31154 - Polish Literature 2

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will know the history of Polish literature from Middle Ages up to the end of the XVIII century. A special attention will be paid to the relationship betweenthe literary texts and their historical, ideological and linguistical contexts, and - in a comparative perspective -to the cultural connections between Italy and Poland. The student will be introduced to the methods for analysis and interpretation of a literary text.

Course contents

The monographic course is the same for all years of study. In addition to it there are specific readings assigned by year.

The monographic course will focus on the following topic:

Wisława Szymborska: A Contemporary Classic

The course aims to present the poetics of the Polish Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska in all its simple complexity, with particular attention to those elements that most significantly contribute to her popularity in Italy—which is remarkable across a broad spectrum of circles, ranging from literary and various artistic circles to the general public.

The course will involve the reading and close analysis of a series of texts, with the active participation of the students.
N.B. We will work primarily with Italian translations; therefore, the course is also open to beginners or those who do not know Polish.

Readings/Bibliography

Monographic part:

La gioia di scrivere. Tutte le poesie (1945-2009), trad. di Pietro Marchesani.

Texts will be also drawn from Canzone nera (transl. Di Linda del Sarto), Racconto antico (transl. di Andrea Ceccherelli) and Basta così (transl. di Silvano De Fanti).

N.B. All poems to be analysed will be indicated during the course.

Reference texts about Szymborska:

A. Bikont, J. Szczęsna, Cianfrusaglie del passato. La vita di Wisława Szymborska, transl. A. Ceccherelli (Adelphi)

M. Rusinek, Nulla di ordinario. Su Wisława Szymborska, transl. A. Ceccherelli (Adelphi)

A. Ceccherelli, L. Marinelli, M. Piacentini, Szymborska. Un alfabeto del mondo (Donzelli editore) (essays to be read will be indicated during the course)

N.B. All texts can be read in Polish or in English by the students

General part

 Handbooks

Cz. Milosz, History of Polish Literature, 1969.

N. Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland , Oxford University Press 2005 (the part concerning the year of study).

N.B. In the first year, students will study the period from the origins to the late nineteenth century (including Positivism); in the second year, the period from 1795 to 1939; and in the third year, the period from the origins to 1795.

Specific readings

N.B. All texts can be read in Polish or in English

First year

J. Kochanowski, Frasche , a cura di N. Minissi, BUR, Milano 1995 (in particular: I, n. 3, 14, 79, 97; III, n. 1, 54, 76);

J. Kochanowski, Treny. Treni. Lamenti, trad. di U. Norsa ed E. Damiani, a cura di G.O. Fasoli, introduz. di L. Marinelli, Agorà & Co., Lugano 2020;

J. Kochanowski, Odi, traduzione di Anton Maria Raffo, "In Forma di Parole" 2011, 3 (in particular: I, n. 7, 14, 20; II, n. 12, 24);

J. Kochanowski, Il congedo dei messi greci, trad. di A. Ceccherelli, Valigie Rosse, Vecchiano (PI) 2024;

J. Potocki, Il manoscritto trovato a Saragozza , nuova ed. a c. di R. Raddrizzani, trad. di G. Bagliolo, Guanda Ed., Parma 1990 (or TEA, Milano 1995);

A. Mickiewicz, Messer Taddeo, a cura di S. De Fanti, Marislio, Venezia, 2020;

A. Mickiewicz, Dziady parte III, trad. di A. Ungherini, Roux e Frassati, Torino 1898;

B. Prus, La bambola , trad. intr. e note di A. Beniamino, ed. Paoline, Milano 1959;

H. Sienkiewicz, Col ferro e col fuoco, ed. Paoline, Catania 1965 (o altra parte della “Trilogia”); 

Second year

A. Mickiewicz, Messer Taddeo, a cura di S. De Fanti, Marislio, Venezia, 2020;

A. Mickiewicz, Dziady parte III, trad. di A. Ungherini, Roux e Frassati, Torino 1898;

J. Slowacki, Kordjan, UTET, Torino 1967;

B. Prus, La bambola , trad. intr. e note di A. Beniamino, ed. Paoline, Milano 1959;

H. Sienkiewicz, Col ferro e col fuoco, ed. Paoline, Catania 1965 (or another part of the “Trilogy”);

S. Wyspianski, Le nozze , trad. di S. De Fanti, CSEO, Bologna 1983.

W. Gombrowicz, Ferdydurke, trad. di I. Salvatore e M. Mari, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2020;

S.I. Witkiewicz, Commedia ripugnante di una madre, Bulzoni, Roma 1970 as well as a pièce to choose between I calzolai o Il pazzo e la monaca (from the edition De Donato, Bari 1969);

B. Schulz, Le botteghe color cannella , Einaudi, Torino 1970;

Third year

J. Kochanowski, Frasche , a cura di N. Minissi, BUR, Milano 1995 (in particular: I, n. 3, 14, 79, 97; III, n. 1, 54, 76);

J. Kochanowski, Treny. Treni. Lamenti, trad. di U. Norsa ed E. Damiani, a cura di G.O. Fasoli, introduz. di L. Marinelli, Agorà & Co., Lugano 2020;

J. Kochanowski, Odi, traduzione di Anton Maria Raffo, "In Forma di Parole" 2011, 3 (in particular: I, n. 7, 14, 20; II, n. 12, 24)

I. Krasicki, Le avventure di Niccolo' d'Esperientis, trad. di L. Marinelli, Woland, Roma 1997;

J. Potocki, Il manoscritto trovato a Saragozza , nuova ed. a c. di R. Raddrizzani, trad. di G. Bagliolo, Guanda Ed., Parma 1990 (or TEA, Milano 1995);

M. Wirtemberska, Malvina. L’intuito del cuore, a cura di L. Marinelli, Marsilio, Venezia 2021;

Z. Krasinski, La commedia non divina, trad. di G. Pampiglione, introd. di L. Masi, La Fenice, Roma 2006;

C.K. Norwid, Poesie, CSEO, Bologna 1981;

J. Andrzejewski, Cenere e diamanti, Lerici, Milano 1961;

Cz. Miłosz, La mia Europa, trad. di F. Bovoli, Adelphi, Milano 1985;

T. Kantor, La classe morta, a cura di L. Marinelli, S. Parlagreco; Libri Scheiwiller, Milano 2003;

T. Konwicki, Piccola apocalisse, trad. di P. Marchesani, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1981;

M. Białoszewski, Memorie dell’insurrezione di Varsavia, a cura di L. Bernardini, Adelphi, Milano 2021;

A. Zagajewski, Guarire dal silenzio, a cura di di M. Bruno, Mondadori, Milano 2020 (some poems chosen by the students, among which Jechac do Lwowa).

 

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

 

A paper in written form or a presentation in class will be required during the course. A positive evaluation will contribute to the final grade by adding one point or honours.

The final examination will consist in an oral test.

The oral test will have the aim of evaluating the competence as well as the critical and methodological ability of the students. The students will be invited to discuss the tests on the course programme, both for the monographic and the general part. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography in the course programme.

Those students who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the lessons, as well as of the readings indicated in the programme bibliography, are able to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence (28-30).

Those students who demonstrate a mnemonic knowledge of the subject with a more superficial analytical ability and ability to synthesize, a correct command of the language but not always appropriate, will be given a ‘fair' mark (23-27).

A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability that is not always appropriate will be rewarded with a pass mark or just above a pass mark (18-22).

Students who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the subject matter, inappropriate language use, lack of familiarity with the literature in the programme bibliography will not be given a pass mark.

Students who cannot attend the classes or find the texts are requested to contact the teacher during the office hours (see teacher's website) or by e-mail ( andrea.ceccherelli@unibo.it ) 

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.

Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the teacher and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it [mailto:disabilita@unibo.it] (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it [mailto:dsa@unibo.it] (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Teaching tools

In addition to lessons and readings, films will be shown concerning the life of Szymborska, like La vita a vcolte è sopportabile. Ritratto ironico di Wislawa Szymborska, by K. Kolenda Zaleska.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Ceccherelli