41651 - Metrics and Rhetoric (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will achieve an adequate knowledge of the metrical and rhetorical analysis instruments, throughout a wide review of textual examples taken from out literary tradition, from Dante to Gadda.

Course contents

The course's aim is to provide the students with all the instruments of the metrical and rhetorical analysis, making them act into an affable seminarial marked didactical dialogue.

The literary test analysis carried out during the lessons will move from "Stil Novo" to Patrizia Valduga in poetry, and from Boccaccio to Gadda in prose.  A particular attention will be given to the relationship between intellectuals and power (deliberative), to the lover's quarrel (judicial), to the praise poems (epideictic).  A deep interest in the contemporary poetry will be confirmed by the lessons on dialogism in Eugenio Montale, the "Novissimi", Michele Mari and Patrizia Valduga.

For what concerns rhetoric, wide space will be given to the illustrations of logos and consequent argumentation places, tropes and rhetorical figures.   For what concerns metrics, further than the examination of hendecasyllable and the study of sonnets, madrigals and ballads, the attention will be on the fortune of short verses in the traditional Italian melodrama from Metastasio to Da Ponte, passing through Goldoni's burlesque dramas.

Lessons wil take place starting from February 1st, 2010, Guglielmi hall, Italianistic Department.

Time-table : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 17:00-19:00

Readings/Bibliography

B. Capaci, Presi dalle Parole, Bologna, Pardes, 2009.(II edition)

A. Battistini, Le figure della retorica, Torino, Einaudi, 1990, (only paragraphs 24-44).

C. Di Girolamo, Teoria e prassi della versificazione, Bologna, il Mulino, 1986.(reading of the parts indicated during the lessons).

Office hours

See the website of Bruno Capaci