiliarisation and the emergence of liminal spaces and states that the characters’ worldview regarding said gendered cultural narratives is destabilised. Ultimately, the findings of this dissertation position The Breaking Point as a key representative of Female Gothic literature in mid-twentieth-century Britain and contributes to the growing, yet still quite limited, scholarship on du Maurier’s short fiction.
The post-war period in Britain marked a reassertion of traditional gender roles, as dominant Western values reinforced women's subordination to patriarchal authority and confined them largely to the domestic sphere. In the 1950s, many women felt trapped in their role as housewives, experiencing anguish and a sense of purposelessness. Daphne du Maurier, a leading Gothic writer of the time, captures these anxieties in The Breaking Point (1959), a work composed of eight stories, each depicting a psychological turning point that alters the protagonists’ worldview. While scholars such as Gina Wisker (2022) and Setara Pracha (2023) have examined female subservience in individual stories, little attention has been paid to how The Breaking Point systematically challenges dominant gender narratives. Drawing on Gothic Studies within a framework of gender theory, and studies on liminality, this dissertation seeks to analyse four stories from The Breaking Point that stand out for their exploration of male-female dynamics, namely “The Alibi”, “The Blue Lenses”, “The Pool” and “The Chamois”. In this light, this dissertation argues that the selected stories challenge the cultural narratives underlying the construction of gender roles in The Breaking Point. As the analysis demonstrates, it is through Gothic strategies such as defamiliarisation and the emergence of liminal spaces and states that the characters’ worldview regarding said gendered cultural narratives is destabilised. Ultimately, the findings of this dissertation position The Breaking Point as a key representative of Female Gothic literature in mid-twentieth-century Britain and contributes to the growing, yet still quite limited, scholarship on du Maurier’s short fiction.
Direction
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Lojo Rodríguez, Laura María (Tutorships)
Court
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Chairman)
Pereira Ares, Noemí (Secretary)
ESTEVEZ SAA, MARGARITA (Member)
BLANCO SUAREZ, ZELTIA (Coordinator)
SACIDO ROMERO, JORGE (Chairman)
Pereira Ares, Noemí (Secretary)
ESTEVEZ SAA, MARGARITA (Member)
Queer aesthetics, camp, and the different forms of transgender representation in contemporary audiovisual media
Authorship
V.G.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
V.G.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.17.2025 10:00
07.17.2025 10:00
Summary
Representations of LGBTIQ+ people in the arts have always existed and have a great cultural, social and political impact. Based on a theoretical review, the concepts of queer and camp are explored, identifying their main themes and aesthetic characteristics, such as humor, excess, artificiality and their ability to subvert social and cultural norms. The role of audiovisuals in making the transgender experience visible is also addressed, considering how these narratives contribute to questioning gender binarism, dismantling stereotypes and offering more inclusive and complex identity models. Through case studies in film, television and digital platforms, works that combine aesthetic transgression and activism are analyzed, revealing the potential of audiovisuals as a tool of resistance and transformation within the framework of the fight for the rights of the LGTBIQ+ community.
Representations of LGBTIQ+ people in the arts have always existed and have a great cultural, social and political impact. Based on a theoretical review, the concepts of queer and camp are explored, identifying their main themes and aesthetic characteristics, such as humor, excess, artificiality and their ability to subvert social and cultural norms. The role of audiovisuals in making the transgender experience visible is also addressed, considering how these narratives contribute to questioning gender binarism, dismantling stereotypes and offering more inclusive and complex identity models. Through case studies in film, television and digital platforms, works that combine aesthetic transgression and activism are analyzed, revealing the potential of audiovisuals as a tool of resistance and transformation within the framework of the fight for the rights of the LGTBIQ+ community.
Direction
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Tutorships)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
The Caleronian relaciones de autos sacramentales in the printing press of the Modern Age.
Authorship
M.A.G.L.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
M.A.G.L.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 09:00
07.16.2025 09:00
Summary
The relación is a publishing genre that emerged in the context of eighteenth-century printing. It constitutes a type of short theatrical print in which fragments or excerpts were printed from famous comedies or autos sacramentales that continued to be successful in the publishing and performing arts world of the eighteenth century. The main objective of this work is to study the relaciones of Calderón de la Barca's autos in the context of the controversy that arose regarding this genre and that led to its prohibition in 1765. First, a corpus will be developed that includes all of Calderón's relaciones de autos. Then, all the defining aspects of these prints will be examined in detail: their material characteristics, a study of the workshops from which these prints were issued, the titles of the autos from which they originate, and the number of editions of each of these relaciones. This will help to understand which ones were most successful in the eighteenth century. Finally, a study of the selected fragment will be included in the lists to understand which part of the auto was most successful literary and theatrical.
The relación is a publishing genre that emerged in the context of eighteenth-century printing. It constitutes a type of short theatrical print in which fragments or excerpts were printed from famous comedies or autos sacramentales that continued to be successful in the publishing and performing arts world of the eighteenth century. The main objective of this work is to study the relaciones of Calderón de la Barca's autos in the context of the controversy that arose regarding this genre and that led to its prohibition in 1765. First, a corpus will be developed that includes all of Calderón's relaciones de autos. Then, all the defining aspects of these prints will be examined in detail: their material characteristics, a study of the workshops from which these prints were issued, the titles of the autos from which they originate, and the number of editions of each of these relaciones. This will help to understand which ones were most successful in the eighteenth century. Finally, a study of the selected fragment will be included in the lists to understand which part of the auto was most successful literary and theatrical.
Direction
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Tutorships)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
MA Thesis
Authorship
W.G.
Master in Applied Linguistics
W.G.
Master in Applied Linguistics
Defense date
07.23.2025 10:00
07.23.2025 10:00
Summary
This study investigates the specific difficulties that Chinese-speaking students encounter when learning Spanish motion verbs. Drawing on Talmy’s theory of cognitive semantics, the study analyzes the typological divergence between Spanish, a verb-framed language, and Mandarin Chinese and English, which are satellite-framed languages. Whereas Spanish encodes the path of motion in the verb root (e.g., entrar, salir), Chinese and English prioritize the manner of motion in the main verb, expressing the path through peripheral elements. This structural difference leads to negative cognitive transfer and predictable errors. Through a qualitative analysis of verbs in the Nuevo Sueña (A1-B1) textbooks, key conceptual challenges are identified. The study demonstrates that the problem is not merely lexical but requires the learner to reconceptualize the motion event itself. As a solution, practical pedagogical strategies are proposed to facilitate this cognitive shift. These include the use of visual schemas, teaching through collocations (chunks), explicit contrastive analysis, and real-world context simulation. The study highlights the teacher’s role as a mediator who must enrich instructional materials, clarify grammatical patterns, and connect learning to authentic language use. In conclusion, effectively teaching motion verbs to Chinese-speaking students requires moving beyond direct translation and guiding learners in constructing new mental models to achieve more fluid and natural communication in Spanish.
This study investigates the specific difficulties that Chinese-speaking students encounter when learning Spanish motion verbs. Drawing on Talmy’s theory of cognitive semantics, the study analyzes the typological divergence between Spanish, a verb-framed language, and Mandarin Chinese and English, which are satellite-framed languages. Whereas Spanish encodes the path of motion in the verb root (e.g., entrar, salir), Chinese and English prioritize the manner of motion in the main verb, expressing the path through peripheral elements. This structural difference leads to negative cognitive transfer and predictable errors. Through a qualitative analysis of verbs in the Nuevo Sueña (A1-B1) textbooks, key conceptual challenges are identified. The study demonstrates that the problem is not merely lexical but requires the learner to reconceptualize the motion event itself. As a solution, practical pedagogical strategies are proposed to facilitate this cognitive shift. These include the use of visual schemas, teaching through collocations (chunks), explicit contrastive analysis, and real-world context simulation. The study highlights the teacher’s role as a mediator who must enrich instructional materials, clarify grammatical patterns, and connect learning to authentic language use. In conclusion, effectively teaching motion verbs to Chinese-speaking students requires moving beyond direct translation and guiding learners in constructing new mental models to achieve more fluid and natural communication in Spanish.
Direction
LUBKE , BARBARA (Tutorships)
LUBKE , BARBARA (Tutorships)
Court
Dubert García, Francisco Xosé (Chairman)
MIGUEZ REGO, VITOR (Secretary)
Gamallo Otero, Pablo (Member)
Dubert García, Francisco Xosé (Chairman)
MIGUEZ REGO, VITOR (Secretary)
Gamallo Otero, Pablo (Member)
The esthetic experience of the distateful: the endargenment of the physical integrity in contemporary performance activities.
Authorship
L.M.G.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
L.M.G.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.17.2025 10:30
07.17.2025 10:30
Summary
This paper attempts to explore the various contexts and motivations that, in postmodernism, lead to the production of performances in which the artist's body is subjected to violence. It will then conduct a chronological review of some of the movements and artists who incorporate these self-harming practices into their works, followed by an ethical and aesthetic evaluation of the topic. Finally, it will reflect on how new technologies can broaden the debate by offering the possibility of performing self-harming, even suicidal, performances using robots.
This paper attempts to explore the various contexts and motivations that, in postmodernism, lead to the production of performances in which the artist's body is subjected to violence. It will then conduct a chronological review of some of the movements and artists who incorporate these self-harming practices into their works, followed by an ethical and aesthetic evaluation of the topic. Finally, it will reflect on how new technologies can broaden the debate by offering the possibility of performing self-harming, even suicidal, performances using robots.
Direction
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Tutorships)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
“A Elbereth Gilthoniel”. Songs and memory in J. R. R. Tolkien's trilogy The Lord of the Rings.
Authorship
M.F.M.M.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
M.F.M.M.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 10:00
07.16.2025 10:00
Summary
The songs in The Lord of the Rings by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien serve as a bridge that enables union and communion between past and present. This relationship has not been deeply studied by various experts in the author's work. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the connection between songs and memory in Tolkien's work. To this end, several songs will be selected whose lyrics recount past events and hold significant importance in the experiences of the characters and the choices they make. The analysis covers aspects such as the lyrics, the setting and circumstances in which they are sung, the characters who perform them, and their relationship with other figures in Tolkien's universe, among others. It explores how the songs relate to the tone of the narrative and the number of songs in each part of the work, noting that they decrease as the story grows darker and hope for the triumph of good over evil fades. This paper offers a fresh perspective on the study of songs in Tolkien's work, since they are typically analyzed within cinematic adaptations or in relation to the author’s life, but not in intradiegetic terms. Memory studies provide an analytical framework to gauge the significance of a past that endures through songs remembered and sung by the inhabitants of Middle-earth.
The songs in The Lord of the Rings by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien serve as a bridge that enables union and communion between past and present. This relationship has not been deeply studied by various experts in the author's work. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the connection between songs and memory in Tolkien's work. To this end, several songs will be selected whose lyrics recount past events and hold significant importance in the experiences of the characters and the choices they make. The analysis covers aspects such as the lyrics, the setting and circumstances in which they are sung, the characters who perform them, and their relationship with other figures in Tolkien's universe, among others. It explores how the songs relate to the tone of the narrative and the number of songs in each part of the work, noting that they decrease as the story grows darker and hope for the triumph of good over evil fades. This paper offers a fresh perspective on the study of songs in Tolkien's work, since they are typically analyzed within cinematic adaptations or in relation to the author’s life, but not in intradiegetic terms. Memory studies provide an analytical framework to gauge the significance of a past that endures through songs remembered and sung by the inhabitants of Middle-earth.
Direction
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Tutorships)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
The Subjunctive in the Spanish as a Foreign Language Classroom: An Approach Through the CAES
Authorship
E.M.R.
Master in Applied Linguistics
E.M.R.
Master in Applied Linguistics
Defense date
07.22.2025 10:45
07.22.2025 10:45
Summary
This Master's Final Project analyzes the use of the subjunctive in written texts produced by learners of Spanish as a foreign language at B1 and B2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), using data extracted from the Corpus of Learners of Spanish (CAES). The study adopts a mixed-methods approach and examines how the use of the subjunctive varies according to level, first language (L1), and the gender of the learners, as well as the type of clause in which it appears and the function it serves. In this regard, the most frequent subjunctive tenses are analyzed: present, imperfect, present perfect, and pluperfect, and some incorrect uses in modal alternation are also identified. The aim is to provide data that help better understand how intermediate-level learners use the subjunctive and to offer insights that may be useful for its teaching.
This Master's Final Project analyzes the use of the subjunctive in written texts produced by learners of Spanish as a foreign language at B1 and B2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), using data extracted from the Corpus of Learners of Spanish (CAES). The study adopts a mixed-methods approach and examines how the use of the subjunctive varies according to level, first language (L1), and the gender of the learners, as well as the type of clause in which it appears and the function it serves. In this regard, the most frequent subjunctive tenses are analyzed: present, imperfect, present perfect, and pluperfect, and some incorrect uses in modal alternation are also identified. The aim is to provide data that help better understand how intermediate-level learners use the subjunctive and to offer insights that may be useful for its teaching.
Direction
CONDE NOGUEROL, MARIA EUGENIA (Tutorships)
CONDE NOGUEROL, MARIA EUGENIA (Tutorships)
Court
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
Linguistic Activism on Social Media: Comparative Analysis of Organizations that Promote Asturian, Galician, or Leonese
Authorship
P.N.
Master in Applied Linguistics
P.N.
Master in Applied Linguistics
Defense date
07.22.2025 11:30
07.22.2025 11:30
Summary
This Master's Thesis analyzes linguistic activism on social media as an emerging phenomenon linked to the promotion of minority languages in Spain. The study examines the activity of thirteen organi-zations working toward the normalization of Asturian, Galician, or Leonese. The objective is to ex-plore how these entities use digital platforms to raise awareness, promote, and advocate for the use of these languages. To this end, a mixed methodology is applied, combining quantitative analysis with an examination of publication topics and discursive tone. The corpus consists of posts made on three social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and X) during the first quarter of 2025. Specific criteria are established to distinguish between linguistic and general posts, and a functional classifi-cation of the digital profiles is proposed based on their focus.
This Master's Thesis analyzes linguistic activism on social media as an emerging phenomenon linked to the promotion of minority languages in Spain. The study examines the activity of thirteen organi-zations working toward the normalization of Asturian, Galician, or Leonese. The objective is to ex-plore how these entities use digital platforms to raise awareness, promote, and advocate for the use of these languages. To this end, a mixed methodology is applied, combining quantitative analysis with an examination of publication topics and discursive tone. The corpus consists of posts made on three social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and X) during the first quarter of 2025. Specific criteria are established to distinguish between linguistic and general posts, and a functional classifi-cation of the digital profiles is proposed based on their focus.
Direction
Ramallo Fernández, Fernando (Tutorships)
Ramallo Fernández, Fernando (Tutorships)
Court
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
MARIÑO PAZ, RAMON (Chairman)
ZAS VARELA, MARIA LUZ (Secretary)
PREGO VAZQUEZ, GABRIELA (Member)
Epic urgency in the literature of the nation: the Galician case (1980-1999)
Authorship
E.N.B.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
E.N.B.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 11:30
07.16.2025 11:30
Summary
The recovery of the moments of the past presented as epic by the history of Galician nationalism was carried out in literature by some authors who, after the death of the dictator in 1975, wanted to renew the national imaginary. What were the events rescued, what were the useful messages for the union of the imagined community in the present and in the future, what were the reasons for the coincidence in the literary formula of the narrative or what were the ways in which this was done, are some of the questions that gave rise to this research. Crónica de nós (1980), by Xosé Luis Méndez Ferrín; Trasalba ou Violeta e o militar morto (1985) and Porta blindada (1990), by Margarita Ledo Andión; Morte de rei (1996), by Darío Xohán Cabana and No ventre do silencio (1999), also by X. L. Méndez Ferrín, also by X. L. Méndez Ferrín, are the works in which the answers were sought. The grouping of these writers, who maintain certain generational connections, a similar ideological position and even their concurrence in the recently created Xerais, responds to the desire to define a corpus with internal coherence which, by placing it in the context of the literary field of the 1980s and 1990s, becomes an addition to the studies on literature, society and history that have been carried out for some time.
The recovery of the moments of the past presented as epic by the history of Galician nationalism was carried out in literature by some authors who, after the death of the dictator in 1975, wanted to renew the national imaginary. What were the events rescued, what were the useful messages for the union of the imagined community in the present and in the future, what were the reasons for the coincidence in the literary formula of the narrative or what were the ways in which this was done, are some of the questions that gave rise to this research. Crónica de nós (1980), by Xosé Luis Méndez Ferrín; Trasalba ou Violeta e o militar morto (1985) and Porta blindada (1990), by Margarita Ledo Andión; Morte de rei (1996), by Darío Xohán Cabana and No ventre do silencio (1999), also by X. L. Méndez Ferrín, also by X. L. Méndez Ferrín, are the works in which the answers were sought. The grouping of these writers, who maintain certain generational connections, a similar ideological position and even their concurrence in the recently created Xerais, responds to the desire to define a corpus with internal coherence which, by placing it in the context of the literary field of the 1980s and 1990s, becomes an addition to the studies on literature, society and history that have been carried out for some time.
Direction
GARCIA MARTINEZ, PABLO (Tutorships)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, PABLO (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
Rewriting Greek tragedy in the postmodern era: dramatic-scenic spaces between the political and the dionysiac
Authorship
A.R.C.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
A.R.C.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.17.2025 11:00
07.17.2025 11:00
Summary
Greek tragedy was for the Athenian community one of the most important elements of its community and religious life. But the festival of the Great Dionysia also played a very pivotal role in the politic life of the city in relation to the other Greek polis. Thus, in a contest that brought together in the koilon of the Theater of Dionysus spectators from all parts of the Hellenic world, the tragediographers put into practice a series of elements for the exaltation of the democratic system. These two sides of the theatrical phenomenon, the ideological and the ritual, will be the backbone of the present reaserch, which will attempt to find traces of this in the rewritings of the tragedies performed during the twentieth century. To this end, after a problematization of concepts such as 'translation', 'adaptation' or 'rewriting', we will move on to an anlysis of 5th century plays, Sophocles' Philoctetes and Euripides' Bacchae, in dialogue with their analogues in the postmodern era, Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy and Schechner's Dionysus in 69, paying special attention to their spatial dimensión, considering it a particularly revealing semiotic category to understand the discourses and values behind the stage.
Greek tragedy was for the Athenian community one of the most important elements of its community and religious life. But the festival of the Great Dionysia also played a very pivotal role in the politic life of the city in relation to the other Greek polis. Thus, in a contest that brought together in the koilon of the Theater of Dionysus spectators from all parts of the Hellenic world, the tragediographers put into practice a series of elements for the exaltation of the democratic system. These two sides of the theatrical phenomenon, the ideological and the ritual, will be the backbone of the present reaserch, which will attempt to find traces of this in the rewritings of the tragedies performed during the twentieth century. To this end, after a problematization of concepts such as 'translation', 'adaptation' or 'rewriting', we will move on to an anlysis of 5th century plays, Sophocles' Philoctetes and Euripides' Bacchae, in dialogue with their analogues in the postmodern era, Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy and Schechner's Dionysus in 69, paying special attention to their spatial dimensión, considering it a particularly revealing semiotic category to understand the discourses and values behind the stage.
Direction
DE CARLOS VILLAMARIN, HELENA ROSA (Tutorships)
DE CARLOS VILLAMARIN, HELENA ROSA (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
Dante, the crusader knight. Narrative transfers from Commedia to the video game Dante's Inferno.
Authorship
W.H.R.O.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
W.H.R.O.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 11:20
07.16.2025 11:20
Summary
Dante Alighieri’s Commedia is a literary work that has influenced various forms of art and media, including video games. Dante’s Inferno reimagines Dante as a crusader knight who fights through the nine circles of Hell to rescue Beatrice. Although at first glance there may not seem to be a profound connection between the two products, this raises questions about how the narratives of ancient works are transferred to contemporary cultural systems and how they are interpreted in these media. This study explores these issues through a comparative and cultural analysis. It examines how the literary and cultural narratives of the poem have been transferred, establishing relationships of intermediality or transmediality. Special attention is paid to the configuration of narratological elements and their adaptation. Finally, the research investigates how ideas such as the journey to the afterlife, guilt, punishment, and redemption are conveyed in the video game.
Dante Alighieri’s Commedia is a literary work that has influenced various forms of art and media, including video games. Dante’s Inferno reimagines Dante as a crusader knight who fights through the nine circles of Hell to rescue Beatrice. Although at first glance there may not seem to be a profound connection between the two products, this raises questions about how the narratives of ancient works are transferred to contemporary cultural systems and how they are interpreted in these media. This study explores these issues through a comparative and cultural analysis. It examines how the literary and cultural narratives of the poem have been transferred, establishing relationships of intermediality or transmediality. Special attention is paid to the configuration of narratological elements and their adaptation. Finally, the research investigates how ideas such as the journey to the afterlife, guilt, punishment, and redemption are conveyed in the video game.
Direction
FEIJO TORRES, ELIAS JOSE (Tutorships)
GUTIERREZ CAROU, JAVIER (Co-tutorships)
FEIJO TORRES, ELIAS JOSE (Tutorships)
GUTIERREZ CAROU, JAVIER (Co-tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CORRAL DIAZ, MARIA ESTHER (Chairman)
GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, DEBORA (Secretary)
NOGUEIRA OTERO, XOSE (Member)
Literature, Translation, and Social Media: The Narratives Created by the Haikyuu!! Fandom Community
Authorship
M.V.F.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
M.V.F.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.16.2025 12:30
07.16.2025 12:30
Summary
Through a comparative analysis of the official text and the various productions created by the fan community in different formats (literary, audiovisual, musical, etc.), this thesis aims to study the changes produced in the story's plot and characters during the translation and contextualization process of a language and cultural framework different from one's own. Based on this, the project will focus on the translation of the Haikyuu!! manga and anime, due to their significant impact on online communities. This analysis will primarily consider the story's mode of transmission; but it will also secondarily study fan fiction, narrative creations, and fan art, artistic creations, without forgetting multimedia works that combine various disciplines.
Through a comparative analysis of the official text and the various productions created by the fan community in different formats (literary, audiovisual, musical, etc.), this thesis aims to study the changes produced in the story's plot and characters during the translation and contextualization process of a language and cultural framework different from one's own. Based on this, the project will focus on the translation of the Haikyuu!! manga and anime, due to their significant impact on online communities. This analysis will primarily consider the story's mode of transmission; but it will also secondarily study fan fiction, narrative creations, and fan art, artistic creations, without forgetting multimedia works that combine various disciplines.
Direction
GOMEZ PATO, ROSA MARTA (Tutorships)
GOMEZ PATO, ROSA MARTA (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CASAS VALES, ARTURO (Chairman)
MORAN CABANAS, MARIA ISABEL (Secretary)
GARCIA TRABAZO, JOSE VIRGILIO (Member)
Images of the Labyrinth: A Comparative Study of Jacques Rivette’s Paris
Authorship
B.V.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
B.V.V.
Master in Literary and Culture Studies
Defense date
07.17.2025 11:30
07.17.2025 11:30
Summary
The following work aims to analyze the treatment of space in four films shot by Jacques Rivette in the city of Paris, using a comparative method: Paris nous appartient, Out 1, Duelle, and Le Pont du Nord. Urban geography and space have been major themes in literature since the 19th century, and the same is true for cinema. Works such as Imágenes de la ciudad by Darío Villanueva have explored this issue, and contemporary literary theory has highlighted the importance of spatial analysis in terms of Bakhtin’s concept of the chronotope. Jacques Rivette's cinema has always been associated with the city and the exploration of space. In his films, Paris is the most important and the most difficult character to define; it is a magical and literary place where the fantastic hides, but also one where political violence exists in the shadows. For Francisco Algarín, it is the city of parallel life. Despite the existence of numerous studies on the relationship between Rivette's cinema, especially with Balzac, there is a lack of comparative studies on space and the city in his work. Through the comparison of the aforementioned films with various novels, including Histoire des Treize by Honoré de Balzac, Les Mystères de Paris by Eugène Sue, and La Disparition by Georges Perec, the peculiarities of spatial usage in Rivette’s work will be revealed.
The following work aims to analyze the treatment of space in four films shot by Jacques Rivette in the city of Paris, using a comparative method: Paris nous appartient, Out 1, Duelle, and Le Pont du Nord. Urban geography and space have been major themes in literature since the 19th century, and the same is true for cinema. Works such as Imágenes de la ciudad by Darío Villanueva have explored this issue, and contemporary literary theory has highlighted the importance of spatial analysis in terms of Bakhtin’s concept of the chronotope. Jacques Rivette's cinema has always been associated with the city and the exploration of space. In his films, Paris is the most important and the most difficult character to define; it is a magical and literary place where the fantastic hides, but also one where political violence exists in the shadows. For Francisco Algarín, it is the city of parallel life. Despite the existence of numerous studies on the relationship between Rivette's cinema, especially with Balzac, there is a lack of comparative studies on space and the city in his work. Through the comparison of the aforementioned films with various novels, including Histoire des Treize by Honoré de Balzac, Les Mystères de Paris by Eugène Sue, and La Disparition by Georges Perec, the peculiarities of spatial usage in Rivette’s work will be revealed.
Direction
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Tutorships)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Tutorships)
Court
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)
DOMINGUEZ PRIETO, CESAR PABLO (Coordinator)
CABO ASEGUINOLAZA, FERNANDO (Chairman)
ULLA LORENZO, ALEJANDRA (Secretary)
GARCIA MARTINEZ, MANUEL (Member)