67998 - Italian Language and Literature

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the methodological foundations of the study applied to literature; - possess the use of the main technical tools (philological, linguistic, critical) useful for the evaluation of a literary text; - will know how to approach the literary document, understand its messages, relate them to the historical and linguistic context in which it was produced, in an interdisciplinary perspective; - will be able to propose a personal hypothesis on the teaching of literary material, to clearly communicate information and ideas to non-specialist interlocutors, such as the recipients of the teaching, pupils aged 3 to 10.

Course contents

The course will examine some of the key authors of the Italian literary tradition (Dante, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Goldoni, Leopardi, Manzoni, Pirandello, Svevo), highlighting the significant aspects of each author's poetics in relation to their essential works. For each work discussed, the course will identify major adaptations for children; these are generally high-quality works capable of introducing young readers to our most famous books—works that might otherwise seem distant from children's tastes due to their content or linguistic style.
The final part of the course will focus on the fantastic genre in 20th-century and contemporary Italian literature. As part of this section, students are required to read one work of their choice from the list provided below in the "Texts/Bibliography" section. The course will also cover the other required volume (L. Chines & C. Varotti, Che cos’è un testo letterario), which provides a useful guide for analyzing literary texts from a more technical perspective.

Readings/Bibliography

The aim of the course is to enable students to critically review scholastic knowledge, reflecting on the concept of canon and the relationship between language and literature (exploring the forms through which the literary text recreates the meanings of human experience), and to form the basic skills useful for analyzing a literary text (recognizing its otherness and distance).

 

SYLLABUS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS

1) G. M. Anselmi, L. Chines (eds.), Leggere i classici italiani. Un’antologia, Bologna, Pàtron, 2019 (only the chapters on Dante, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Goldoni, Manzoni, Leopardi, Svevo, and Pirandello)
The authors covered in the anthology (specifically Dante, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Goldoni, Manzoni, Leopardi, Pascoli, Svevo, and Pirandello) may be studied in greater depth using an Italian literature textbook in addition to the PowerPoint presentations. Recommended text:
N. Bonazzi, A. Campana, F. Giunta, N. Maldina, Itinerari nella letteratura italiana. Da Dante al web, Rome, Carocci, 2013 (and subsequent editions)

2) Lecture notes, along with illustrative handouts and PowerPoint presentations, are available on the virtuale.unibo.it platform.

3) Students must also read one of the following works of their choice:
Dino Buzzati, Il segreto del bosco vecchio, Mondadori
Italo Calvino, Il Cavaliere inesistente, Mondadori
Tommaso Landolfi, Racconto d’autunno, Adelphi
Gianni Rodari, C’era due volte il barone Lamberto, Einaudi
Michele Mari, Verderame, Einaudi
Ermanno Cavazzoni, La madre assassina, La nave di Teseo
Valerio Evangelisti, Nicholas Eymerich inquisitore, Mondadori
Francesco Permunian, La casa del sollievo mentale, Nutrimenti

4) In addition, the following text is to be studied for further in-depth analysis:
L. Chines & C. Varotti, Che cos’è un testo letterario, Carocci, 2015 (latest edition).

SYLLABUS FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
In addition to the texts already on the syllabus, non-attending students are required to prepare the entire volume edited by G. M. Anselmi and H. Chines, Leggere i classici italiani. Un’antologia (Bologna: Pàtron, 2019). This includes the anthologized texts of authors not covered during the course—specifically: Petrarch, Alberti, Machiavelli, Galileo, Beccaria, Alfieri, Foscolo, Verga, Pascoli, D’Annunzio, Ungaretti, and Montale—as well as the concluding chapter, L’infinito narrare di oggi.

SYLLABUS FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS OR OTHER EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
At least 15 days prior to the scheduled exam date, Erasmus students must agree with the professor on a topic for a written research paper based on the course material. The paper, which must be written in Italian, should be at least 8–10 pages long; students are also required to register for the exam via the Almaesami platform. During the exam, the student must present the research orally in Italian, while the professor reviews corrections made to the written paper. The final grade will be based on both the written and oral components.

SYLLABUS FOR STUDENTS WITH ECTS CREDITS RECOGNIZED FROM PRIOR ACADEMIC RECORDS
Oral exam; registration is via the specific AlmaEsami session.
For the 3-ECTS credit requirement, the oral exam will be based on the book Parlare l'italiano by E. Lombardi Vallauri (Bologna: Il Mulino, 2017).
If a different number of ECTS credits needs to be made up, the syllabus (still based on the book Parlare l’italiano) must be agreed upon with the professor.

FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES (SLD)
Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) well in advance. That office will propose any necessary accommodations to the students concerned; these proposals must be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days beforehand, so that the lecturer can assess their suitability in light of the course's learning objectives.

OUTSTANDING EXAM REQUIREMENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
Students with an outstanding exam requirement from previous years must still take the written test, in accordance with the criteria described above.

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Screening and discussion of videos

Power Point

The lessons are not conceived as a mere explanation of the volumes in the program, nor as an exposition of teaching methodologies applied to literature, but as examples of reflection on the texts (based on the knowledge and examples of analysis outlined in the volumes in the program) and of co-construction of interpretative hypotheses based on the fine observation of the literary text.

The goal is not to train literary critics, but critical and aware readers, capable of stimulating, as future teachers, the pleasure of reading.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of a 120-minute written test—differentiated for attending and non-attending students—comprising open-ended questions based on the course syllabus and a selected book. Students may review their completed exam papers during office hours.
Evaluation will be based on the accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the answers, as well as the use of appropriate technical terminology.
In particular, the assessment will focus on the student's ability to navigate the topics covered during the course and identify the information needed to illustrate the cultural aspects and domains specific to the discipline.
Grades in the excellent range will be awarded to students who demonstrate a coherent, integrated understanding of the course topics combined with the ability to apply them critically, alongside a command of expressive language and technical terminology.
Predominantly mechanical or rote knowledge of the subject matter, a lack of depth in analysis and synthesis, or language that is grammatically correct but not always precise will result in fair (satisfactory) grades; significant gaps in knowledge or inappropriate language—even if accompanied by a minimal grasp of the exam material—will result in grades that do not exceed the minimum passing mark.
Significant knowledge gaps, inappropriate language, and an inability to navigate the topics covered during the course will result in a negative assessment.
The only aid permitted during the exam is an Italian dictionary provided by the instructor. Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities may avail themselves of necessary accommodations (see the section below).
The final grade will be based on a scale of thirty.
Registration via AlmaEsami is mandatory to take the exam, and established deadlines must be strictly observed. Students unable to register by the deadline due to technical issues must promptly notify the academic office (and in any case, before the official registration lists close). Admission to the exam will be at the instructor's discretion.

For DSA Students

Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is recommended to contact the responsible University office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it): it will be their responsibility propose any adaptations to the interested students, which must in any case be submitted, 15 days in advance, for the approval of the teacher, who will evaluate the opportunity also in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

The use of AI tools during the assessment is prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translators, content synthesizers, and tools integrated into devices. Any use of AI is considered a violation of the principle of honesty and integrity set forth in the Policy and may result in the instructor annulling the assessment; the instructor remains responsible for verifying the validity of the exam.

Teaching tools

Bibliography materials and lessons acetate will be available on the platform Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it)

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Bonazzi

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Bonazzi