02609 - Contemporary Italian Literature (M-R)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this class, students are expected to achieve a wide knowledge of Italian Twentieth-Century literature, with a main focus on relationships between literature and sociology, anthropology and civilization; the course load goes together with general notions in criticism and textual analysis, in formal, structural, compositional matters, and in their reception as well. During the course students become able to analyze by themselves texts belonging to the contemporary Italian literary tradition.

Course contents

Course Topic: Senses of the End. Contemporary Literature Among the Ultimate Words.

The course lasts 60 hours, equivalent to 12 course credits, and consists of a reading through a number of works from the second half of the 20th century and contemporary Italian literature. In such works, written both in verse and prose, the perceptible signs of human finitude - death and mortality, the fragile or posthumous condition of the individual and civilization - become a fundamental area of work, which develops in multiple and sometimes unexpected relationships.

The course implies a basic knowledge of 20th-century Italian literature.

The course begins on Monday, September 15, 2025. Classes are held in-person only, but attendance is not mandatory.

Here is the class schedule from September 15 to October 22, 2025:

- Monday, 5-7 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3;

- Tuesday, 5-7 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3;

- Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3.

Beginning November 3, 2025, and ending December 17, 2025, classes will be held with the following schedule:

- Monday, 3-5 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3;

- Tuesday, 5-7 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3;

- Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Italo Scardovi Room (formerly Aula 1), Via del Guasto 3.

 

Readings/Bibliography

This course splits in a series of lectures and an individual study programme, which is not mandatory for Erasmus and Overseas students.

Lectures

Poetic and narrative texts will be read and discussed in class during the course, according to a six-unit study format. All texts can also be read in editions or reprints other than those suggested, and also in digital format.

1. Carlo Emilio Gadda, La cognizione del dolore [The Cognition of Pain, 1938-1941, 1963], edited by Paola Italia, Giorgio Pinotti and Claudio Vela, Milan: Adelphi, 2017.

2. Cesare Pavese, some texts from Verrà la morte e avrà i tuoi occhi [Death Shall Come and Have Your Eyes, posth., 1951], Turin: Einaudi, 2014; Cristina Campo, some texts from Passo d'addio [Farewell Step, 1956], in La Tigre Assenza, edited and with a note by Margherita Pieracci Harwell, Milan: Adelphi, 1991.

3. Elsa Morante, L'isola di Arturo [The Arthur's Island, 1957], introduction by Cesare Garboli, Turin: Einaudi, 2014; Giorgio Caproni, some texts from Il seme del piangere [The Seed of Weeping, 1959] and Congedo del viaggiatore cerimonioso & altre prosopopee [Dismissal of the Ceremonious Traveler and Other Prosopopoeia, 1965], in Tutte le poesie, Milan: Garzanti, 1999.

4. Salvatore Satta, Il giorno del giudizio [The Day of Judgment, posth., 1977], Milan: Adelphi, 1993.

5. Lalla Romano, Nei mari estremi [In the Extreme Seas, 1987], preface by Paolo di Paolo, afterword by Sergio Givone, Turin: Einaudi, 2016; Antonio Tabucchi, Requiem. Un'allucinazione [Requiem. A Hallucination, 1992-1994], translation by Sergio Vecchio, Milan: Feltrinelli, 2002.

6. Salvatore Toma, some texts from Canzoniere della morte [Songbook of Death, posth., 1999], edited by Maria Corti, Turin: Einaudi, 1999; Patrizia Cavalli, some texts from Pigre divinità e pigra sorte [Lazy Gods and Lazy Fortune], Turin: Einaudi, 2006.

Along with reading the texts, knowledge of the following volume is required: Stefano Colangelo, Come si legge una poesia. Nuova edizione [How to Read a Poem. New Edition], Rome: Carocci, 2023 [not mandatory for Erasmus and Overseas students].

Unibo Students who attend the course for six credits are expected to choose and study three units on those making up the course as a whole.

Erasmus and Overseas exchange students who are attending the course for 6 credits will be requested to write a short essay (up to 20-25000 bytes) upon a topic related to the course programme. This topic will be negotiated with the teacher, who will assign a specific set of bibliographical references. The essay will be discussed at the oral examination session. Beyond this essay, Erasmus and Overseas exchange students who are attending the course for 12 credits will be requested to study at least one unit among those included in the forementioned lectures.

Students who are not going to attend the class will add: Sistema periodico. Il secolo interminabile delle riviste [Periodical System. The Endless Century of Literary Reviews], edited by Francesco Bortolotto, Eleonora Fuochi, Davide Antonio Paone, and Federica Parodi, Bologna: Pendragon, 2018.

Individual Study Programme

This part is to be done individually by the student, and is not mandatory for Erasmus and Overseas students.

For this part, a basic knowledge of a textbook at the student's choice from the following is required, especially with regard to the authors of the "Lectures" section:

- Cento anni di letteratura italiana. 1910-2010 [One Hundred Years of Italian Literature. 1910-2010] ,edited by Marco Antonio Bazzocchi, Turin: Einaudi, 2021; or:

- Letteratura italiana contemporanea. Narrativa e poesia dal Novecento a oggi [Contemporary Italian Literature. Fiction and Poetry from the 20th Century to the Present], edited by Beatrice Manetti and Massimiliano Tortora, Rome: Carocci, 2022.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures with a strong interaction between students and teacher.

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of an oral appointment, which aims to verify some methodological, personally developed skills. It lasts approx. 20 minutes, split in two parts. The first one focuses on the main theoretical matters approached throughout the class, verifiyng the preparation upon at least two units among those included in the study programme. The second one will consist of the brief exposition of an individual in-depth analysis, even previously submitted in a written sample, upon a review, a topic or a period included in the study programme.

A positive or excellent score (27 to 30/30, with possible distinction) corresponds to a full mastering of technical, theoretical, historical and terminological resources of Twentieth-Century and contemporary literature, and to a proved ability to make connections among single aspects of the course contents, and to show awareness of textual features with appropriate language; an average score (23 to 26/30) goes to students who reveal some lacks in one or more topics or analytical proofs, or are able to use just mechanically their ability in interpretation; a pass or low score (18 to 22/30) to students with severe lacks in one or more topics or exercises, or not enough accurate while they use or quote notions and samples. A negative score is assigned to students who are not able to recall general notions in text samples and/or in general.

Exam sessions take place once in a month, and are scheduled in turns. Students must sign up at the AlmaEsami web site (https://almaesami.unibo.it). Registrations end two days before the oral examination.

Teaching tools

Excerpts from texts and criticism in digital scans.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), are kindly invited to contact the office in charge.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Colangelo