00562 - Italian Literature (E-M)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students are expected to show a sound knowledge of the Italian literary tradition through the close reading of selected texts; they will also be able to develop critical reflections on the material under analysis and present clear and accurate interpretations of it, both orally and in writing, by applying independently and appropriately the methodology introduced by the lecturer.

Course contents

The course includes the following:

A- a monographic section (subdivided in two modules);

B- a general section;

A- MONOGRAPHIC SECTION: The Living and the Dead. History (and Theory) of a Literary Relationship

A.1) (first module: Medieval and Renaissance)

Lectures and class discussions will focus on the following texts:

Dante, Vita nova and Commedia; Boccaccio, Decameron; Petrarca, Canzoniere, Secretum and Familiares; Machiavelli, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 10 December 1513.

A.2) (second module: 19th and 20th centuries)

Lectures and class discussions will focus on the following texts:

U. Foscolo, Sepolcri; G. Leopardi, Canti and Operette morali; G. Pascoli, Myricae; L. Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascal, E. Montale, Ossi di seppia

A.3) Critical readings (for both modules):

G. Agamben, Stanze. La parola e il fantasma nella cultura occidentale, Torino, Einaudi, 2006; W. Benjamin, Il narratore, Torino, Einaudi, 2011; M. Blanchot, Lo spazio letterario, Torino, Einaudi, 1967; J. Derrida, La farmacia di Platone, Milano, Jaca Book, 2007; G. Ferroni, Dopo la fine. Sulla condizione postuma della letteratura, Torino, Einaudi, 1996; S. Freud, Lutto e melanconia, in Metapsicologia, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1978; Id., Il perturbante, in Saggi sull'arte, la letteratura e il linguaggio, Torino, Bollati-Boringhieri, 1991; W.J. Ong, Maranatha: morte e vita nel testo del libro, in Interfacce della parola, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1989, pp. 247-288; J. Pieters, Speaking with the Dead. Explorations in Literature and History, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2005; R. Pogue Harrison, Il dominio dei morti, Roma, Fazi, 2004.

· For this section students attending the course will be expected to know the themes and the texts discussed in class, and read two of the critical readings listed under A.3.

· For this section, non-attending students are required to read two of the texts listed under A.1 e A.2 (one for each module) in the editions recommended in section B together with one of the critical readings recommended in section B for those texts. They are also required to read two of the critical readings listed under A.3.

B- GENERAL SECTION

For this section students are required to read and be able to interpret:

B.1) Dante Alighieri, Inferno

recommended editions: Pasquini-Quaglio, Milano, Garzanti, 1982; o Chiavacci-Leonardi, Milano, Mondadori, 1991; letture critiche consigliate: E. Auerbach, Studi su Dante, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2005; E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006; o G. Ledda, Dante, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008.

B.2) One of the following texts, with the relevant historical background as detailed under point B.4:

- F. Petrarca, Canzoniere, 50 poems (recommended editions: Vecchi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2012; Santagata, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; recommended critical readings: M. Ariani, Petrarca, Roma-Napoli, Salerno, 2002; or E. Fenzi, Petrarca, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008).

- 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, 2000, or Introduzione al «Decameron», ed. by di M. Picone et al., Firenze, Cesati, 2004).

- N. Machiavelli, Il Principe e Mandragola (recommended editions for Il Principe: Anselmi-Varotti, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; Inglese, Torino, Einaudi, 2005; Ruggiero, Milano, Rizzoli, 2008; for la Mandragola: Rinaldi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2012; recommended critical readings: R. Bruscagli, Machiavelli, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008, oppure G.M. Anselmi, N. Bonazzi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011).

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

- M.M. Boiardo, L'inamoramento di Orlando / Orlando innamorato, 8 cantos (recommended editions: Canova, Milano, Bur, 2011; Tissoni Benvenuti, Milano-Napoli, Ricciardi, 1999; Bruscagli, Torino, Einaudi, 1995; recommended critical readings: A. Franceschetti, L'Orlando innamorato e le sue componenti tematiche e strutturali, Firenze, Olschki, 1975, or R. Donnarumma, Storia dell'«Orlando innamorato». Poetiche e modelli letterari in Boiardo, Lucca, Pacini, 1997).

- L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso, 8 cantos (recommended editions: Bigi, Milano, Bur, 2012; Segre, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; Caretti, Torino, Einaudi, 1992; recommended critical readings: C. Dini, Guida all'«Orlando furioso», Roma, Carocci, 2001; G. Ferroni, Ariosto, Roma, Salerno, 2008; S. Jossa, Ariosto, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009).

- T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, 8 cantos (recommended editions: Tommasi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2009; recommended critical readings: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009, or G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 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; recommended critical readings: A. Battistini, Introduzione a Galileo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1989).

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

B.3) One of the following texts, with the relevant historical background as detailed under point B.4:

- C. Goldoni, due commedie: La locandiera, Le baruffe chiozzotte, La bottega del caffè (any unabridged edition; recommended critical readings: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000, oppure G. Padoan, Putte, zanni, rusteghi. Scena e teatro nella commedia goldoniana, Ravenna, Longo, 2001).

- G. Parini, Le odi e Il giorno (recommended editions: Nicoletti, Milano, Bur, 2011; Bonora, Milano, Mursia, 1999; Erbani, Milano, Guanda, 2010; recommended critical readings: G. Barbarisi, Giuseppe Parini, in Storia della letteratura italiana, diretta da E. Malato, vol. VI, Il Settecento, Roma, Salerno, 1998, or Interpretazioni e letture del «Giorno», ed. by G. Barbarisi and E. Esposito, Milano, Cisalpino, 1998).

- V. Alfieri, Vita, or, together, Saul and Mirra (any edition; recommended critical readings: V. Branca, Alfieri e la ricerca dello stile, Bologna, Zanichelli, 1981, oppure G.A. Camerino, Alfieri e il linguaggio della tragedia, Napoli, Liguori, 2006).

- U. Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis e Sepolcri (recommended editions: Ortis, Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007 and I Sepolcri, Martinelli, Milano, Mondadori, 1987; recommended critical readings: M. Cerruti, Introduzione a Foscolo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1990, oppure A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Letteratura e politica, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- G. Leopardi, Canti, 15 poems, and Operette morali, 10 texts (recommended editions: Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; Melosi, Milano, Bur, 2010; recommended critical readings: M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008).

- A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi (recommended editions: Raimondi-Bottoni, Milano, Principato, 1988; 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. Verga, I Malavoglia or Mastro-don Gesualdo (any unabridged edition; recommended critical readings: N. Borsellino, Storia di Verga, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1982, or R. Luperini, Verga moderno, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005).

- G. D'Annunzio, Il piacere or Alcyone (recommended editions: both ed. by F. Roncoroni, Milano, Mondadori, 1982 e 1990 respectively; recommended critical readings: G. Bàrberi Squarotti, Invito alla lettura di Gabriele D'Annunzio, Milano, Mursia, 1990, or N. Lorenzini, D'Annunzio, Palermo, Palumbo, 1993).

- G. Pascoli, Myricae (ed. by G. Nava, Roma, Salerno, 1991; recommended critical readings: M. Pazzaglia, Pascoli, Roma, Salerno, 2002; G. Capecchi, Giovanni Pascoli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011).

- L. Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascal and Sei personaggi in cerca di autore (recommended editions: Mattia Pascal, Casadei, Milano, Rizzoli, 2007; Personaggi, Davico Bonino, Torino, Einaudi, 1993; recommended critical readings: C.S. Nobili, Luigi Pirandello: guida al «Fu Mattia Pascal», Roma, Carocci, 2004, or M. Polacco, Pirandello, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010).

- I. Svevo, La coscienza di Zeno (any edition; recommended critical readings: A. Cavaglion, Italo Svevo, Milano, Mondadori, 2000).

- G. Ungaretti, L'Allegria (recommended editions: Piccioni, Milano, Mondadori, 1969; recommended critical readings: D. Baroncini, Ungaretti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010).

- E. Montale, Ossi di seppia (recommended editions: Cataldi-D'Amely, Milano, Mondadori, 2003; recommended critical readings: G. Marcenaro, Eugenio Montale, Milano, Mondadori, 1999; R. Luperini, Storia di Montale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005).

- C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore , or Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana (any edition of Pasticciaccio and Manzotti's edition of La cognizione, Torino, Einaudi, 1987; recommended critical readings: A. Pecoraro, Gadda, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998; R. Rinaldi, Gadda, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010).

- I. Calvino, I nostri antenati: Il visconte dimezzato; Il barone rampante; Il cavaliere inesistente (any edition; recommended critical readings: M. Barenghi, Calvino, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009; S. Perrella, Calvino, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010).

Students are required to produce a written list of all their readings detailing which cantos, poems, or prose texts they have selected.

B.4) Literary history

Students are required to show a sound knowledge of the literary history of the two centuries to which the authors selected under B.2 and B.3 belong. Recommended textbooks: G. Ferroni, Torino, Einaudi, 1991; E. Raimondi, Milano, B. Mondadori, 2003; G. Ruozzi, Milano, Paravia, 2006; R. Luperini, Milano, Palumbo, 2009; A Battistini, Bologna, il Mulino, 2014.

Readings/Bibliography

See the preceding section.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars involving text analysis and class discussion.

Formative written assignments

Assessment methods

Written exam (4 hours). The choice of questions includes an essay on literary history and text analysis. 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. In some cases (for instance: non-native speakers of Italian), students might be allowed to substitute the written exam with a 3,000-word essay, whose topic must be agreed in advance  with the lecturer.

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

• Lectures and seminars
• PowerPoint presentations
• AMS Campus

Office hours

See the website of Angelo Maria Mangini