99018 - ENGLISH LITERATURE

Learning outcomes

The course provides students with historical and literary knowledge of 20th and 21st century British literature and teaches them how to critically analyze literary texts. By the end of the course, students will acquire the basic elements (content and methodology) for an analysis of English culture and literature, with particular reference to the relationship between literary texts and history, language and the arts. They will know and be able to use critical methodologies to read and analyze literary texts and will be able to independently elaborate further cultural and literary notions and apply them to a wide range of other literary texts.

Course contents

The course "Voices, Stories, Englishes" (divided into two modules; second semester) examines works belonging to different literary genres written by English-speaking authors (UK, US, India) in the 20th and 21st centuries. The course will focus on themes such as racism, diversities, gender, migration, postcolonialism, and intersectionality.

 

BAES Students are reminded that:

- the courses "English Literature" and "Intercultural Gender Studies" are offered only at the Forlì campus;

- the BAES study plan awards 6 ETCS for each of these courses.

In order to reach 6 ECTS, BAES students should:

- attend all lectures and carry out the assessments, plus the final written exam, as every other student enrolled in the course.

Further information will be provided in class at the beginning of the course

Readings/Bibliography

Raffaella Baccolini's module

Cisneros, Sandra. Woman Hollering Creek. (selected stories)

Gorman, Amanda. “In Memory of Those Still in the Water.”

Hwang, David Henry. M. Butterfly.

Lalami, Laila. Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits (selected stories); “So to Speak”

Shire, Warsan. “Home.”

Walker, Alice. “In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens.”

Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own (chapter 3); “Profession for Women.”

 

Margherita Orsi's module

Bruder, Jessica. Nomadland. (selected essays)

Carter, Angela. Fireworks. (selected stories)

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery and Other Stories. (selected stories)

Kahakauwila, Kristiana. This Is Paradise. (selected stories)

Laing, Olivia. The Lonely City. (selected essays)

MacDonald, Ann-Marie. Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet).

Toni Morrison. Desdemona.

Rushdie, Salman. East, West. (selected stories)

Vogel, Paula. Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief.

Zhao, Chloé. Nomadland.

Teaching methods

Attendance and active participation are highly encouraged. Some initial lectures will be followed by class discussion. You are required to read the assigned readings in advance.

All students are required to enroll in the course on the e-learning page (Virtuale).

Assessment methods

The final exam will be written. A sample copy of the written exam will be available on the e-learning page for the course (80%).

Student participation in class discussion will also make up for part of the final grade (20%). Further explanations will be given during the course.

Evaluation grid

30-30L excellent test that demonstrates very broad, thorough and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, a solid ability to apply theoretical concepts and an excellent command of exposition, as well as an excellent capacity for analysis, synthesis and elaboration of interdisciplinary connections

27-29 above average test that demonstrates precise and thorough knowledge of the subject matter, good ability to apply theoretical concepts, and capacity for analysis and synthesis, accurate and correct exposition

24-26 good test that demonstrates appropriate knowledge of the subject matter, a fair understanding of the application of theoretical concepts, and an articulate presentation of the subject matter

21-23 adequate test that demonstrates appropriate but not in-depth knowledge of the subject, only partial capacity to apply theoretical concepts, and an acceptable presentation of the content

18-20 barely sufficient test that demonstrates adequate but general knowledge of the subject matter, simple exposition, uncertainties in the application of theoretical concepts

Insufficient test that does not demonstrate adequate acquisition of knowledge of the subject matter that is fragmentary and superficial, with errors in the application of concepts, and poor exposition

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance

Teaching tools

Material available on the e-learning page (Virtuale).

Links to further information

https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Raffaella Baccolini

See the website of Margherita Orsi