90244 - Forms of Poetic Text (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Throughout this class, students are introduced the knowledge of the fundamentals of an analytical approach to the poetic text - meter, rhythm, intonation, and the history of poetic forms - in a comparative perspective, and they become able to apply them as they read authors and poems belonging to various languages and traditions.

Course contents

Course Topic: Return to Alexandria. Ungaretti and his heritage in the history of poetic forms.

The course lasts 60 hours, equivalent to 12 course credits. For Erasmus, Overseas and students from the University of Bologna interested in earning 6 credits, the final exam presents the alternative between two options:

a. the preparation and discussion of a paper of about 25-30000 bytes, concerning a specific topic among those of the course, to be agreed with the teacher;

b. the preparation and oral exposition of one part chosen from the two that make up the entire course.

The aim of the course is to introduce students to an investigation of the main forms of modern and contemporary verse, both free and ruled, using as a plane of analysis the poetic production of Giuseppe Ungaretti and some authors, especially Italian, historically related to him, including: Vittorio Sereni, Andrea Zanzotto, Mario Luzi, Alfredo Giuliani.

Taking this course presupposes a good knowledge of 20th-century Italian literature, acquired during the BA degree.

The course begins on Monday, February 10, 2025, and proceeds with the following schedule until March 19, 2025:

Monday, 3-5 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32;
Tuesday, 3-5 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32;
Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32.

The course will resume on April 1st, 2025, and will run with the following schedule:

Tuesday, 5-7 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32;
Thursday, 5-7 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32;
Friday, 5-7 p.m., Forti Room, Via Zamboni 32.

Study materials related to the course and parts of texts that will be analyzed during the lectures will be available on the “Virtuale” web site.

Readings/Bibliography

In the Part 1 of the course, some poetic texts by Giuseppe Ungaretti, taken from the volume Vita d'un uomo. Tutte le poesie, edited and with an introductory essay by Carlo Ossola, Mondadori, Milan 2009, will be read and discussed.

The Part 2 of the course an in-depth study related to the other poets - Sereni, Zanzotto, Luzi, Giuliani - will take place. Their texts will be available to students in digital format.

The reading of the texts will be accompanied by a collective attempt  of interpretation, through the study of some essays and articles related to Ungaretti and the other poets.

Non-attending students will read:

Guido Guglielmi, Interpretazione di Ungaretti [Interpretation of Ungaretti], Il Mulino, Bologna 1989.

Any other information will be provided to students enrolled in the course on the “Virtuale” web site.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures with a strong interaction between students and teacher.

Assessment methods

For the 6 credits option see above, "Course contents".

For 12 credits, the final exam consists of an oral appointment, which aims to verify some methodological, personally developed skills. It focuses on the main theoretical matters approached throughout the class, and verifies the knowledge of the texts and essays that have been the subject of a common consideration throughout the class. Students could be invited to read and comment some samples using an original approach from a critically well-based point of view.

A positive or excellent score (27 to 30/30, even with distinction) corresponds to a full mastering of technical, theoretical, historical and typological sources, to the ability to make connections among single parts of the course contents, and to show awareness of textual features with an appropriate language; an average score (23 to 26/30) goes to students who reveal some lacks in one or more topics or analytical proofs, or are able to use barely mechanically their abilities; a pass or low score (18 to 22/30) to students with severe lacks in one or more topics or exercises, or with inaccuracies while using notions or approaching samples. A negative score is assigned to students who are not able to demonstrate any knowledge of the basic notions required.

Examination sessions take place monthly. No sessions in August. Please sign up at the "AlmaEsami" web site. The registration time ends two days before the oral examination.

Teaching tools

Excerpts from texts and criticism in digital scans.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), are kindly invited to contact the appropriate office.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Colangelo