B1587 - LETTERATURA RELIGIOSA ITALIANA

Learning outcomes

The course aims at fostering the understanding of religious italian literature within a chronological frame that goes from the Middle Ages up to early modern and contemporary authors. Specific attention will be paid to the dynamics of production/circulation/preservation of Italian literary works belonging to the genre of religious literature, with reference to both their historic and sociological background and the centres in which they were produced and preserved (e.g. scriptoria and convent libraries). By the end of the course students will be able to analyse literary sources in their relationship with the evolution of contemporary religious culture; moreover, students will be capable of investigating the dynamics of production and preservation of literary works within the main religious centres in Italy, with specific reference to those belonging to the Mendicant orders.

Course contents

The course is divided up into two parts

A. GENERAL: History of religious Italian literature of the Middle Ages

Students will be asked to read an introduction to Medieval Italian religious literature and to demonstrate their understanding of the main authors and texts of Italian religious literature trough the study of two anthological volumes, as well as by reading two works from the Italian literary canon.

B. FOCUSED: Dante and the genres of Medieval Italian religious literature

The course aims at focusing on the ways in which Dante adapts adopts and respond to Medieval Italian religious literature in his poem. The course aims at introducing to the multiples ways in which Dante used different genres of Medieval religious literarture in the Commedia.

Readings/Bibliography

A. GENERAL: History of religious Italian literature of the Middle Ages

Rita Libranti, La letteratura religiosa, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012.

B. FOCUSED: Dante and the genres of Medieval Italian religious literature

Text

Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Recommended edition: a cura di Emilio Pasquini e Antonio Enzo Quaglio, Milano, Garzanti, 1982 (or reprints).

N.B. Other editions that can be used: Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi (Bologna, Zanichelli); Umberto Bosco - Giovanni Reggio (Firenze, Le Monnier); Natalino Sapegno (Firenze, La Nuova Italia); Riccardo Merlante - Stefano Prandi (Brescia, La Scuola); Giorgio Inglese (Roma, Carocci); Saverio Bellomo (Torino, Einaudi, solo l’Inferno e il Purgatorio, quest'ultimo con Stefano Carrai); Roberto Mercuri (Torino, Einaudi). Should you wish to use a different edition, please do get in touch with the Tutor.

Background reading

Nicolò Maldina, In pro del mondo. Dante, la predicazione e i generi della letteratura religiosa medievale, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2017 (or reprints).

N.B. Alongside the aforementioned manual, students who will not attend classes will be asked to study also the volume Iacopone da Todi e la poesia religiosa del Duecento, a cura di Paolo Canettieri, Milano, Rizzoli-BUR, 2001 (or reprints).

Teaching methods

- Lectures with readings and comments on prescribed texts

- Hisotorical contextualization of literary texts, also in their relationships with other arts

- Discussion of critical hypothesis

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of one oral exam; specific diets will be announced on Almaesami. The oral exam entails the knowledge of texts prescribed in both the general and the focused part of the syllabus, and aims at evaluating 1) the understanding of topics covered in the general part of the syllabus; 2) the capacity to understand the problems discussed in class and on the prescribed texts; 3) the knowledge of Italian Literature in its diachronic development; 4) the capacity to contextualize texts and problems within their cultural background as well as to critically discuss them; 5) the quality of both written and oral skills as well as the capacity of develop a convincingly argued line of reasoning. Students can enrol onto the diet for the oral exam through the dedicated page on Almaesami, and must study the entire syllabus. Students who have studied only one of the two parts of the syllabus will not be allowed to sit the exam.

The final mark will be awarded according to the following marking scheme: 1) non-sufficient: lack of understanding of the basic notions and lack of capacity to correctly discuss texts and problems; 2) sufficient: positive understanding of the basic notions; adequate discussion of texts and problems, but lacking of precision and over-relying on lecture notes; 3) good: positive understanding of intermediate notions; correct discussion of text and problems, but at times not completely precise and over-relying on lecture notes; 4) excellent: full understanding of topics covered; discussion of texts and problems not only correct but also developed autonomously and precisely. Excellent oral skills.

Teaching tools

Slides

CD

DVD

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Nicolò Maldina