AP Spanish Literature and Culture Units

Key Takeaways

• The course is divided into eight thematic units.

• Reading materials are taken from various regions like Spain, U.S. Hispanic communities, and Latin America.

• Students make cultural connections between literary works and their historical and cultural context.

How the Course Is Organized

The College Board organizes AP Spanish Literature and Culture around themes. Each theme will look at specific Spanish literary pieces. 

Reading assignments explore different works. These include short stories, plays, poetry, essays, and novels by Spanish authors. You’ll develop critical reading skills and analytical skills. Then you will have opportunities to share your thoughts and conclusions through writing and oral presentations.

Working through the eight thematic units will prepare you for the AP Spanish Lit exam (opens in a new tab). The themes will introduce you to literary works. As you analyze and interpret them, you’ll develop the skills you need to succeed on the exam.

Breakdown of AP Spanish Literature and Culture Units

Here’s a list of the eight units you’ll explore in AP Spanish Literature and Culture (opens in a new tab). The units do not have to be completed in any particular order. Your AP teacher may choose to cover these materials in any order.

Unit 1: La época medieval

This unit looks at medieval Spanish literature. As you read these works, you’ll see the language patterns from that time. You’ll get to explore how cultural practices, religious values, and historical events influenced the creation of the texts. 

Topics will help you develop skills like:

• Identifying themes

• Finding writing techniques, styles, and tools used during that time frame

• Identifying different genres

• Looking at different aspects that represent the time period

Unit 2: El siglo XVI

This unit looks at a time period called the “Golden Age” in Spanish literature. As you study different literary works from the 16th century, you will build reading, comprehension, and analysis skills.

In this unit, you’ll explore:

• How themes and characters across the texts connect

• How themes compare (in structure, style, and wording)

• How the texts relate in historical, political, and cultural settings

Unit 3: El siglo XVII

This unit examines literary pieces from the second half of the Golden Age. You’ll explore some of the more popular masterpieces written in Spanish during this time period.

Skills you may cover include:

• Comparing themes from different time periods

• Comparing written works to artwork

• Looking at how genres change over time

• Identifying cultural perspectives and practices in texts

Unit 4: La literatura romántica, realista, y naturalista

This unit looks at works from the 19th century. You’ll explore two texts that represent the growth of romanticism. Additionally, you’ll look at two texts that represent Realism and Naturalism, which came later.

You’ll take a look at:

• How the works communicated the author’s intentions

• How nuances, ambiguities, and meanings are implied

• How the written works connect with the movements in the period

Unit 5: La Generación del 98 y el Modernismo

This unit explores the thoughts and works of La Generacion del 98. They were a group of writers in Spain during the Spanish-American War era. You’ll also take a look at literary writings from the Modernism movement.

In this unit, you’ll see:

• How writing related to the global issues of the time

• How writings reflected or challenged the culture

• How writings reflected the sociocultural, historical, and geopolitical thoughts of the time

• How the texts reflected the behaviors and attitudes of the day

Unit 6: Teatro y poesía del siglo XX

Unit 6 looks at 20th-century literature. You’ll read and analyze poetry and drama that reflect the movements of the time period. For example, you may explore the Vanguard and the Theater of the Absurd.

Various works will reflect

• Tone, attitude, and perspective

• Linguistic features (formal vs informal)

• The relationship between culture and a literary movement

• Artistic representations through themes

Unit 7: El Boom latinoamericano

This unit stays with 20th-century literature. You will discover the authors who emerged during the “boom” in the 1960s and 70s. During this time period, Latin American novels and short stories became widely popular.

Topics you may explore:

• How content is structured

• How attitudes and culture influence how a text is interpreted

• How to compare various texts in terms of style and structure

Unit 8: Escritores contemporáneos de Estados Unidos y España

This unit covers recent works that represent real life in Spain and the United States during the 1970s and 80s.

Topics you may explore:

• How personal opinions and beliefs shape the interpretation of a text

• How literary texts compare to information in other disciplines

• How primary and secondary texts compare

How the Required Texts Fit Into the Units

AP Spanish Lit (opens in a new tab) includes 38 required texts from different genres that span from the 14th Century to the present day. The texts on the College Board’s reading list (opens in a new tab) will be read throughout the six units. You will read short stories, novels, plays, essays, and poetry. 

The six units are interconnected to help you explore how the various works addressed issues of the day and how they fit into a cultural context. Here are some examples of how texts fit in the context of each unit.

Your instructor will use these themes to help you make connections between different genres, explore literary movements, and explore the historical periods. You’ll have discussions and write analytically throughout the units.

How These Units Help You on the Exam

The AP Spanish exam tests three main communication skills:

1. Interpretive Communication (Reading & Listening)

You’ll practice:

• reading articles, ads, and stories

• listening to conversations, interviews, and podcasts

This prepares you for the multiple-choice section.

2. Interpersonal Communication (Conversations)

You’ll practice:

• speaking in conversations

• responding to prompts

• asking and answering questions

This helps you with the recorded conversation part of the exam.

3. Presentational Communication (Writing & Speaking)

You’ll practice:

• writing essays comparing cultures

• giving short oral presentations

• forming strong arguments in Spanish

This prepares you for the email reply, cultural comparison, and argumentative essay.

Because the course repeats themes across units, you’ll naturally reuse vocabulary and topics, which helps everything stick.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many units are in AP Spanish Literature and Culture?

There are eight units. Each one is a major theme used to study Spanish-language literature.

Do I need to memorize all the texts?

You don’t need to memorize all the texts. You will need to understand plots and main characters, recognize and identify themes, and understand key literary techniques. The focus should be on understanding the content rather than memorizing it.

What’s the difference between AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature?

AP Spanish Language and Culture focuses on using Spanish. You’ll speak, read, write, and listen to Spanish content. AP Spanish Literature and Culture focuses on reading and analyzing literary texts.

Some students take both, but you can take Literature even if you haven’t taken Language first.

Final Thoughts

Each of the eight AP Spanish units helps you grow not just as a language learner, but as a global thinker. You’ll see how families, identity, art, technology, quality of life, and world issues connect across cultures. Once you learn what each theme is about, you’ll start noticing patterns, making connections, and understanding stories on a deeper level.

You don’t need perfection. You just need progress. With every unit, you’ll build confidence, improve your Spanish, and get closer to success on the AP exam.

References

College Board AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam Overview (opens in a new tab)
College Board AP Spanish Literature and Culture Course Overview (opens in a new tab)
College Board Detailed Course (opens in a new tab) 
College Board AP Spanish Literature and Culture Reading List (opens in a new tab)