You are here:

00562 - Italian Literature (A-D)

Academic Year 2017/2018

Docente: Gino Ruozzi
Credits: 12
Language: Italian

Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
Campus: Bologna
Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Humanities (cod. 8850)

Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in Communication Sciences (cod. 8885)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students are expected to show a sound knowledge of the Italian literary tradition through the close reading of selected texts; they will also be able to develop critical reflections on the material under analysis and present clear and accurate interpretations of it, both orally and in writing, by applying independently and appropriately the methodology introduced by the lecturer.

Course contents

The program is divided in three parts:

A- Monographic;

B- History of Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Italian Literature.

C-Written Assignments

Most of the material will be covered in class lectures; it is important that you attend class and take accurate notes.

Read enough in primary and secondary sources to be familiar with the style, subjects and literary and historical setting of the following works and authors.

Reading List

A- Monographic

1st part

La storia della letteratura italiana e Francesco De Sanctis nel bicentenario della nascita: bilanci e prospettive critiche

Bibliography:

- Francesco De Sanctis, Storia della letteratura italiana (Milano, Bur, 2015; or other editions).

B- General section: History of Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Italian Literature

a) Dante Alighieri, Commedia, choice between Inferno o Purgatorio o Paradiso

(recommended editions: Pasquini-Quaglio, Milano, Garzanti, 1982-86; Chiavacci-Leonardi, Milano, Mondadori, 1991-97; recommended studies: E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Dante, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008; M. Berisso, Dante, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011; G. Ledda, Leggere la Commedia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016; M. Santagata, Il racconto della Commedia. Guida al poema di Dante, Milano, Mondadori, 2017).

b) by choice, one of these authors, with his literary and historical setting:

- F. Petrarca, Canzoniere, 30 poems (recommended editions: Vecchi, Milano, Bur, 2012; Santagata, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; recommended studies: M. Ariani, Petrarca, Roma-Napoli, Salerno, 2002; E. Fenzi, Petrarca, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008).

- G. Boccaccio, Decameron, 30 tales (recommended editions: Quondam – Fiorilla – Alfano, Milano, Rizzoli, 2013; Branca, Torino, Einaudi, 1980; recommended studies: L. Battaglia Ricci, Boccaccio, Roma-Napoli, Salerno, 2000; L. Surdich, Boccaccio, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; F. Bausi, Leggere il Decameron, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- N. Machiavelli, Il Principe and Mandragola (recommended editions: Anselmi-Varotti, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; Inglese, Torino, Einaudi, 2005; Ruggiero, Milano, Rizzoli, 2008; Rinaldi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2012; recommended studies: R. Bruscagli, Machiavelli, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008; G.M. Anselmi, N. Bonazzi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011; R. Ruggiero, Machiavelli e la crisi dell'analogia, Bologna, il Mulino, 2015).

- F. Guicciardini, Ricordi (recommended editions: Varotti, Roma, Carocci, 2013; Pasquini, Milano, Garzanti, 1975; recommended studies: E. Cutinelli Rendina, Guicciardini, Roma, Salerno, 2009; C. Varotti, Francesco Guicciardini, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso, eight cantos (recommended editions: C. Zampese, E. Bigi, Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended studies: G. Ferroni, Ariosto, Roma, Salerno, 2008; S. Jossa, Ariosto, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Zatti, Leggere l’Orlando Furioso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, eight cantos (recommended editions: Tommasi, Milano, Bur, 2009; recommended studies: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009, or G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010).

- G. Galilei, Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo (recommended editions: Flora, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; Atzori, Firenze, Sansoni, 2001; Sosio, Torino, Einaudi, 2002; recommended studies: A. Battistini, Galileo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011).

- G.B. Marino, Adone, five cantos (recommended editions: Russo, Milano, Bur, 2013; Pozzi, Milano, Adelphi, 1988, or Russo next edition Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended studies: E. Russo, Marino, Roma, Salerno, 2008).

c) by choice, two of these authors, with his literary and historical setting:

- C. Goldoni, La locandiera, Le baruffe chiozzotte, La bottega del caffè (integral edition; recommended studies: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno, 2004).

- G. Parini, Le odi and Il giorno (recommended editions: Nicoletti, Milano, Bur, 2011; Bonora, Milano, Mursia, 1999, o Erbani, Milano, Guanda, 2010, or Nicoletti, Milano, Bur, 2011; recommended studies: G. Nicoletti, Parini, Roma, Salerno, 2016).

- V. Alfieri, Vita or Saul and Mirra (integral edition; recommended studies: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Roma, Salerno, 2014).

- U. Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis e Sepolcri (recommended editions: Ortis, Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007; Sepolcri, Martinelli, Milano, Mondadori, 1987; recommended studies: M. Cerruti, Introduzione a Foscolo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1990; A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Letteratura e politica, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- G. Leopardi, Canti, 15 poems, and Operette morali, 10 tales (recommended editions: Gallo-Garboli, Torino, Einaudi, 1993; Bazzocchi, Milano, Mondadori, 1991; Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; Melosi, Milano, Bur, 2010; recommended studies: M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008).

- A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi (recommended editions: De Cristofaro, Milano, Bur, 2014; Nigro, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; recommended studies: A. Cottignoli, Guida ai «Promessi sposi», Roma, Carocci, 2002; F. De Cristofaro, Manzoni, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009).

- G. Verga, I Malavoglia or Mastro-don Gesualdo (integral edition; recommended studies: N. Borsellino, Storia di Verga, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1982; R. Luperini, Verga moderno, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; G. Alfieri, Verga, Roma, Salerno, 2016).

- G. D'Annunzio, Il piacere o Alcyone (recommended editions: F. Roncoroni, P. Gibellini, G. Oliva; recommended studies: G. Bàrberi Squarotti, Invito alla lettura di Gabriele D'Annunzio, Milano, Mursia, 1990; N. Lorenzini, D'Annunzio, Palermo, Palumbo, 1993; S. Costa, D'Annunzio, Roma, Salerno, 2012).

- G. Pascoli, Myricae (recommended editions: G. Lavezzi, Milano, Bur, 2015; G. Nava, Roma, Salerno, 1991; recommended studies: M. Pazzaglia, Pascoli, Roma, Salerno, 2002; G. Capecchi, Giovanni Pascoli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011; M. Castoldi, Pascoli, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011).

- L. Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascaland Sei personaggi in cerca di autore (recommended editions: Mattia Pascal, Casadei, Milano, Rizzoli, 2007; Davico Bonino, Torino, Einaudi, 1993; recommended studies: C.S. Nobili, Luigi Pirandello: guida al «Fu Mattia Pascal», Roma, Carocci, 2004; M. Guglielminetti, Pirandello, Roma, Salerno, 2006; M. Polacco, Pirandello, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010; A.R. Pupino, Pirandello poetiche e pratiche di umorismo, Roma, Salerno, 2014).

- I. Svevo, La coscienza di Zeno (integral edition; recommended studies: A. Cavaglion, Italo Svevo, Milano, Mondadori, 2000; B. Stasi, Svevo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Tellini, Svevo, Roma, Salerno, 2013).

- G. Ungaretti, L'Allegria (recommended editions: Piccioni, Milano, Mondadori, 1969 and following; recommended studies: D. Baroncini, Ungaretti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010; A. Saccone, Ungaretti, Roma, Salerno, 2012).

- E. Montale, Ossi di seppia (recommended editions: Cataldi-D'Amely, Milano, Mondadori, 2003; recommended studies: G. Marcenaro, Eugenio Montale, Milano, Mondadori, 1999; G. Ioli, Montale, Roma, Salerno, 2002; R. Luperini, Storia di Montale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; A. Casadei, Montale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008).

- C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore or Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana (integral editions; recommended studies: A. Pecoraro, Gadda, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998; R. Rinaldi, Gadda, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010; M. Bersani, Gadda, Torino, Einaudi, 2012; G. Patrizi, Gadda, Roma, Salerno, 2014).

- I. Calvino, Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno and Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore (integral editions; recommended studies: F. Serra, Calvino, Roma, Salerno, 2006; M. Barenghi, Calvino, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009; S. Perrella, Calvino, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010).

Students must present to oral examination with the list of the works studied.

d) Students must know at least the Literary History of two Centuries.

Bibliography: Anselmi, Profilo storico della letteratura italiana, Sansoni; Battistini, Storia della letteratura italiana, Il Mulino; Ferroni, Storia della letteratura italiana, Einaudi; Roda, Manuale di italianistica, Bononia University Press.

Anthologies: G. Baldi (Paravia); G. Ferroni (Einaudi); E. Raimondi (B. Mondadori); G. Ruozzi (Paravia); R. Luperini (Palumbo); C. Bologna (Loescher); F. Calitti (Zanichelli); R. Carnero (Giunti), C. Giunta (Garzanti).

C- Written Assignments (textual analysis, summaries, questions of readings)

It must be done before the oral examination. It's not preclusive.

Some lessons will be on the preparation of written assignments.

Non-attending students are required to read an other one of the authors included in General section (by choice, from A or B)

Readings/Bibliography

A- Monographic

- Francesco De Sanctis, Storia della letteratura italiana (Milano, Bur, 2015; or other editions).

B- General section: History of Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Italian Literature

a) Dante Alighieri, Commedia

- F. Petrarca, Canzoniere (recommended editions: Vecchi, Milano, Bur, 2012; Santagata, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; recommended studies: M. Ariani, Petrarca, Roma-Napoli, Salerno, 2002; E. Fenzi, Petrarca, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008).

- G. Boccaccio, Decameron (recommended editions: Quondam – Fiorilla – Alfano, Milano, Rizzoli, 2013; Branca, Torino, Einaudi, 1980; recommended studies: L. Battaglia Ricci, Boccaccio, Roma-Napoli, Salerno, 2000; L. Surdich, Boccaccio, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; F. Bausi, Leggere il Decameron, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso (recommended editions: C. Zampese, E. Bigi, Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended studies: G. Ferroni, Ariosto, Roma, Salerno, 2008; S. Jossa, Ariosto, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Zatti, Leggere l’Orlando Furioso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata (recommended editions: Tommasi, Milano, Bur, 2009; recommended studies: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009, or G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010).

- G.B. Marino, Adone (recommended editions: Russo, Milano, Bur, 2013; Pozzi, Milano, Adelphi, 1988, or Russo next edition Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended studies: E. Russo, Marino, Roma, Salerno, 2008).

- C. Goldoni, La locandiera, Le baruffe chiozzotte, La bottega del caffè (integral edition; recommended studies: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno, 2004).

- V. Alfieri, Vita or Saul and Mirra (integral edition; recommended studies: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Roma, Salerno, 2014).

Students must present to oral examination with the list of the works studied.

d) Students must know at least the Literary History of two Centuries.

Teaching methods

- Lessons

- Workshops

- Lectures and notes to the texts

- Critical Discussions

- Papers

Assessment methods

Written exam (4 hours). The choice of questions includes an essay on literary history and text analysis. A past exam paper is available online for consultation among the 'Teaching materials'. Students are required to sit the written exam before taking the oral exam, but they are allowed to take the oral exam even if they don't 'pass' the written exam. The result of the written exam will form a part of the final overall mark. Markers will assess: standard of language and expression; structure of argument; quality of critical reflection; ability to discuss the contents of the course; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism. In some cases (for instance: non-native speakers of Italian), students might be allowed to substitute the written exam with a 3,000-word essay, whose topic must be agreed in advance with the lecturer.

Oral exam (approx. 30 minutes). Students will be required to discuss their readings and the contents of the course. Markers will assess: standard of expression; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to discuss the contents of the course; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism; quality of critical reflection. Students may choose whether they prefer to discuss the monographic and the general section together in a single oral exam or in two different sessions.

Assessment Criteria. To be awarded a final mark between 27 and 30 cum laude students are expected to: show the ability to analyse in depth literary texts following the methodology introduced by the lecturer and/or in the set critical readings; possess and be able to present both verbally and in writing a thorough and organic knowledge of the topics discussed in class and/or in the set readings; show an excellent standard of expression (both written and verbal); show the ability to use properly the technical language of philology and literary criticism. A mark between 23 and 26 will be awarded to students who will show: a good knowledge of the course contents; the ability to provide an accurate analysis of literary texts (although there might be some minor imperfections); a good standard of verbal and written expression (with occasional minor flaws in the presentation and/or in the use of technical language). Students obtaining a mark between 18 and 22 will typically show: an adequate but superficial knowledge of the contents; a basic understanding of the texts and a limited ability to analyse them, an acceptable standard of expression with a fairly competent (although not always accurate) use of technical language. Poor knowledge of the set texts and course topics, inadequate ability to analyse literary texts; inaccurate and inappropriate verbal and written expression with major problems in the use of technical language will result in a fail.

Teaching tools

- Books

- Videos

- Seminars

- Workshops

- Data base

- Remarks on texts

- Individual and group conversations

Office hours

See the website of Gino Ruozzi