La construcción del género
What this unit covers
The topics below follow the published Spanish Lit course framework for Unit 2. Spanish Lit publishes no per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to chase here.
Lessons in this unit
- Sor Juana: “Hombres necios” & the Defense of Women14 min · 3 objectivesAnalyze antithesis, paradox, and rhetorical question in Sor Juana’s redondillas · Explain how the poem argues against a double standard for women · Situate the poem in Baroque conceptismo and colonial New Spain
- García Lorca: “La casa de Bernarda Alba” & Repression14 min · 3 objectivesAnalyze symbolism (color, water, the cane) in Lorca’s drama · Explain how the honor code constructs and confines womanhood · Interpret dramatic tension and the tragedy’s final scene
What examiners penalize here
- Link Sor Juana to the theme explicitly: she treats gender roles as a **construction** upheld by hypocrisy, and dismantles it with logic. Naming her Baroque tools — antithesis, paradox, rhetorical question within apostrophe — shows you can connect device to argument, which the free-response rubric rewards.
- For Bernarda Alba, pair a **symbol** with the theme of gender in every claim: heat/water = desire vs. denial; white walls = imposed purity; the cane = patriarchal authority wielded by a woman. Connecting a concrete symbol to the construction of womanhood is exactly the analysis the exam wants.
Practice Spanish Lit
Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.
Questions about this unit
How much of the AP Spanish Literature & Culture exam is Unit 2?
The Spanish Lit course framework does not publish a per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to quote for Unit 2 and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Spread your time by where your own errors are instead.
What topics are covered in Spanish Lit Unit 2?
La construcción del género covers Gender roles, Sexuality, Family relationships and Stereotypes.
How should I study Spanish Lit Unit 2?
Read the 2 lessons below first — about 30 minutes — then work practice questions on these topics. Finish with practice questions and read the explanation for every one you get right by elimination as well as the ones you miss.
All 6 units of AP Spanish Literature & Culture
Unit names, topics and exam weights follow the published College Board course framework for AP Spanish Literature & Culture. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which does not endorse this site.