00562 - Italian Literature

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has a decent knowledge of Italian literary tradition, a fair capacity for critical analysis and sufficient writing skills.

Course contents

Departures, explorations, returns. A look at Italian travel literature

The aim of the course is to provide a general overview of the history of Italian literature, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age, through the analysis of the theme of "travel", recurrent in every age. Using the main tools of textual exegesis, during the lessons will be read and commented excerpts from works that have devoted ample space to travel and its phenomenologies (reports, diaries, journalistic reports, poems, novels and stories). These works will be framed in the literary civilization of their age and put into dialogue with the classics of our tradition. We will start from Marco Polo to get to Claudio Magris, passing through some narratives related to the discovery of the New World or extra-European continents, to the Grand Tour, to the trip to Italy, and finally to deportation, work, emigration or intellectual curiosity.

Readings/Bibliography

The course includes the following:

A- a monographic section

B- a general section

C- written exam

A- MONOGRAPHIC SECTION:

Bibliography for attending students:

Students attending, in addition to the notes and anthological readings addressed in the course, will have to prepare in-depth three readings chosen from list A.

A)

- Marco Polo, Il Milione, ed. by M. Ciccuto, Milano, Rizzoli, 2016 (other editions: ed. by V. Bertolucci Pizzorusso and G. R. Cardona, Milano, Adelphi; ed. by A. Lanza, Roma, Editori Riuniti; ed. by. Ponchiroli, Torino, Einaudi; ed. by G. Ronchi, Milano, Mondadori);

- [Anthology] Nuovi mondi. Relazioni, diari e racconti di viaggio dal XIV al XVII secolo, ed. by C. Spila, Milano, Rizzoli, 2010 (text available at B. Centrale Campus di Ravenna - Palazzo Corradini, B. Centro Studi ‘Amilcar Cabral, B. Dip. Storia Culture Civiltà - DiSCi - Orientalistica e Antropologia - B. ‘Giorgio R. Franci’, B. Discipline Umanistiche, B. Universitaria; look for shelf marks on: https://sol.unibo.it);

- [Anthology] La letteratura di viaggio in Italia: dal Settecento a oggi, ed. by R. Ricorda, Brescia, La scuola, 2012 (text available at B. Dip. Filologia Classica e Italianistica, B. Discipline Umanistiche, B. Universitaria; look for shelf marks on: https://sol.unibo.it);

- Francesco Algarotti, Viaggi di Russia, ed. by W. Spaggiari, Milano, Garzanti, 2006 (or any complete edition with introduction and comment);

- Vittorio Alfieri, Vita, ed. by di M. Cerruti, Milano, Rizzoli, 2004 (or any complete edition with introduction and comment);

- Giacomo Leopardi, from Canti, ed. by A. Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (or subsequent reprints): Ad Angelo Mai, quand’ebbe trovato i libri di Cicerone della Repubblica, Alla Primavera, o delle favole antiche, Inno ai Patriarchi, o de’ principii del genere umano, La vita solitaria, Alla sua donna, Al conte Carlo Pepoli, Le ricordanze, Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell’Asia, La ginestra o il fiore del deserto, Imitazione; and from Operette morali, ed. by L. Melosi, Milano, Bur, 2008 (or subsequent reprints): Dialogo della Moda e della Morte, La scommessa di Prometeo, Dialogo della Natura e di un Islandese, Dialogo di Cristoforo Colombo e di Pietro Gutierrez, Dialogo di un venditore d’almanacchi e di un passeggere.

- Eugenio Montale, Fuori di casa, Milano, Mondadori, 2017;

- Primo Levi, La tregua, Torino, Einaudi, 2014;

- Italo Calvino, Le città invisibili, Milano, Mondadori, 2016;

- Claudio Magris, L’infinito viaggiare, Milano, Mondadori, 2008.

Other editions or reprints of texts in list A are also accepted, provided they are agreed with the teacher before the exam.

The teaching materials and readings discussed in class will be posted on iol.unibo.it platform.

B- GENERAL SECTION:

Bibliography for attending students:

The student must choose one reading from the B serie, at his discretion. The preparation includes the study of the biography of the author with its historical-cultural framework, the content of all his works, poetics and themes. About the chosen reading, the student will have to know the history of the composition, sources, structure, themes, language, style and fortune.

The student must present himself / herself with the list of the readings he / she has performed for the general section, specifying, where the work is not integral, which songs, which poems or which prose has chosen.

B)

- Dante, 12 cantos at choice from one part of the Commedia, Inferno or Purgatorio or Paradiso (recommended editions: Pasquini-Quaglio, Milano, Garzanti, 1982-86; Chiavacci-Leonardi, Milano, Mondadori, 1991-97; recommended critical readings: E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Leggere la «Commedia», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- F. Petrarca, Canzoniere, 30 poems (recommended edition: Vecchi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2012; recommended critical readings: M. Ariani, Petrarca, Roma-Napoli, Salerno Editrice, 2002; E. Fenzi, Petrarca, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; L. Chines, Petrarca, Bologna, Pàtron, 2017).

- G. Boccaccio, Decameron, three days (recommended editions: Quondam-Fiorilla-Alfano, Milano, Rizzoli, 2013; Branca, Torino, Einaudi, 1980; recommended critical readings: L. Battaglia Ricci, Boccaccio, Roma-Napoli, Salerno Editrice, 2000; L. Surdich, Boccaccio, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; F. Bausi, Leggere il «Decameron», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- N. Machiavelli, Il Principe or Discorsi sopra la prima Deca di Tito Livio (recommended editions for Il Principe: Anselmi-Varotti, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; Inglese, Torino, Einaudi, 2005; Ruggiero, Milano, Rizzoli, 2008; for the Discorsi: Sasso-Inglese, Milano, Rizzoli, 2000; Vivanti, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; Bausi, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2001; Rinaldi, Torino, UTET, 2006; recommended critical readings: G.M. Anselmi, Leggere Machiavelli, Bologna, Pàtron, 2014).

- F. Guicciardini, Ricordi (recommended editions: Varotti, Roma, Carocci, 2013; Pasquini, Milano, Garzanti, 1975; recommended critical readings: E. Cutinelli Rendina, Guicciardini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2009; C. Varotti, Francesco Guicciardini, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso, 5 cantos (recommended edition by C. Zampese, with comm. by E. Bigi, Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended critical readings: C. Dini, Ariosto. Guida all’«Orlando furioso», Roma, Carocci, 2001; G. Ferroni, Ariosto, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008; S. Jossa, Ariosto, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Zatti, Leggere l’«Orlando Furioso», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, 5 cantos (recommended editions: Tomasi, Milano, Bur, 2009; recommended critical readings: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010; F. Ferretti, Narratore notturno: aspetti del racconto nella «Gerusalemme liberata», Pisa, Pacini, 2010).

- G. Galilei, Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo (recommended editions: Flora, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; Atzori, Firenze, Sansoni, 2001; Sosio, Torino, Einaudi, 2002; Beltrán Marí, Milano, Bur, 2008; recommended critical readings: A. Battistini, Galileo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011).

- G.B. Marino, Adone, 5 cantos (recommended editions: Russo, Milano, Bur, 2013; Pozzi, Milano, Adelphi, 1988; recommended critical readings: E. Russo, Marino, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008).

- C. Goldoni, three comedies to choose among the following: I rusteghi, Il servitore di due padroni, La bottega del caffè, La locandiera, Le baruffe chiozzotte, Una delle ultime sere di Carnovale (any complete edition; recommended critical readings: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004).

- G. Parini, Le odi or Il giorno (recommended editions: Nicoletti, Milano, Bur, 2011; Bonora, Milano, Mursia, 1999; Erbani, Milano, Guanda, 2010; recommended critical readings: G. Nicoletti, Parini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2016).

- V. Alfieri, Vita, or, together, Saul and Mirra (any complete edition; recommended critical readings: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014). [ATTENTION: students who have chosen Vita for the monographic section can not choose it for the general section]

- U. Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis and Sepolcri (recommended editions for Ortis: Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007; Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012; for Sepolcri: Martinelli, Milano, Mondadori, 1987; Palumbo, Milano, Bur, 2010; recommended critical readings: A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Letteratura e politica, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- G. Leopardi, Canti, 10 poems, and Operette morali, 10 texts (recommended editions: Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; Melosi, Milano, Bur, 2008, or subsequent reprints; recommended critical readings: M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008). [ATTENTION: students who have chosen Leopardi for the monographic section can not choose it for the general section]

- A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi (recommended editions: De Cristofaro, Milano, Bur, 2014; Nigro, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; recommended critical readings: A. Cottignoli, Guida ai «Promessi sposi», Roma, Carocci, 2002; F. De Cristofaro, Manzoni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Raboni, Come lavorava Manzoni, Roma, Carocci, 2017).

- G. Verga, I Malavoglia or Mastro-don Gesualdo (complete editions; recommended critical readings: N. Borsellino, Storia di Verga, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1982; R. Luperini, Verga moderno, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; G. Alfieri, Verga, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2016).

- G. D’Annunzio, Il piacere or Alcyone (recommended editions by F. Roncoroni, P. Gibellini, G. Oliva; recommended critical readings: G. Bàrberi Squarotti, Invito alla lettura di Gabriele D’Annunzio, Milano, Mursia, 1990; N. Lorenzini, D’Annunzio, Palermo, Palumbo, 1993; S. Costa, D’Annunzio, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2012).

- G. Pascoli, Myricae (recommended editions by G. Lavezzi, Milano, Bur, 2015; G. Nava, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1991; recommended critical readings: M. Pazzaglia, Pascoli, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002; G. Capecchi, Giovanni Pascoli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011; M. Castoldi, Pascoli, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011; C. Chiummo, Guida alla lettura di «Myricae», Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014).

- L. Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascal and Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore (complete editions; recommended critical readings: C.S. Nobili, Luigi Pirandello: guida al «Fu Mattia Pascal», Roma, Carocci, 2004; M. Guglielminetti, Pirandello, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006; M. Polacco, Pirandello, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; A.R. Pupino, Pirandello poetiche e pratiche di umorismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014).

- I. Svevo, La coscienza di Zeno (any complete edition; recommended critical readings: A. Cavaglion, Italo Svevo, Milano, Mondadori, 2000; B. Stasi, Svevo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Tellini, Svevo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2013).

- G. Ungaretti, L’Allegria or Sentimento del Tempo or Il dolore (recommended editions: Piccioni, Milano, Mondadori, 1969 e successive; Ossola, Milano, Mondadori, 2016; recommended critical readings: D. Baroncini, Ungaretti, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; Niva Lorenzini, Stefano Colangelo, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2012; A. Saccone, Ungaretti, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2012).

- E. Montale, Ossi di seppia or Le occasioni (recommended editions: Cataldi-D’Amely, Milano, Mondadori, 2016; De Rogatis, Milano, Mondadori, 2011; recommended critical readings: G. Marcenaro, Eugenio Montale, Milano, Mondadori, 1999; T. Arvigo, Guida alla lettura di Montale: «Ossi di seppia», Roma, Carocci, 2001; G. Ioli, Montale, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002; R. Luperini, Storia di Montale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; A. Casadei, Montale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008).

- C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore or Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana (complete editions; recommended critical readings: A. Pecoraro, Gadda, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998; R. Rinaldi, Gadda, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; M. Bersani, Gadda, Torino, Einaudi, 2012; G. Patrizi, Gadda, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014; P. Italia, Come lavorava Gadda, Roma, Carocci, 2017).

- I. Calvino, the narrative trilogy I nostri antenati: Il barone rampante, Il cavaliere inesistente, Il visconte dimezzato (complete editions; recommended critical readings: F. Serra, Calvino, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006; M. Barenghi, Calvino, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Perrella, Calvino, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010). [ATTENTION: students who have chosen Calvino for the monographic section can not choose it for the general section]

Other editions or reprints of the texts in list B are also accepted, provided they are agreed with the teacher before the exam.

The student will also have to know in-depth the century of Italian literary history (contexts, authors, works, movements, poetic orientations, themes and critical problems) to which the author chosen belongs.

Recommended textbooks: G. Ferroni, Storia della letteratura italiana, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2012; or, in alternative: F. Brioschi, C. Di Girolamo (ed. by), Manuale di letteratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1994-1997 (and subsequent reprints); C. Vecce, Piccola storia della letteratura italiana, Napoli, Liguori, 2009; A. Battistini (ed. by), Storia della letteratura italiana, Bologna, il Mulino, 2014; Itinerari nella letteratura italiana: da Dante al web, ed. by N. Bonazzi, A. Campana, F. Giunta and N. Maldina, coordination by G. M. Anselmi, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (or previous editions and reprints).

Other textbooks of Italian literary history are also accepted, provided they are agreed with the teacher before the exam.

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (MONOGRAPHIC SECTION AND GENERAL SECTION)

Non-attending students are however required to prepare three readings at their choice from list A, one reading from list B (with in-depth knowledge of the century of Italian literary history to which the author belongs), and, in place of the notes and anthological readings addressed in the course, the following collection of historical-literary essays (wholly): Itinerari nella letteratura italiana: da Dante al web, ed. by N. Bonazzi, A. Campana, F. Giunta and N. Maldina, coordination by G. M. Anselmi, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (or previous editions and reprints).

C- WRITTEN EXAM

The written exam consists of carrying out an essay. Students are offered the opportunity to choose a topic within a range: themes from the monographic section or from the general section, analysis of poetic or prose texts, discussions on specific problems and authors of the history of the Italian literature from its origins to the Twentieth Century.

The written exam is mandatory and must be supported before the oral exam, monographic or general; however, the insufficient outcome of the written exam does not preclude the possibility of supporting the oral.

There are no additional texts for the preparation of the written exam than those already mentioned in the monographic and general sections of the program; however, it may be helpful to look at the following critical readings in order to strengthen everyone's ability to critically analyze texts and problems: Breviario dei classici italiani: guida all’interpretazione di testi esemplari da Dante a Montale, by G. M Anselmi, A. Cottignoli, E. Pasquini, Milano, B. Mondadori, 1996; P. Vecchi Galli, Sussidiario di letteratura italiana, Bologna, Archetipolibri, 2007; F. Marri, R. Terreni, P. Franceschini, Prove di lettura: esercizi di commento linguistico su autori dal Duecento all’Ottocento, Bologna, CLUEB, 2011; Itinerari nella letteratura italiana: da Dante al web, by N. Bonazzi, A. Campana, F. Giunta and N. Maldina, coordinated by G. M. Anselmi, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (or previous editions and reprints); P. Italia, Scrivere all'Università: manuale pratico con esercizi e antologia di testi, in collaboration with D. Bennati and M. Giuffrida, Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2014; L. Chines, C. Varotti, Che cos’è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2016.

At the written exam students can only bring with them the vocabulary of the Italian language and / or the vocabulary of synonyms and antonyms.

NOTA BENE: in anticipation of the written exam, the teacher will give those who want the opportunity, during and after the course, to carry out exercise essays that will be corrected by him and then discussed with the student.

The marks of the written exam will be published online on AlmaEsami. Students will be able to see their own correct essays only during the office hours.

Teaching methods

- Lectures

- Reading, analysis and commentary on texts

- Critical discussions

- Formative written assignments

- Power Point presentations

- iol.unibo.it platform

Assessment methods

The monographic section, the general section and the written exam will give rise to a partial vote which, at the end of the evaluation procedure, will merge into a single vote.

The written exam is mandatory and must be supported before the oral exam, monographic or general; however, the insufficient outcome of the written exam does not preclude the possibility of supporting the oral.

The student can first support the general oral exam or the monographic oral exam, at his choice, in the same round or in different rounds.

- Written exam (4 hours). The choice of questions includes an essay on literary history and text analysis, within a range of topics from the monographic section or from the general section. A past exam paper is available online for consultation among the 'Teaching materials'. Students are required to sit the written exam before taking the oral exam, but they are allowed to take the oral exam even if they don't 'pass' the written exam. The result of the written exam will form a part of the final overall mark. Markers will assess: standard of language and expression; structure of argument; quality of critical reflection; ability to discuss the contents of the course; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism. During the course, specific lessons will be dedicated to the preparation for the written exam: in those lessons, the teacher will propose some preparatory exercises.

- Oral exam (approx. 30 minutes). Students will be required to discuss their readings and the contents of the course. Markers will assess: standard of expression; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to discuss the contents of the course; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism; quality of critical reflection. Students may choose whether they prefer to discuss the monographic and the general section together in a single oral exam or in two different sessions.

Assessment Criteria. To be awarded a final mark between 27 and 30 cum laude students are expected to: show the ability to analyse in depth literary texts following the methodology introduced by the lecturer and/or in the set critical readings; possess and be able to present both verbally and in writing a thorough and organic knowledge of the topics discussed in class and/or in the set readings; show an excellent standard of expression (both written and verbal); show the ability to use properly the technical language of philology and literary criticism. A mark between 23 and 26 will be awarded to students who will show: a good knowledge of the course contents; the ability to provide an accurate analysis of literary texts (although there might be some minor imperfections); a good standard of verbal and written expression (with occasional minor flaws in the presentation and/or in the use of technical language). Students obtaining a mark between 18 and 22 will typically show: an adequate but superficial knowledge of the contents; a basic understanding of the texts and a limited ability to analyse them, an acceptable standard of expression with a fairly competent (although not always accurate) use of technical language. Poor knowledge of the set texts and course topics, inadequate ability to analyse literary texts; inaccurate and inappropriate verbal and written expression with major problems in the use of technical language will result in a fail.

Teaching tools

- Power Point presentations

- iol.unibo.it platform

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Campana