29003 - Italian Romantic Literature (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student has acquired a deep knowledge of the main texts of Italian Romanticism. He can read these in comparison with European culture and literature. He knows very well the literary forms (poetry, novel, autobiography, diary), the authors (Leopardi, Manzoni, Nievo, etc), the artistic thoughts of Italian modernity. The student in able to analyze literary texts in line with some of cultural aspects of the history of ideas: change of thoughts and society, work in progress on literary forms, relationship between literature and the other arts (music, visual arts), creation of cultural paradigms, important for twentieth-century.

Course contents

The course will investigate the post-romantic literature trying to identify the reasons why a type of "abnormal" emerges according to the definition offered by M. Foucault. That is, figures deviating from the normative codes of bourgeois society that is being formed.

In this path different types of textuality will intertwine, to build a family tree of deviance that corresponds to the affirmation of Italian and European modernity.

Readings/Bibliography

References:

G. Verga: Novelle (una scelta verrà indicata a lezione)

I. U. Tarchetti: Fosca (qualsiasi edizione)

H. Barbin, Una straba confessione. Memorie di un ermafrodito presentate da M. Foucault (Einaudi ET)

E. Zola, Nana (BUR, o Feltrinelli economica)

S. Aleramo: Una donna (Feltrinelli)

Essays:

General introduction: E. Auerbach, Mimesis. Il realismo nella letteratura occidentale, (expecially capp. Fortunata, La partenza del cavaliere cortese dal vol. I, La cena interrrotta, All'Hotel de la Mole, Germinie Lacerteux dal vol. II)

  For a general perspective of the cours' team, M. Foucault, Gli anormali, Milano, Feltrinelli

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of a viva voce examination aiming to assess the knowledge and critical skills acquired by the candidate during the course.

1. First-class marks will be awarded to candidates who demonstrate an ability to analyse texts in depth and to produce an organic overview of the topics covered in the course. Overall mark between 27 and 30 cum laude (high linguistic ability is required).

2. A mostly mnemonic knowledge of the subject, analytical skills lacking depth, and correct but not always apposite expression will result in a modest mark. Overall mark between 23 and 26.

3. Elementary knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical skills, and inapposite expression will lead to a pass or only slightly higher mark. Overall mark between 18 and 22.

4. Gaps in the candidate’s knowledge, inapposite language, and inadequate engagement with the secondary literature offered in the course will result in a fail mark.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Antonio Bazzocchi