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El hombre que se convirtió en perro – Osvaldo Dragún

Chloe Sanchez

Chloe Sanchez

8 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers Osvaldo Dragún's El hombre que se convirtió en perro, focusing on the author's background, the play's historical and social context (mid-20th century Argentina), and key characters (the man, his wife, and the actors). It explores literary devices like irony, satire, and hyperbole, and major themes such as dehumanization, social critique, socioeconomic divisions, family relationships, and power dynamics. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips for the AP Spanish Literature exam.

🎭 El hombre que se convirtió en perro: Your Ultimate Study Guide

Hey there, future AP Spanish Lit master! Let's get you prepped and confident for tomorrow's exam with this supercharged guide to El hombre que se convirtió en perro. Think of this as your secret weapon—a fast, fun, and focused review. Let's dive in! 🚀

📖 Context: Setting the Stage

👨‍💼 Author Background: Osvaldo Dragún

  • Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1926. * Avant-garde literary movement of the 1940s and 50s.
  • Known for satirical, politically charged works criticizing society and power systems. 💡

Osvaldo Dragún Image Courtesy of Genius

🕰️ Time and Place

  • 📜 Historical Context: Mid-20th century Argentina, a period of political unrest and social change. Part of the "Theater of the Absurd" movement, born from post-WWII existential crises.
Key Concept
  • 🗺️ Geographic Setting: Urban environment, likely representing a typical Argentine city. Reflects industrialization and modernization of Latin American cities.

🌍 Societal Atmosphere

  • 👑 Political: Argentina under political repression and military dictatorship. Themes of conformity, dehumanization, and individual struggle against oppressive systems.

  • 🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Socioeconomic: Highlights the struggles of the working class and the impact of economic inequality. The protagonist's desperation for work and acceptance of a degrading job show the era's challenges.

  • 🎭 Cultural: Explores the importance of labor, working-class challenges, and the search for identity within the Argentine culture. Also touches on universal human experiences.

Quick Fact

🎭 Need to Know: Characters and Key Elements

Quick Recap: The play features characters discussing the man who becomes a dog, his wife, and the actors. The actors act as narrators and observers, providing commentary. The husband represents the struggle against dehumanization, and his wife offers support.

Man and dog Image Courtesy of Kayla Scheer

🤔 Characters

  • The Man: The main character who takes on the role of a dog, symbolizing dehumanization and loss of identity. Remember, he acts as a dog, he doesn't become one biologically.
Memory Aid
  • The Man's Wife: Offers moral support and compassion, representing strength and humanity in the face of social pressures.
  • Actors 1, 2, and 3: Serve as a collective voice, questioning social norms and blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
  • The Employer: Represents oppressive power structures and the degrading effects of certain jobs.

🧠 Literary Terms and Devices

  • Personaje (Character): Characters contribute to the exploration of identity and social expectations. The man, his wife, and the actors all play a key role.
Exam Tip
  • Ambiente (Setting): The urban setting mirrors the industrialization of Latin American cities, highlighting the harsh nature of some jobs.
  • Acotación (Stage Directions): Instructions for actors' postures, expressions, and gestures, enhancing the theatrical experience.
  • Público (Audience): The play acknowledges the audience, creating a meta-theatrical element and merging fiction with reality.
  • Irony: Used to highlight the absurdities and contradictions in society, such as a man becoming a dog as a metaphor for dehumanization.
Common Mistake
  • Satire: Exposes the flaws and absurdities of the social order, critiquing norms and power structures.
  • Hipérbole (Hyperbole): Used to emphasize details, like the man's transformation, to highlight the dehumanizing effects of his work.
  • Dialogue: Enables character interaction, sharing of thoughts, and exploration of themes.

🔍 Summary: The Big Picture

  • El hombre que se convirtió en perro satirizes the urbanization and industrialization of Latin American cities. The main character's role as a dog is a metaphor for the dehumanization of those in certain societal positions.
  • The play explores identity and the limits of conformity through dialogue and stage directions. It critiques repressive structures and highlights the absurdities of the social order.
  • The play prompts the audience to consider societal expectations, the limits on personal freedom, and the degrading impacts of conformity. It uses irony and satire to expose the flaws and hypocrisy of the social order.
  • It reminds us of the importance of individuality and resistance against conformity, sparking discussions about the need for social change and a more compassionate world.
Key Concept

🔗 Themes: Connecting the Dots

🌍 Las sociedades en contacto (Societies in Contact)

  • Explores interactions between different social roles, highlighting conflicts and power dynamics when different social groups interact.
Exam Tip

💰 Las divisiones socioeconómicas (Socioeconomic Divisions)

  • Shows the protagonist's struggle for work, highlighting economic disparities and limitations faced by those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Las relaciones familiares (Family Relationships)

  • The man's wife provides comfort and support, showing the strength of family ties in the face of hardship.
Quick Fact

⚖️ Las relaciones de poder (Power Relationships)

  • Critiques social norms and structures that promote conformity and dehumanization. Shows the power dynamics between employers and employees and the fight against oppressive systems.
Common Mistake

🌟 Significance: Why It Matters

  • The play's themes of social inequality and the struggle for underrepresented voices are still relevant today. It prompts reflection on the value of human life and the loss of individual agency.
  • It encourages people to see the contradictions of society and the absurd demands it makes. It highlights the effects of interacting societies and socioeconomic inequality.
Memory Aid
  • It promotes empathy and understanding, encouraging debate about inclusivity and social justice. The play also explores the complexities of human relationships and the value of healthy family relations.
  • It is an experimental work that seeks to challenge traditional literary conventions and explore deeper questions about reality. Remember: The man acts as a dog; he does not become a dog biologically. 💡

🎯 Final Exam Focus

  • High-Priority Topics: Themes of dehumanization, social critique, power dynamics, and the absurd. Pay special attention to the use of satire and irony.
  • Common Question Types: Multiple-choice questions on literary devices, character analysis, and thematic connections. Free-response questions often require you to analyze the play's social commentary and its relevance to modern society.
Exam Tip
  • Time Management: Quickly identify the main themes and literary devices. Use specific examples from the text to support your claims.
Common Mistake
  • Common Pitfalls: Avoid summarizing the plot instead of analyzing it. Be sure to connect the play's themes to its historical and social context.
Common Mistake

📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. ¿Cuál de los siguientes describe mejor el papel de los actores en El hombre que se convirtió en perro? a) Son personajes principales que impulsan la acción. b) Actúan como narradores y comentaristas de la obra. c) Representan figuras de autoridad que oprimen al protagonista. d) Son espectadores pasivos de los eventos.

  2. El uso de la ironía en El hombre que se convirtió en perro sirve principalmente para: a) Crear humor ligero y entretener al público. b) Mostrar la felicidad del protagonista con su trabajo. c) Exponer las contradicciones y absurdos de la sociedad. d) Describir la vida cotidiana de los personajes.

  3. ¿Cuál es el tema central que se explora a través de la transformación del hombre en perro? a) La importancia de la amistad. b) La búsqueda de la felicidad personal. c) La deshumanización causada por el trabajo y la sociedad. d) La belleza de la naturaleza.

Free Response Question

Analiza cómo Osvaldo Dragún utiliza el humor y la sátira en El hombre que se convirtió en perro para criticar las estructuras sociales y las relaciones de poder. En tu análisis, considera cómo estos elementos contribuyen a la comprensión de los temas de la obra y su relevancia en el contexto histórico y social de Argentina.

Scoring Breakdown:

  • Thesis (1 point): A clear and focused thesis statement that identifies the use of humor and satire to critique social structures and power relationships.
  • Analysis of Humor and Satire (3 points): Detailed discussion of how humor and satire are used in the play, including specific examples (e.g., the man's transformation, the absurdity of the job interview, etc.).
  • Connection to Social Structures and Power Relationships (3 points): Explanation of how these elements critique social structures, power dynamics, and the dehumanizing effects of conformity.
  • Historical and Social Context (2 points): Discussion of the play's relevance to the historical and social context of Argentina, including the political repression and economic inequality of the mid-20th century.
  • Clarity and Organization (1 point): Well-organized and clearly written response with effective use of transitions and supporting evidence.

Alright, you've got this! You're now armed with all the knowledge and strategies you need to ace your AP Spanish Literature exam. Go get 'em! 💪

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Question 1 of 12

¿De qué país es originario el autor Osvaldo Dragún? 🇦🇷

México

España

Argentina

Cuba