30129 - History of Literary Criticism (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students have a good knowledge about modern critical movements and figures, with a special focus on methodologies developed in the twentieth century - especially in the field of the theory of literature - and their influence on text analysis. They can also master critical problems and interpretative models about literary history.

Course contents

CRISIS / CRITICISM / LITERATURE

Dealing with the so called "crisis of literary criticism", the course will illustrate the deep link between crisis and criticism and will focus on two great american novels, "Underworld" by Don DeLillo and "American Pastoral" by Philip Roth.

Period: Second semester (april-may 2018)

Timetable of lessons, classrooms etc: See School of Foreign Languages, Literature and Translation website

Readings/Bibliography

I. Novels

• Don DeLillo, Underworld (1997), Einaudi
• Philip Roth, Pastorale americana (1997), Einaudi

II.Critical Texts

Students will choose one text from cluster A and two texts from cluster B.

Cluster A:

• Stefano Brugnolo, Davide Colussi, Sergio Zatti, Emanuele Zinato, La scrittura e il mondo. Teorie letterarie del Novecento, Carocci
• Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, il Mulino
• Raul Mordenti, L’altra critica, Editori Riuniti
• Francesco Muzzioli, Le teorie della critica letteraria, Carocci

Cluster B:

• Paul de Man, Critica e crisi, in Paul de Man, Cecità e visione, Liguori
• Daniele Giglioli, Oltre la critica, in XXI secolo, vol. 2: Comunicare e rappresentare, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana (il testo potrà essere scaricato dai Materiali didattici dell’insegnamento)
• Reinhart Koselleck, Crisi, in Il vocabolario della modernità, il Mulino, pp. 95-109
• Mario Lavagetto, Eutanasia della critica, Einaudi

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral test that will assess the knowledge of the texts and the student's critical and interpretative skills. It will also assess the student's methodological awareness, the ability to master the bibliography in the course programme and the the field-specific language of the discipline. The ability to establish links between the theoretical framework and the texts will be expecially appreciated. A wide and systematic knowledge of the texts, interpretative insight, critical understanding and rhetorical effectiveness will be evaluated with a mark of excellence, while 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 evaluated with a “fair” mark. A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability will be evaluated with a pass mark or a negative mark.

Teaching tools

Projection of Power point slides. For further teaching material see the website (link "Teaching material" on the right side of this page).

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.htm?UPN=federico.bertoni@unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Federico Bertoni