00562 - Italian Literature (M-R)

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 teaching will be divided into two moments:

1. Lessons course

a) In the first part of the course the teacher will deal with fundamental questions and problems of method related to works and authors between the XIIIth and XIXth Centuries present in the program.

b) In the second part, the teacher will deepen an aspect of literary study - starting from the authors addressed in the first part - on the theme "Poets who read, comment, explain other poets: from Petrarch to Leopardi”.

2. Study, by the students: through the manuals and texts proposed, of the history of Italian literature from its origins to the mid-sixteenth century and of the following selection of canonical literary texts.

- Dante Alighieri, Inferno;

- Francesco Petrarca, Canzoniere, texts I, III, V, XI, XVI, XXXV, LII, LXI, XC, CXXVI, CXXVIII, CXXXIV, CXXXVII, CCLXXII, CCCII, CCCLXV, CCCLXVI;

- Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron, days I, IV, V; VI, X;

- Matteo Maria Boiardo, L’inamoramento de Orlando (Orlando innamorato), book I, cantos I e II;

- Leon Battista Alberti, Autobiografia and intercenale Somnium;

- Niccolò Machiavelli, Il principe;

- Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando furioso, I, XII, XXIII, XXXIV;

• Torquato Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, I, XII, XVI.

Written test

The written test is mandatory and must be taken before the oral exam, according to methods that will be illustrated by the teacher. The seminars activated on Teams are partly aimed at preparing for this written test.

Seminars

Weekly support seminars will be activated on Teams for the analysis of the literary texts and for the preparation of the written test. The coordination of these lessons will be taken by Doctor Arianna Capirossi and Doctor Giacomo Ventura.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Lectures

a) L. Chines, C. Varotti, Che cos’è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2016; M. Motolese, Scritti a mano. Otto storie di capolavori italiani da Boccaccio a Eco, Milano, Garzanti, 2017 (the first four chapters, to p. 134);

b) Lecture notes and teaching materials will be available on IOL's "VIRTUAL" platform ('Insegnamenti OnLine').

For students interested in learning more, is recommended the book G. Inglese, Come si legge un'edizione critica: elementi di filologia italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2016 (4a ed.).

2. Textbooks and editions of classics

Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi (edited by), Profilo di letteratura italiana dalle origini a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori Education, 2021, up to p. 99 (including Torquato Tasso).

The preparation of the anthology is compulsory: Anselmi-Chines-Bernardi-Di Franco-Severi (edited by), Leggere i classici italiani. Un’antologia, Bologna, Pàtron, 2019, up to p. 385 (including Torquato Tasso).

L. Chines, Glossario dei termini metrici e retorici (available on Virtuale)

It is also mandatory to prepare only one of the recommended in-depth essays for the study of the authors.

For further study of literary history, we recommend Letteratura italiana, edited by A. Battistini, Bologna, il Mulino, 2014 (2 voll.).

Primary Text:

- Dante Alighieri, Vita nova (complete reading) recommended edition: Carrai, Rizzoli, 2009; Inferno; recommended edition: Pasquini-Quaglio, Garzanti, 1982-86; G. Inglese, Carocci, 2007; Chiavacci Leonardi, Mondadori, 2005. Recommended critical readings (only one): E. Auerbach, Studi su Dante, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2005; E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Dante, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008.

- Francesco Petrarca, Canzoniere, poems: I, III, V, XI, XVI, XXXV, LII, LXI, XC, CXXVI, CXXVIII, CXXIX, CXXXIV, CXXXVII, CCLXXII, CCCII, CCCXXXIII, CCCXXXVI, CCCLXVI; recommended edition: Vecchi, Bur, 2012; Santagata, Mondadori, 1996 (2004 2^a ed.); recommended critical readings: L. Chines, Petrarca, Bologna, Pàtron, 2017;

- Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron, days: I, III, V, VI, X; recommended edition: Quondam – Fiorilla – Alfano, Bur, 2013; recommended critical readings: F. Bausi, Leggere il Decameron, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017;

- Matteo Maria Boiardo, Orlando innamorato (L'inamoramento de Orlando), Book I, cantos I e II; recommended edition: Canova, Milano, BUR, 2011; recommended critical readings: T. Zanato, Boiardo, Roma, Salerno, 2015.

- Leon Battista Alberti, L. B. Alberti, Autobiografia and intercenale Somnium; recommended annotated editions: Milano, BUR, 2012, edited by L. Chines and A. Severi; in-depth essays: L. Chines, Introduzione in this edition.

- Niccolò Machiavelli, Il principe; recommended edition: Anselmi-Varotti, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; G. Inglese, Einaudi, 2005; R. Ruggiero, Bur, 2008; recommended critical readings: G.M. Anselmi, N. Bonazzi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Le Monnier, 2011;

- Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando furioso, cantos I, XII, XXIII, XXXIV; recommended edition: Bigi - Zampese, Bur, 2015; recommended critical readings: S. Zatti, Leggere l’Orlando furioso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016; C. Dini, Ariosto. Guida all’Orlando furioso, Roma, Carocci, 2001;

• Torquato Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, cantos I, XII, XVI; recommended edition: Tomasi, Bur, 2009; recommended critical readings: G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010.

Not attending students are required to read the following textbook: Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Manuale per studi universitari, Milano, Mondadori, 2018 (2 vols) and the selection of primary texts it provides.

Teaching methods

• Lectures and seminars
• PowerPoint presentations
• 'Insegnamenti OnLine' e-learning Platform

Assessment methods

The written test lasts two hours; it will require the analysis of texts provided by the program from a thematic, formal and historical-literary point of view. The texts will be accompanied by some questions aimed at evaluating the knowledge of fundamental notions of history of literature, metrics, rhetoric, philology. The written test must be taken before the oral exam. However, the insufficient outcome of the written paper does not preclude the possibility of taking the oral exam. The following will be evaluated: the correctness of the answers, the adequacy of the linguistic register, the structure and effectiveness of the argumentation, the quality of the critical analysis, the knowledge of the contents foreseen by the program and of the methods of literary criticism. Specific lessons of the course and seminars are dedicated to the preparation of the written test in which tracks will be proposed to be carried out as a preparatory exercise. For the preparation of the written test and, in general, for the preparation of the institutional part, a seminar will be activated.

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 sections 1 (lectures) and 2 (set primary readings and textbook) 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

• Lectures and seminars
• PowerPoint presentations
• 'Insegnamenti OnLine' e-learning Platform

Office hours

See the website of Loredana Chines