31038 - Polish Literature 1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will know the history of Polish literature from Middle Ages up to the end of the XVIII century. A special attention will be paid to the relationship betweenthe literary texts and their historical, ideological and linguistical contexts, and - in a comparative perspective -to the cultural connections between Italy and Poland. The student will be introduced to the methods for analysis and interpretation of a literary text.

Course contents

The course will will consist of two parts: a monographic part and a general part, both common for all years.

Monographic part:

Poland, Ukraine, Russia: East of the West, West of the East

This monographic course will focus on the complex relationships that, over the centuries, have united Polish literature and authors with Russian and Ukrainian literature and authors, from the vicissitudes of the Mohylian Academy through Mickiewicz's experiences in Russia and the Crimea to the recent ties of friendship and collaboration between Stasiuk and Andruchovic.

The general context will be provided and some emblematic and relevant cases will be presented.

The course aims to provide useful elements for all students interested in the Slavic world.

General part:

Polish contemporary literature

Lessons will be about themes, works, authors of particular importance in the history of Polish literature from WWII to nowadays.

Readings/Bibliography

Monographic part:

Primary texts will be provided by the lecturer. For a historical-critical framework see:

L. Marinelli, Fra Oriente europeo e Occidente slavo. Russia e Polonia, Lithos, Roma 2008.

Other critical texts will be indicated during the course.

General part:

W. Gombrowicz, Ferdydurke;

Cz. Milosz, Zniewolony umysl;

G. Herling-Grudzinski, Inny Swiat;

T. Borowski, Pozegnanie z Maria

T. Konwicki, Mala apokalipsa;

S. Mrozek, Tango;

T. Kantor,  Umarla klasa;

M. Białoszewski, Pamiętnik z powstania warszawskiego;

Cz. Milosz, Poems (the ones read during the classes);

Z. Herbert, Poems (the ones read during the classes);

W. Szymborska, Poems (the ones read during the classes);

- Literary history :

Storia della letteratura polacca , a cura di L. Marinelli, Einaudi, Torino 2004 (Polish edition: Historia literatury polskiej, Ossolineum, Wroclaw 2009).

Cz. Milosz, History of Polish Literature .

- Notions about Polish history

N. Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland , Oxford University Press 2005 (the part concerning the year of study).

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

 

The examination will consist in an oral test.

The oral test will have the aim of evaluating the competence as well as the critical and methodological ability of the students. The students will be invited to discuss the tests on the course programme, both for the monographic and the general part. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography in the course programme.

Those students who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the lessons, as well as of the readings indicated in the programme bibliography, are able to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence (28-30).

Those students who demonstrate 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 given a ‘fair' mark (23-27).

A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability that is not always appropriate will be rewarded with a pass mark or just above a pass mark (18-22).

Students who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the subject matter, inappropriate language use, lack of familiarity with the literature in the programme bibliography will not be given a pass mark.

Students who cannot attend the classes or find the texts are requested to contact the teacher during the office hours (see teacher's website) or by e-mail ( andrea.ceccherelli@unibo.it ) 

Teaching tools

In addition to lessons and readings, parts of films will be shown.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Ceccherelli