04538 - Poetics and Rhetoric

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lecture course the students acquire both a basic knowledge of the various disciplinary and doctrinal identities developed by Poetics and Rhetoric during its history, and the capacity to deal with guided interpretations of one or more than one among the “classics” that represented a turning point in the history of this discipline.

Course contents

The first part of this course, which will be taught during the first teaching period, corresponds to Professor S. Marino's course Aesthetics and Theory of Artistic Experience. Students are therefore required to follow that course for the first part of the course content. For the syllabus and all information regarding the content and organisation of this part, please refer directly to the course webpage:

https://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/insegnamenti-competenze-trasversali-moocs/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2026/517243

 

Part II. 

Hegel and the Phenomenology of Spirit. Language and experience, poetry and philosophy.

The course aims to investigate some aspects of the specificity of Hegel's philosophical prose in his 1807 work, the Phenomenology of the Spirit, whose development has not infrequently been associated with that of certain literary genres and which has also been defined as the 'novel of the spirit'. In order to do so, the course will first focus on the first chapter of the work, where the role of language is very important, and then on a few key chapters of which a textual reading will be made.The second will secondly focus on Hegel's treatment of tragedy in Chapter VI, with particular reference to the case of Antigone. Given that the 1807 work seems to incorporate pieces of Sophocles' tragedy within it, we will ask how the Hegelian restitution, while largely taking over its development, sometimes deviates radically from the Sophoclean text. The case of Antigone could therefore constitute, in the "Phenomenology of the Spirit", a true philosophical translation of a literary text. The last part of the course will face Hegelian conception of literary language, as he shows it in the Lectures on fine Arts.

Provisional Lecture schedule – Part II

First week: introduction to Hegel; Hegel’s writings of the 1790s

Second week: introduction to the “Phenomenology of spirit”; chapters I and II: reading and commentary

Third week: chapter IV reading and commentary; the role of Antigone in the chapter devoted to the spirit

Fourth week: reading of the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles; comparison of the figure of Antigone in the 'Phenomenology of the Spirit' with the character in the tragedy

Fifth week: the role of poetry in Hegel’s Aesthetics

 

Readings/Bibliography

Part II 

G.W.F. Hegel, La fenomenologia dello spirito, ed by G. Garelli, Einaudi, Torino 2008: pp. 69-93; 121-136; 291-318.

G.W.F. Hegel, Lezioni di Estetica (Hotho 1823), ed. by P. D’Angelo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2005, “La poesia”: pp. 262-302.

Sofocle, Antigone.

J. Hyppolite, Genesi e struttura della Fenomenologia dello spirito di Hegel(1946), trad. it. di V. Cicero, Milano, Bompiani 2005, pp. 8-145; pp. 175-215; pp. 389-450.

E. Caramelli, Poetiche del testo filosofico. Hegel, Merleau-Ponty e il linguaggio letterario, Carocci, Roma 2024, pp. 1-85.

In addition to the above-mentioned mandatory bibliography, non-attending students must add the study of: J. Hyppolite, La struttura del linguaggio filosofico secondo la “Prefazione” alla “Fenomenologia dello spirito” di Hegel, in R. Macksey, E. Donato (Eds.), La controversia sullo strutturalismo, trad. it. S. Miletti, Liguori, Napoli 1975, pp. 229-245.

 

 

Teaching methods

The course will mainly consist of frontal lessons including both teacher-led reading of the texts listed in bibliography and historical contextualisation of philosophical topics dealt with.

During part I, an additional workshop will take place with optional participation in reading and translating the philosophical texts in original language.

Assessment methods

It is strongly recommended to have the texts with you on the exam. 

The final proof will take place in the form of an oral examination, aiming to test the achievement of the fundamental learning outcomes, such as: thorough knowledge of the mandatory readings and abilityty to make comprehensive analysis and comments ; full understanding of the core concepts and interpreting skills; ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and cogently; ability to build connections between authors and topics of the prescription. During the oral examination the instructor will assess if the student possesses the above-mentioned knowledge and skills in a (more or less) complete, precise and adequate way, or vice-versa in a (more or less) incomplete, vague and superficial way.The final grade is therefore an overall assessment: excellent (30L); top mark (30); good (27-29); fairly good (24-26); sufficient (22-23); almost sufficient (18-21).

Those who wish to do so may replace part of the oral examination, as optional, with the preparation of a ten-minute talk, consisting of reading and commenting on selected passages from one of the sections of the Phenomenology of Spirit in bibliography.

The final grade is the result of the average of the part I oral examination grade and the part II oral examination grade. Students have to sustain first the oral examination concerning part I with the module I instructor, and then the oral examination concerning part II with the part II instructor, who will record the final grade.

Exam sessions
During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: January, April, May, July, September, November.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

Further material will be provided via Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Caramelli

See the website of Stefano Marino