00562 - Italian Literature (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has a decent knowledge of Italian literary tradition, a fair capacity for critical analysis and sufficient writing skills.

Course contents

First part of the course:

Dante, Purgatorio

In this part of the course, we will analyze the second canticle of The Divine Comedy (themes, style, diegesis), bringing our attention also to other Dante's works and to the literature between the 13th and 14th centuries.

 Second part of the course:

F. Guicciardini, Ricordi

In this part of the course, we will examine the book of aphorisms by Francesco Guicciardini and compare it with Machiavelli's works and works by other writers and thinkers between the 16th and 19th centuries (especially Leopardi).

Readings/Bibliography

The course includes the following:

A- a monographic section

B- a general section

 

A- MONOGRAPHIC SECTION

A.1 Bibliography for attending students:

Students attending, in addition to the notes and anthological readings addressed in the course, will have to prepare in-depth two reading:

1. Dante, Purgatorio (canti: I, II, III, V, VIII, XI, XVI, XXII, XXIV, XXVIII, XXX, XXXI). Recommanded editions: U. Bosco-G. Reggio (Firenze, Le Monnier, 1979); E. Pasquini-A.E. Quaglio (Milano, Garzanti, 1982-1986); A.M. Chiavacci Leonardi (Milano, Mondadori, 1991-1997 or Bologna, Zanichelli, 1999-2001). Recommended critical readings: E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Bur-Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Leggere la «Commedia», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016.

2. F. Guicciardini, Ricordi (full reading). Recommended editions: E. Pasquini, Milano, Garzanti, 1975 (and more recent reprints); V. De Caprio, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1990; C. Varotti, Roma, Carocci, 2013. Recommended critical readings: E. Cutinelli Rendina, Guicciardini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2009; C. Varotti, Francesco Guicciardini, Napoli, Liguori, 2010.

3. The teaching materials and readings discussed in class that will be posted on virtuale.unibo.it platform.

A. 2 Bibliography for not-attending students:

1. Dante, Purgatorio (canti: I, II, III, V, VIII, XI, XVI, XXII, XXIV, XXVIII, XXX, XXXI) [for recommended editions see above]

2. F. Guicciardini, Ricordi (full reading) [for the recommended editions see above];

3. In place of the lessons and anthological readings covered within the course, it is necessary to study the following manual: Itinerari nella letteratura italiana: da Dante al web, a cura di N. Bonazzi, A. Campana, F. Giunta e N. Maldina, coordinamento di G. M. Anselmi, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (o precedenti edizioni).

B- GENERAL SECTION

There are no differences here between attending and not-attending students:

The student must choose one reading from the B serie, at his discretion. The preparation includes the study of the biography of the author with its historical-cultural framework, the content of all his works, poetics and themes. About the chosen reading, the student will have to know the history of the composition, sources, structure, themes, language, style and fortune.

The student must present himself / herself with the list of the readings he / she has performed for the general section, specifying, where the work is not integral, which songs, which poems or which prose has chosen.

LIST B)

- Dante Alighieri, Vita nova. Recommended editions (among the many available): Vita nuova – Rime, a cura di A. Battistini; nuova ed. riveduta a cura di L. Giglio, Roma, Salerno, 2022; Vita nova, a cura di S. Carrai, Milano, Bur-Rizzoli, 2009; Vita nova, a cura di L. C. Rossi, Milano, Mondadori, 2016.

- Dante, 12 cantos of your choice from Inferno or from Paradiso (recommended editions: Pasquini-Quaglio, Milano, Garzanti; recommended critical readings: E. Pasquini, Vita di Dante. I giorni e le opere, Milano, Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Leggere la «Commedia», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- F. Petrarca, Canzoniere, 30 poems of your choice (recommended edition: Vecchi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2012; recommended critical readings: M. Ariani, Petrarca, Roma-Napoli, Salerno Editrice, 2002; E. Fenzi, Petrarca, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; L. Chines, Petrarca, Bologna, Pàtron, 2017).

- G. Boccaccio, Decameron, three days of your choice (recommended editions: Veglia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2020; recommended critical readings: L. Battaglia Ricci, Boccaccio, Roma-Napoli, Salerno Editrice, 2000; L. Surdich, Boccaccio, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; F. Bausi, Leggere il «Decameron», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- N. Machiavelli, Il Principe and Mandragola or Discorsi sopra la prima Deca di Tito Livio (recommended editions for Il Principe: Anselmi-Varotti, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; Inglese, Torino, Einaudi, 2005; Ruggiero, Milano, Bur-Rizzoli, 2008; for La mandragola: Gibellini-Piras, Garzanti, 2014; Davico Bonino, Einaudi, 2015; Stoppelli, Mondadori, 2016; for the Discorsi: Sasso-Inglese, Milano, Bur-Rizzoli, 2000; Vivanti, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; Bausi, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2001; Rinaldi, Torino, UTET, 2006; recommended critical readings: F. Bausi, Machiavelli, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2005; R. Bruscagli, Machiavelli, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008; G.M. Anselmi, Leggere Machiavelli, Bologna, Pàtron, 2014).- F. Guicciardini, Ricordi (recommended editions: Varotti, Roma, Carocci; Pasquini, Milano, Garzanti; recommended critical readings: E. Cutinelli Rendina, Guicciardini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2009; C. Varotti, Francesco Guicciardini, Napoli, Liguori, 2010).

- L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso, 5 cantos of your choice (recommended edition by C. Zampese, with comm. by E. Bigi, Milano, Bur, 2012; recommended critical readings: C. Dini, Ariosto. Guida all’«Orlando furioso», Roma, Carocci, 2001; G. Ferroni, Ariosto, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008; S. Jossa, Ariosto, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Zatti, Leggere l’«Orlando Furioso», Bologna, il Mulino, 2016).

- T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, 5 cantos of your choice (recommended editions: Tomasi, Milano, Bur, 2009; recommended critical readings: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010; F. Ferretti, Narratore notturno: aspetti del racconto nella «Gerusalemme liberata», Pisa, Pacini, 2010; Emilio Russo, Guida alla lettura della «Gerusalemme liberata» di Tasso, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014).

- G. Galilei, Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo, two giornate of your choice (recommended editions: Flora, Milano, Mondadori, 1996; Atzori, Firenze, Sansoni, 2001; Sosio, Torino, Einaudi, 2002; Beltrán Marí, Milano, Bur, 2008; or Il Saggiatore (raccomanded edition Guaragnella-Lavopa, Milano, Bur, 2023. Recommended critical readings: M.L. Altieri Biagi, Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi, in Letteratura Italiana diretta da A. Asor Rosa. Le Opere, II, Torino, Einaudi, 1993, pp. 894-971; A. Battistini, Galileo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011).

- G.B. Marino, Adone, 5 cantos of your choice (recommended editions: Russo, Milano, Bur, 2013; Pozzi, Milano, Adelphi, 1988; recommended critical readings: E. Russo, Marino, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008).

- C. Goldoni, three comedies to choose among the following: I rusteghi, Il servitore di due padroni, La bottega del caffè, La locandiera, Le baruffe chiozzotte, Una delle ultime sere di Carnovale (any complete edition; recommended critical readings: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004; Bruno Capaci, Gianluca Simeoni, Goldoni: la vita in commedia e la commedia nella vita, Napoli, Liguori, 2012).

- G. Parini, Le odi or Il giorno (recommended editions: Nicoletti, Milano, Bur, 2011; Bonora, Milano, Mursia, 1999; Erbani, Milano, Guanda, 2010; recommended critical readings: G. Nicoletti, Parini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2016).

- V. Alfieri, Saul and Mirra (any complete edition; recommended critical readings: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014).

- U. Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis, Poesie and Dei Sepolcri (recommended editions for Ortis: Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007; Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012; for Poesie and Dei Sepolcri: Martinelli, Milano, Mondadori, 1987; Palumbo, Milano, Bur, 2010; recommended critical readings: A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Letteratura e politica, Napoli, Liguori, 2010; M. Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010).

- A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi (recommended editions: De Cristofaro, Milano, Bur, 2014; Nigro, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; recommended critical readings: A. Cottignoli, Guida ai «Promessi sposi», Roma, Carocci, 2002; F. De Cristofaro, Manzoni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; G. Raboni, Come lavorava Manzoni, Roma, Carocci, 2017).

- G. Leopardi, Canti, 20 poems of your choice (recommended edition: Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014); recommended critical readings: G. Tellini, Leopardi, Roma, Salerno ed., 2001, M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008.

- G. Leopardi, Operette morali, 20 texts of your choice (recommended edition: Melosi, Milano, Bur, 2008, or subsequent reprints); recommended critical readings: G. Tellini, Leopardi, Roma, Salerno ed., 2001, M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008.

- G. Verga, Mastro-don Gesualdo or Vita dei campi and Novelle rusticane (complete editions; recommended critical readings: N. Borsellino, Storia di Verga, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1982; R. Luperini, Verga moderno, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; P. Pellini, Verga, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; G. Alfieri, Verga, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2016).

- G. d’Annunzio, Alcyone (recommended editions: P. Gibellnii, Milano, Garzanti, 2006; F. Roncoroni, Milano, Mondadori, 2020; d’Annunzio, Versi d'amore e di gloria, ed. diretta da Luciano Anceschi, a cura di A. Andreoli e N. Lorenzini, Milano, Mondadori, 1982-84, II; recommended critical readings: G. Bàrberi Squarotti, Invito alla lettura di Gabriele D’Annunzio, Milano, Mursia, 1990; N. Lorenzini, D’Annunzio, Palermo, Palumbo, 1993; S. Costa, D’Annunzio, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2012).

- G. Pascoli, Myricae or Canti di Castelvecchio; recommended editions (for Myricae) by G. Lavezzi, Milano, Bur, 2015; G. Nava, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1991; (for Canti): G. Nava, Rizzoli, Bur, 2011; recommended critical readings: M. Pazzaglia, Pascoli, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002; G. Capecchi, Giovanni Pascoli, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011; M. Castoldi, Pascoli, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011; C. Chiummo, Guida alla lettura di «Myricae», Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014).

- L. Pirandello, Uno, nessuno e centomila and Enrico IV (complete editions); recommended critical readings: M. Guglielminetti, Pirandello, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006; M. Polacco, Pirandello, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; A.R. Pupino, Pirandello poetiche e pratiche di umorismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014).

- U. Saba, Il Canzoniere, one of your choice of the three Volumi [I.1900-1920; II.1921-1932; III.1933-1954] (recommended editions: Lavagetto-Stara, Mondadori, 1988: recommended critical readings: S. Carrai, Saba, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2017; U. Saba, Storia e cronistoria del Canzoniere, introduzione di S. Carrai, Milano, Mondadori, 2023).

- G. Ungaretti, L’Allegria (recommended editions: Piccioni, Milano, Mondadori, 1969 e successive; Ossola, Milano, Mondadori, 2016; recommended critical readings: D. Baroncini, Ungaretti, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; Niva Lorenzini, Stefano Colangelo, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2012; A. Saccone, Ungaretti, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2012).

- E. Montale, Ossi di seppia or Le occasioni (recommended editions: Cataldi-D’Amely, Milano, Mondadori, 2016; De Rogatis, Milano, Mondadori, 2011; recommended critical readings: G. Marcenaro, Eugenio Montale, Milano, Mondadori, 1999; T. Arvigo, Guida alla lettura di Montale: «Ossi di seppia», Roma, Carocci, 2001; G. Ioli, Montale, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002; R. Luperini, Storia di Montale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005; A. Casadei, Montale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008).

- C.E. Gadda, La cognizione del dolore or Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana (complete editions; recommended critical readings: A. Pecoraro, Gadda, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998; R. Rinaldi, Gadda, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010; M. Bersani, Gadda, Torino, Einaudi, 2012; G. Patrizi, Gadda, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014; P. Italia, Come lavorava Gadda, Roma, Carocci, 2017).

- I. Calvino, Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno, Marcovaldo and Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore (complete editions; recommended critical readings: F. Serra, Calvino, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006; M. Barenghi, Calvino, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; S. Perrella, Calvino, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010).

Other editions or reprints of the texts in list B are also accepted, provided they are agreed with the teacher before the exam.

The student will also have to know in-depth the period of Italian literary history (contexts, authors, works, movements, poetic orientations, themes and critical problems) to which the author chosen belongs.

The prescribed readings are the manuals by G. Alfano, P. Italia, E. Russo, F. Tomasi, Profilo di letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori, 2021 and A. Casadei, Il Novecento, seconda ed., Bologna, il Mulino, 2005. More exactly:

- if you choose Dante or Petrarch or Boccaccio, Profilo di letteratura italiana, pp. 3-156;

- if you choose Machiavelli or Ariosto or Tasso, Profilo di letteratura italiana, pp. 159-360;

- if you choose Galileo or Marino, Profilo di letteratura italiana, pp. 363-456;

- if you choose Goldoni or Parini or Alfieri, Profilo di letteratura italiana, pp. 443-515;

- if you choose Foscolo or Manzoni or Leopardi or Verga or d'Annunzio or Pascoli, Profilo di letteratura italiana, pp. 519-702;

- if you choose Pirandello or Ungaretti or Montale or Gadda or Calvino, Il Novecento by Casadei.

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 lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

30 (two hours) traditional lessons.

Assessment methods

Oral exam. The interview (approx. 30 minutes) serves to probe the knowledge of the texts in question together with the problems related to their interpretation and the historical-literary context.

Students will be required to discuss their readings and the contents of the course. Markers will assess: standard of expression; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to discuss the contents of the course; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism; quality of critical reflection. The study of the institutional section and the monographic section will be tested in a single oral exam.

Assessment Criteria. To be awarded a final mark between 27 and 30 cum laude students are expected to: show the ability to analyse in depth literary texts following the methodology introduced by the lecturer and/or in the set critical readings; possess and be able to present both verbally and in writing a thorough and organic knowledge of the topics discussed in class and/or in the set readings; show an excellent standard of expression; show the ability to use properly the technical language of philology and literary criticism. A mark between 23 and 26 will be awarded to students who will show: a good knowledge of the course contents; the ability to provide an accurate analysis of literary texts (although there might be some minor imperfections); a good standard of expression (with occasional minor flaws in the presentation and/or in the use of technical language). Students obtaining a mark between 18 and 22 will typically show: an adequate but superficial knowledge of the contents; a basic understanding of the texts and a limited ability to analyse them, an acceptable standard of expression with a fairly competent (although not always accurate) use of technical language. Poor knowledge of the set texts and course topics, inadequate ability to analyse literary texts; inaccurate and inappropriate expression with major problems in the use of technical language will result in a fail.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The teaching material presented in class (texts) will be projected on the classroom multimedia board and made available on VIRTUALE.

We will often use the most important database of Italian literary texts: "Biblioteca Italiana", BiBit, http://www.bibliotecaitaliana.it/

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Campana