13338 - Contemporary Italian Literature (D-L)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student has acquired a working knowledge of wide areas of twentieth-century literary history, with special emphasis on the relation between literature and historical, social, anthropological, and more broadly cultural phenomena. Study is assisted by secondary literature and face-to-face tuition and covers close reading of the text as well as problems of form, structure, composition, and reception.

Course contents

Institutional part - Voices of the "grande stile": Prose and Poetry Across Two Centuries.

Module I - La cognizione del dolore by C.E. Gadda

The Module will be a total of 30 hours for 6 credits. Lessons will start on Monday, September 18, 2023 (the last class is scheduled for Friday, October 27). Lessons will be held every Monday from 13 to 15, Thursday from 09 to 11, and Friday from 09 to 11 (Aula VI, Via Zamboni 38).

Module II - Examples of Italian Poetry: 1970-2023.

The Module will be 30 hours for six credits. Lessons will start on Thursday, December 9, 2023 (the last class is scheduled for Friday December 15). Lessons will be held every Monday from 13 to 15, Thursday from 09 to 11, and Friday from 09 to 11 (Aula VI, Via Zamboni 38).

Lessons will be recorded and available for students on the Panopto platform.

Readings/Bibliography

Institutional Part 

Read in full by A. Bertoni, Voci del grande stile. Prose e poesie tra due secoli, Il Mulino, Bologna 2023.


Monographic Part

Module I:

A complete reading of the novel by C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore, introductory essay by G. Contini, Einaudi, Torino 1963.

We recommend reading the following edition: C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore, edited by P. Italia, G. Pinotti, C. Vela, Adelphi, Milano 2017.



Module II:

The fifteen reference texts will be provided in the teaching material before the beginning of the lessons.

E. Testa (edited by) Dopo la Lirica. Poeti italiani, 1960-2000, Einaudi, Torino 2005, which is a good reference anthology.

For the historical-critical framework, read A. Bertoni, Poesia italiana dal Novecento a oggi, Marietti, Bologna 2019.


Further critical bibliography will be provided during the lessons and loaded on the teaching materials.

Students must take the 6-credit exam and will be required to choose the preparation of any of the two modules freely.



The program for non-attending students includes the full entire reading of E. Testa (edited by) Dopo la Lirica. Poeti italiani, 1960-2000, Einaudi, Torino 2005 and A. Bertoni, Poesia italiana dal Novecento a oggi, Marietti, Bologna 2019.

 

Teaching methods

- Lessons

- Workshops

- Lectures and notes to the texts

- Critical Discussions

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of a viva voce examination aiming to assess the knowledge and critical skills acquired by the candidate during the course.

1. First-class marks will be awarded to candidates who demonstrate an ability to analyse texts in depth and to produce an organic overview of the topics covered in the course. Overall mark between 27 and 30 cum laude(high linguistic ability is required).

2. A mostly mnemonic knowledge of the subject, analytical skills lacking depth, and correct but not always apposite expression will result in a modest mark. Overall mark between 23 and 26.

3. Elementary knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical skills, and inapposite expression will lead to a pass or only slightly higher mark. Overall mark between 18 and 22.

4. Gaps in the candidate’s knowledge, inapposite language, and inadequate engagement with the secondary literature offered in the course will result in a fail mark.

Teaching tools

Course sources: texts analysed throughout the lectures and the indicated critical bibliography.

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Bertoni