30079 - Anglo-American Literature 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students will master a variety of North American literary productions in relation to their cultural, social and technological realities. Students will learn to appreciate literary productions as part of  complex, trans-media and inclusive contexts.

Course contents

“(Re)Writing America: Exploring American Literary Logocracy”

At the beginning of the 19th century, writer and diplomat Washington Irving ironically presented the new republic established with the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) as a “a pure unadulterated logocracy, or government of words”. The United States was thus presented to the world as a nation where “every offensive or defensive measure is enforced by wordy battle and paper war; he who has the longest tongue is sure to gain the victory.” Over time, that “government of words” helped shape idealized visions of the United States; in turn these visions mirrored political, social, and cultural agendas that saw the triumph of those who possessed not only the longest tongue but also the means to construct and disseminate (by hook or by crook) dominant narratives. The United States has thus been "invented" each time through stories that have "made History," understood here as the implementation of a "manifest destiny" that, from a divine plan, turned into a carefully conceived project, also through the development of a national literature.

Since the second half of the twentieth century, and with growing emphasis in the new millennium, that manifest destiny and those narratives have been challenged by new stories and rewritings that question not only the facts, events, and ideas underlying the American identity project; but also the rhetorical devices with which, over time, a systemic imagination has been constructed—an imagination charged with widespread prejudices perceived as truth.

This course explores the above through the analysis of several texts written after 9/11, all winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. These texts rewrite great American classics or great American mythopoeic narratives, effectively shaping alternative visions that restore agency to the literary sign. In the era of post-truth, fake news, and social media, new versions of old stories are read here as strategies to overcome the polarization of public debate, recover civic dignity, and encourage critical thinking.

These are the works examined:

• Percival Everett, James (2024; 2025)
• Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman (2020; 2021)
• Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead (2022; 2023)
• Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016;2017)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer (2015; 2016)

Please Note: This course is organized as part of the sustainability phase of the European Project “PERFORMIGRATIONS: People Are the Territory”, in the frame of the spin-off research project “WeTell: Storytelling and Civic Awareness” (https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en ) and in collaboration with the literary portal https://site.unibo.it/canadausa . The main goal is to encourage a new global mentality, deeply rooted in the humanities, so to reorient today geopolitics and create a happier and more just world. No knowledge is useful if it leads to satisfy only a few people’s urgent needs, be that material or emotional; knowledge is useful if it induces us to question our communal existence, helping us to learn how to act upon our community in responsible ways, in turn leading to a truly shared happiness.

Important: EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AND DIVERSITY (IN ALL ITS FORMS) IS WELCOME TOO.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities: It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the course director in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

The bibliography will be given at the beginning of the course and will be implemented every week; it will be posted on the Virtuale Platform.

 

Teaching methods

Students’ active participations is strongly encouraged. 

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of two parts:

a) Oral Exam.

Students can choose between:

• Class presentations in English, focusing on one of the novels discussed in class, in the frame of the course themes. They can be individual or in groups (maximum 4 people): 15 minutes + 5 minutes for discussion. Class presentations will be held in December 2025.

• Alternatively, students can choose to take an oral exam on one of the exam dates indicated on AlmaEsami (further details in part b, here below).

b) Written Exam

For students who choose the class presentation: A report in English (3,500-4,000 words) based on the novel discussed. The report will be guided by questions provided by the instructor at the end of the course.

For students who choose the oral exam: Essay in English (3,500-4,000 words). Students must select their focus and construct a customized bibliography, under the instructor's supervision, consisting of at least two primary sources and four secondary sources (of which a maximum of two non-literary sources, such as films, television series, video games, music, etc.). Essays will be evaluated based on methodology, consistent critical thinking, and a working hypothesis in line with the course themes. Particularly appreciated are: Student’s ability to reorganize course materials into an original critical discourse/perspective; sound reference to American literature, history and culture; Quality and property of the written language (English). Important: the essay must be submitted at least ten (10) days before the oral exam.

 

Teaching tools

Traditional and Multimedia tools

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en

Office hours

See the website of Elena Lamberti