14055 - Italian Literature II (1) (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

1. Course of lessons.

A particular critical perspective will be adopted to examine some texts of Italian literature between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries (up to the unification of Italy), focusing on the relationship between writers and power.

Attending students must study the educational materials indicated in point 1 of the Texts/Bibliography section and know the texts and topics covered in the lessons.

2. Individual study

Students will study the history of Italian literature from Tasso (excluded) to the Unification of Italy (1861) and a selection of canonical literary texts through the manuals and texts indicated in point 2 of the Texts/Bibliography section.

Non-attending students, see the dedicated section in Texts/Bibliography (Pay attention: Not-attending students are those who have not attended at least 2/3 of the course, i.e., 10/15 lessons).

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.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Course of lessons.

Lecture notes and educational materials will be made available online through the Virtuale platform.

2. Manuals and texts

2.a) Manuals: Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Profilo di Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori, 2021 or subsequent reprint (single volume), pp. 387-643 (attending students); Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori, 2018 or subsequent reprint, pp. 55-603 (Not-attending students).

2.b) Texts (the "recommended critical readings" next to each text are recommended and, therefore, not mandatory):

G. Galilei, Il Saggiatore (recommended ed.: Guaragnella-Lavopa, Milan, Rizzoli, 2023). Recommended critical reading: A. Battistini, Galileo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011.

G.B. Marino, Adone, canto I (recommended ed.: Russo, Milan, Rizzoli, 2013). Recommended critical reading: E. Russo, Marino, Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2008.

C. Goldoni, La locandiera (any complete edition, possibly provided with adequate introduction and commentary; in particular, the Mamone-Megale edition, Venezia, Marsilio, 2007 is worth mentioning). Recommended critical readings: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004; Goldoni e il teatro comico del Settecento, edited by P. Vescovo, Rome, Carocci, 2019.

V. Alfieri, Saul and Mirra or Vita (any complete edition, commented and provided with an adequate introduction); recommended critical readings: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2014; A. Battistini, Svelare e rigenerare. Studi sulla cultura del Settecento, a cura di A. Cristiani e F. Ferretti, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2019, pp. 233-279.

U. Foscolo, Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis; suggested editions: Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007; Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012; recommended critical readings: M. Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino; A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Letteratura e politica, Napoli, Liguori, 2010; M. A. Terzoli, Foscolo, Bari, Laterza, 2020.

G. Leopardi, the 10 cantos and the 4 Operette morali indicated below. Canti, I (All’Italia); IX (Ultimo canto di Saffo); XI (Il passero solitario); XII (L’infinito); XIII (La sera del dì di festa); XXI (A Silvia); XXIII (Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell’Asia); XXVIII (A se stesso); XXXIII (Il tramonto della luna); XXIV (La ginestra, o il fiore del deserto). Operette morali, XII (Dialogo della Natura e di un Islandese); XVIII (Cantico del gallo silvestre); XXI (Il Copernico); XXIII (Dialogo di un venditore d’almanacchi e di un passeggere). Suggested editions of the Cantos: Gavazzeni-Lombardi (Milano, Rizzoli, 1998); Campana (Roma, Carocci, 2014); Blasucci (Parma, Guanda, 2 voll., 2019-2023); Suggested editions of the Operette: Melosi, (Milano, Rizzoli, 2010). Suggested critical readings: G. Tellini, Leopardi, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2001; M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008.

A. Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, reading (or re-reading) of the novel. The reading of the Storia della colonna infame, appendix of the novel, is optional. Suggested editions: Raimondi-Bottoni, Milano, Principato, 1987 (reprint: Roma, Carocci, 2021); Nigro, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; De Cristofaro, Milano, Rizzoli, 2014; Suggested critical readings: E. Raimondi, Il romanzo senza idillio, Bologna, il Mulino, 1974 or subsequent reprint; F. De Cristofaro, Manzoni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; Frare, Leggere i Promessi Sposi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016.

Non-attending students are required to study the texts indicated in section 2b and the manual by Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento, Milan, Mondadori, 2018 or later edition, vol. 2, pp. 55-603 (from Era 6, chapter 2 to the end of Era 9). Note: the study of the aforementioned Profilo di Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento is reserved for ATTENDING students ONLY. Non-attending students are NOT required, of course, to study the materials posted on Virtuale.

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by PowerPoint files, which will be made available to students on Virtuale; class debate on different interpretations of the texts based on their reading.

Assessment methods

The assessment of knowledge takes place through a written test in the computer room, using the EOL program, lasting 2 hours (3 for students with a DSA certificate) and is divided into 3 sections: the first one consists of a set of 15 multiple-choice questions (quiz) on the manual by Alfano, Italia, Russo, Tomasi (either version), with one point awarded for each correct answer and 0 points for each wrong or unanswered question (section is the same for both attending and non-attending students); the second section consists of the identification and paraphrasing of a literary text from those in the syllabus (max 4 points) and a brief critical analysis of it (max 5 points) (for non-attending students, the text can be selected not only from those in the syllabus but also from those anthologized in the manual by Alfano, Italia, Russo, Tomasi, Da Tasso a fine Ottocento, Mondadori 2018); the third section consists of two open questions to be answered in 10 lines each, focusing on the topics of the course for attending students, while for non-attending students on two topics from the aforementioned manual (max 4 points for each answer). The maximum achievable score is therefore 32, equivalent to 30 cum duplici laude (30 with double honors)."

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint files that will be projected during the lecture and  uploaded to Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Sberlati