18095 - English Literature

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have acquired a sound passive knowledge of the English language; he/she will be able to read and comprehend a text in English and to learn the main forms and genres of English literature and drama. The student will likewise acquire the necessary tools for the analysis of a literary or dramatic text in English, in its historical and theatrical, as well as more strictly literary, aspects.

Course contents

Crimes and Misdeeds in English Drama from Shakespeare to the Romantics

 This course explores the discursive and dramatic elements of English plays written from the Early Modern period to the Romantic era that engage with crime, political deception, and social intrigue. The supernatural, tyranny, usurpation, and the pursuit of power are among the most recurrent dramatic and narrative devices in the works examined, employed by playwrights to explore questions of individual and gender identity in relation to—and often in tension with—the social sphere.

Through the genre of tragedy, playwrights from different historical periods address political, social, cultural, and gender-related issues in complex and dialogic ways. Adopting a historicist approach to literary criticism and examining the development of theatre—text, context, and performance—from the Early Modern period to the nineteenth century, the course will involve the reading and discussion of complete plays and selected extracts featuring "crimes and misdeeds" by English authors including William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Matthew Gregory Lewis, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Readings/Bibliography

PRIMARY SOURCES

W. Shakespeare, Richard III and Othello (full plays);

C. Marlowe, Doctor Faustus (extracts);

M.G. Lewis, The Castle Spectre (extracts);

Lord Byron, Manfred (fully play);

P.B. Shelley, The Cenci (full play).

History of English literature (general context):

 L. M. Crisafulli e K. Elam (a cura di), Manuale di letteratura e cultura inglese, Bologna, BUP, 2009 [only periods and authors included in the syllabus]

S. Baiesi, Shaping British Romantic Literature in Context, Peter Lang, 2026. [chapter on Romantic theatre and drama]

Shakespeare (1 essay and 2 for those students who do not attend classes):

Franco Marucci, History of English Literature, Volume 2, "Shakespeare", Peter Lang, 2018 (chapters dedicated to the plays included in the syllabus).

Giorgio Melchiori, Shakespeare. Genesi e struttura delle opere Edizioni Laterza, 1994 (chapters dedicated to the plays included in the syllabus).

 The Romantics (1 essay and 2 for those students who do not attend classes):

Jeffrey N. Cox, "The Gothic Drama: Tragedy or Comedy?" in The Oxford Handbook of the Georgian Theatre, 1737-1832 ed. Julia Swindells and David Francis Taylor (ch. 23).

Giovanna Silvani, "Il teatro di Matthew G. Lewis, è di scena il terrore" in ll teatro della paura a cura di D. Saglia e G. Silvani (Bulzoni, 2015).

D. Saglia, traduzione e commento al Manfred di Lord Byron (edizioni Marsilio 2019).

"Lord Byron. Manfred and the closet Drama" in Philip Cox, Gender, Genre and the Romantic Poets. An Introduction, Manchester UP 1996 (pp. 107-129)

"Byron and the theatre" by Alan Richardson in The Cambridge Companion to Byron, ed. D. Bone, Cambridge UP 2004 (pp. 133-149).

Stuart Curran, Shelley's CENCI: Scorpions Ringed with Fire, Princeton University Press.

 

Teaching methods

Online and frontal lessons; introduction of the literary period from late Medieval time to Romantic period; reading and analysis of the primary sources and critical essays during lectures.

Assessment methods

During the academic year, 2 exam sessions are scheduled per period in the following months: January–February; May–July; September–October.

The evaluation of the students' competencies and abilities acquired during the course consists in a written work at the end of the course for those students who attended classes regularly as well as for those who do not attend classes.

The 2-hour written test consists of open questions regarding the literary context, authors, and texts analysed during the course. Commentary on extracts in English from the plays to be read in full will also be required.

Those students, who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during classes, to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence. 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 satisfactory mark. 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. Students who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the subject matter, inappropriate language use, lack of familiarity with the literature in the program bibliography will not be given a pass mark.

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 (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Teaching tools

Online resourses available for student online; film and videos show during lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Baiesi