90583 - ENGLISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

Lo/a studente/ssa conosce gli elementi (contenuti, metodi e strumenti) per l'analisi approfondita della cultura e della letteratura inglese; è capace di utilizzarli anche su testi semioticamente raffinati e differenziati; è in grado di elaborare autonomamente ulteriori conoscenze e competenze cultural-letterarie di livello superiore e di applicarle anche ad un'ampia serie di altri testi.

Contenuti

The theme of the course is "Travel Narratives: Migrations, Diasporas and Borders." Its main focus is Anglophone literature dealing with stories of displacement, cultural relocation, and identity negotiation on the move.

Migration has been a powerful stimulant to literary expressions of identity in motion and the re-definition of the self that new homelands require. Through a close reading of contemporary short stories and novels in English, the course offers critical spaces for thinking about the discordant movements of modernity and the massive migrations that have defined the XX and XXI centuries. By analyzing a series of travel narratives--which represent hybrid characters using different means of transport and coping with multiple types of border crossings--we will examine the subjective, psychological, and social dimensions of diaspora and other modern forms of geographical displacement and dislocation. Drawing on the interdisciplinary fields of postcolonial studies and migration/diaspora studies, we will evaluate the risks and gains of such deterritorializations not only in practical terms but on fissures of identity like race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.

Testi/Bibliografia

A detailed syllabus with the schedule of readings will be provided in class.

The reading list includes the following novels and short stories: 

- "The View from Castle Rock" (Alice Munro)

- "The Arrangers of Marriage" and "The Thing Around Your Neck" (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

- Brick Lane [selected passages] (Monica Ali)

- "Mrs. Sen's" and "The Third and Final Continent" (Jhumpa Lahiri)

- Borderland/La Frontera [selected passages] (Gloria Anzaldúa)

- "Woman Hollering Creek" (Sandra Cisneros)

- The Lost Children Archive [selected passages] (Valeria Luiselli)

- "Eveline" (James Joyce)

- The Arrival (Shaun Tan)

- We Are Not From Here (Jenny Torres Sanchez)

 

The following films (to be watched before class) will also be discussed:

- Brooklyn (dir. John Crowley) 

- The Namesake (dir. Mira Nair)

- Nomadland (dir. Chloé Zhao)

Metodi didattici

Attendance and participation are highly encouraged. Some initial lectures will be followed by class discussion. Students are required to read the assigned readings before class.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend the online Modules 1, 2 on Health and Safety [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas ].

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

The final exam will be divided into two parts: a written and an oral part.

The written exam consists of a 2,500-word essay to be submitted at the end of the course on a topic related to the themes discussed in class. This part constitutes 50% of the whole mark.

The oral part consists of a presentation to be prepared and delivered in group. Each group will be assigned a book to work on and will be asked to present a critical analysis of a theme, in line with the issues discussed during the course. A short discussion with the instructor will follow. This part constitutes 50% of the whole mark.

Due dates and further explanations will be given during the course.

Grading Scale

30-30L: The candidate possesses an in-depth knowledge of the topic, an outstanding ability to apply theoretical concepts, a high level of argumentative clarity, as well as excellent analytical skills, and a well-developed ability to synthesize and establish interdisciplinary connections.

27–29: The candidate possesses an in-depth knowledge of the topic, a sound ability to apply theoretical concepts, good analytical skills, clear argumentative clarity and an ability to synthesize.

24-26: The candidate possesses a fair knowledge of the topic, a reasonable ability to apply theoretical concepts correctly and present ideas clearly.

21-23: The candidate possesses an adequate, but not in-depth, knowledge of the topic, a partial ability to apply theoretical concepts, and acceptable presentation skills.

18-20: The candidate possesses a barely adequate and only superficial knowledge of topic, limited presentation skills, and only an inconsistent ability to apply theoretical concepts.

< 18 Fail: The candidate possesses an inadequate knowledge of the topic, makes significant errors in applying theoretical concepts, and shows weak presentation skills.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Power Point presentations; videos and films; reading materials available in "Virtuale".

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Sofia Cavalcanti