31346 - Russian Literature 3

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have acquire d a basic knowledge of Russian history and Russian literature from the 10th century to the mid 19th century. The course will introduce students to the main strategies of text-analysis  of different types and periods.    

Course contents

LITERATURE AND TRANSLATION: EVGENIJ ZAMJATIN'S WE

The course will provide the students with a critical analysis of the narrative prose of Evgenij Zamjatin and, in particular, of his major work, the novel We. Zamjatin's works will be put in the context of the 1920s Russian prose. Connections with the literary group called «The Serapion Brothers» and with «Russian Formalism» will be also explored. Excerpts of Zamjatin's theoretical work Technique of the Prose will be read and commented in order to appreciate the narrative strategies of the author.

During the course, students will also examine problems related to the translation of some of Zamjatin's prose works, as well as the works of other authors. The most significant translation issues will be discussed. Comparison of different Italian translations of the same text will be also made. In order to develop competence in the field of literary traslation, students will be also required to translate, under the professor's supervision, some texts from Russian into Italian, thus learning to correctly use bilingual and monolingual dictionaries.

Two lessons will be entirely devoted to a translation test (prova in itinere).

NOTA BENE: The student regularly enrolled in Letteratura Russa 3 and who have passed at least one of the two tests will not have to do the translation from Russian into Italian during the Lingua Russa 3 exam.

During the course some lessons of history of Russian art, music, cinema and philosophy will be also offered.    

Readings/Bibliography

- notes taken during the classes;

- texts provided by the teacher.

READINGS FOR HISTORICAL AND LITERARY BACKGROUND (compulsory):

– RIASANOVSKY N., Storia della Russia. Dalle origini ai nostri giorni, Bompiani, Milano 1989 or reprints or other editions: from chapter XXX (“Il regno di Alessandro III e la prima parte del regno di Nicola II”) to chapter XXXIX (“L'ultimo decennio di Stalin”).

– Storia della civiltà letteraria russa, 2 voll., diretta da R. Picchio e M. Colucci, UTET, Torino 1997, vol. II, pp. 225-270.

 

Works by Zamjatin:

– La caverna, trad. di P. Zveteremich, in Narratori russi moderni, a cura di P. Zveteremich, Bompiani, Milano 1965, pp. 175-186.

– Sočinenija, 4 voll., A. Neimanis Buchvertrieb und Verlag, München 1970-88.

– In provincia, a cura e con intr. di G. Strano, Lucarini, Roma 1990.

– L'inondazione, a cura e con pref. di D. Di Sora, Biblioteca del Vascello, Roma 1992.

– Noi, a cura di E. Lo Gatto, Feltrinelli, Milano 1990 o Noi, a cura di A. Niero, Voland, Roma 2013.

– Racconti inglesi, a cura di A. Niero, Voland, Roma 1999.

– «Ics» e altri racconti, a cura e con intr. di M. Caramitti, Quid, Roma 1994.

– Tecnica della prosa, trad. di M. Olsufieva, De Donato, Bari 1970 (in russo: Sovremennaja russkaja literatura, in «Literaturnaja učëba», n. 5, 1988, pp. 130-143 e Technika chudožestvennoj prozy, in «Literaturnaja učëba», n. 6, 1988, pp. 79-107).

In Russian:

– Sočinenija, 4 voll., A. Neimanis Buchvertrieb und Verlag, München 1970-88.

 

Works on Zamjatin:

– FLAKER Aleksandar, L'«eresia di Zamjatin, in Storia della civiltà letteraria russa, a cura di R. Picchio e M. Colucci, Utet, Torino 1997, vol. II, pp. 271-274.

– GALLO Gemma, Appunti per uno studio su Zamjatin. Teoria e scrittura, in La letteratura russa: problemi e prospettive, La Quercia Edizioni, Genova 1982, pp. 157-173.

– HELLER Leonid, Evgenij Zamjatin, in Storia della letteratura russa. III. Il Novecento. 2. La rivoluzione e gli anni Venti, diretta da E. Etkind, G. Nivat, I. Serman, V. Strada, Einaudi, Torino 1990, pp. 515-532.

– LO GATTO Ettore, Prefazione, in E. Zamjatin, Noi, a cura di E. Lo Gatto, Feltrinelli, Milano 1990, pp. 5-20.

– NIERO Alessandro, Meglio mostrare che raccontare: l'immagine al potere, in E. Zamjatin, Racconti inglesi, a cura di A. Niero, Voland, Roma 1999, pp. 113-123.

– PESSINA LONGO Haisa, La trasparenza del palazzo di cristallo: Dostojevskij e Zamjatin, in Per una definizione dell'utopia,. Metodologie e discipline a confronto, a cura di N. Minerva, Longo Editore, Ravenna 1992, pp. 97-106.

 

On translation:

– DOBROVOLSKAJA Julia, Il russo: l'abc della traduzione, Cafoscarina, Venezia 1993 (o ristampe).

– MALININ Natalie, Tradurre il russo, Carocci, Roma 2012.

– NIERO Alessandro, Una “incognita” di Zamjatin: problemi di traduzione, Schena, Fasano (Brindisi) 2001.

 

 

 

Teaching methods

During each lesson texts in Russian and in Italian translation will be read and analysed.

Assessment methods

The test consists in an oral interview which has the aim of evaluating the critical and methodological ability of the students. The students will be invited to discuss the texts on the course programme. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography.

The student will be asked to answer questions concerning the historical and literary background of the relevant period (see «Readings for historical and literary background» in the box «Recommended readings») and the works of and on Zamjatin.

As far as translation is concerned, the student will be asked to answer questions concerning his/her translation of one of the two texts mentioned above.

Those students who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the lessons, are able to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence.

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.

A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability that is not always appropriate will be awarded a pass mark or just above a pass mark.

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 have difficulty in attending the lessons or finding the notes are requested to contact the professor during the office hours or by e-mail ( alessandro.niero@unibo.it ).    

Teaching tools

Video projector and PC.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Niero