Abstract: | The purpose of this thesis is to analyze two works of the doctrinal theater of New Spain: the Auto de la destruccion de Jerusalen and the Nican motecpana in inemiliztzin , from the perspective of modern reception theory. This study is divided into three parts. The first outlines the research methodology used, which is based primarily on the main tenets of reception theory and its application to the analysis and criticism of dramatic texts. The second part studies the origins and early manifestations of the doctrinal theater in New Spain and its development during the sixteenth century. The third part, which is the main body of the work, studies the transmission of the legend of the destruction of Jerusalem from the perspective of literary reception through two New Spanish dramatic works: the Auto de la destruccion de Jerusalen, a work written in verse, and the Nican motecpana in inemiliztzin, written in prose in the nahuatl language. This thesis also analyzes certain aspects which have not been dealt with satisfactorily by other critics, such as literary sources, dramatic characteristics, probable date of composition and staging in New Spain during the sixteenth century and so forth. This thesis, therefore, aims to make a positive contribution to a rather neglected field of study: doctrinal theater in New Spain. It also hopes to add to present-knowledge about these two important works. |