07918 - English-Speaking Countries Literature

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students are thoroughly familiar with aspects and problems of the history of literature. They are familiar with the works of individual authors; they are able to assess the literary quality of the works they read, tackling the analysis of texts according to precise critical methodologies, as they have acquired the theoretical tools necessary to recognise the formal, thematic and stylistic components of individual works, linking them to precise historical and cultural contexts. They are able to comment, translate and expound with propriety the contents of the works studied, from a linguistic, historical and philological point of view.

Course contents

Postclonial Ireland?

The position of Ireland within postcolonial literature has always been a matter of debate. This course aims to identify key texts, from the Middle Ages to the present, that can clarify or complicate the issue, but above all to identify the advantages and disadvantages of reading Irish texts from this perspective.

Readings/Bibliography

Students are required to read four of the works (or groups of works) listed below:

 

Táin Bó Cúailnge

Poetry (1000-1700)

Topographical and historical writing to 1690 (G. Cambrensis, Topographia Hiberniae 1187, E. Spenser, A View of the Present State of Ireland (1596)

Poetry 1600-1850

Maria Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent (1800)

Poetry 1850-2000

W.B. Yeats, Cathleen ni Houlihan (1902) in John P. Harrington, Modern Irish drama, New York, London, Norton, 1991

G.B. Shaw, John Bull's Other Island (1904), in John P. Harrington, Modern Irish drama

J. Joyce A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)

S. O’Casey, The Plough and the Stars (1926)

Myles na gCopaleen (F. O’ Brien) An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth) (1941)

E. O’Brien, The Country Girls (1960)

Brian Friel, Translations (1980), in John P. Harrington, Modern Irish drama,

Roddy Doyle, Commitments (1987)

Seamus Deane, Reading in the Dark (1996)

 

On postcolonial literature:

Albertazzi, Silvia, La letteratura postcoloniale : dall'Impero alla World Literature, Roma, Carocci, 2013

On the history of Ireland

Biagini, Eugenio F., Storia dell'Irlanda dal 1845 a oggi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014

Other material on single works or groups of works will be uploaded to Virtual.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of an oral interview. The oral interview aims to assess the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student, who will be invited to compare the texts addressed during the course. Particularly assessed will be the student's ability to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify useful information that will allow him to illustrate the cultural aspects and areas of the discipline. The student's attainment of an organic vision of the themes addressed in the lessons together with their critical use, the demonstration of a mastery of expression and specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence. The mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, unarticulated synthesis and analysis skills and/or correct but not always appropriate language will lead to fair grades; formative gaps and/or inappropriate language - albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the examination material - will lead to grades that do not exceed sufficiency. Inadequate training, inappropriate language, lack of orientation in the bibliographic materials offered during the course will lead to negative marks.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Erasmus or Overseas students: you could sit the exam as the Italian students or write an essay (about 10-15 pages), whose topic must be approved by the teacher.

Teaching tools

Power point.

Office hours

See the website of Gino Scatasta