00562 - Italian Literature (A-C)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students are expected to show a sound knowledge of the Italian literary tradition through the close reading of selected texts; they will also be able to develop critical reflections on the material under analysis and present clear and accurate interpretations of it, both orally and in writing, by applying independently and appropriately the methodology introduced by the lecturer.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Course of lessons

Lecture notes and teaching materials available online through the Virtual platform.

2. Manuals and texts for the institutional part (A): 2.a) Textbooks: Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi,Profilo di Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori, 2021 (single volume: the part to be studied reaches as far as Tasso, p. 385); L. Chines, Glossario dei termini metrici e retorici (available on Virtuale) and the anthology edited by Anselmi-Chines-Bernardi-Di Franco-Severi, Leggere i classici italiani. Un'antologia, Bologna, Pàtron, 2019, up to Torquato Tasso, p. 99; optional reading, however very educational, by M. Motolese, Scritti a mano. Otto storie di capolavori italiani da Boccaccio a Eco, Milano, Garzanti, 2017 (two chapters chosen by the student).

2.b) Texts (the "recommended critical readings" next to each text are not mandatory): Dante Alighieri, Vita Nova (complete reading, recommended edition: Carrai, Rizzoli, 2009); Inferno (complete reading, or, alternatively, 33 cantos of the Comedy, equally divided between Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso: in this case, the list will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of the lessons); recommended editions with commentary: Pasquini-Quaglio, Garzanti, 1982-86; G. Inglese, Carocci, 2007; Chiavacci Leonardi, Mondadori, 2005. Recommended critical readings: E. Auerbach, Studies on Dante, Milan, Feltrinelli, 2005; E. Pasquini, Life of Dante. The days and the works, Milan, Rizzoli, 2006; G. Ledda, Dante, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008.

F. Petrarca, Canzoniere, liriche I, III, V, XI, XVI, XXXV, LII, LXI, XC, CXXVI, CXXVIII, CXXIX, CXXXIV, CXXXVII, CCLXXII, CCCII, CCCXXXIII, CCCXXXVI, CCCLXVI; recommended editions:: Vecchi, Bur, 2012; Santagata, Mondadori, 1996 (2004 2^a ed.); recommended reading: L. Chines, Petrarca, Bologna, Pàtron, 2017;

G. Boccaccio, Decameron, trenta novelle (l'elenco verrà fornito dal docente al principio delle lezioni); recommended editions: Veglia, Feltrinelli, 2020; Quondam – Fiorilla – Alfano, Bur, 2013; recommended reading: F. Bausi, Leggere il Decameron, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017;reading Corbaccio is optional, but recommended.

Matteo Maria Boiardo, Orlando innamorato (L'inamoramento de Orlando), Libro I, canti I e II, ; recommended edition: a cura di A. Canova, Milano, BUR, 2011; recommended reading: Tiziano Zanato, Boiardo, Roma, Salerno, 2015.

N. Machiavelli, Il principe (lettura integrale); recommended editions: Anselmi-Varotti, Bollati Boringhieri, 1992; G. Inglese, Einaudi, 2005; R. Ruggiero, Bur, 2008; recommended reading: R. Bruscagli, Machiavelli, Il Mulino, 2008; G.M. Anselmi, N. Bonazzi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Le Monnier, 2011;reading N. Machiavelli, Mandragola and F. Guicciardini, Riccordi, is optional, but recommended (see: N. Machiavelli, Mandragola, a cura di P. Stoppelli, Milano, Mondadori, 2016; F. Guicciardini, Ricordi, a cura di E. Pasquini, Milano, Garzanti, 2003, oppure a cura di C. Varotti, Roma, Carocci, 2013; disponibile anche sul sito della Biblioteca Italiana, secondo il testo dell'edizione critica di Raffaele Spongano del 1951).

L. Ariosto, Orlando furioso, canti I, XII, XXIII, XXXIV; edizione commentata consigliata: Bigi - Zampese, Milano, Bur, 2015; recommended reading: S. Zatti, Leggere l’Orlando furioso, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016; C. Dini, Ariosto. Guida all’Orlando furioso, Roma, Carocci, 2001;

T. Tasso, Gerusalemme liberata, canti I, XII, XVI; recommended editiona: a cura di F. Tomasi, Milano, Bur, 2009; recommended reading: M. Residori, Tasso, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009; G. Alfano, Torquato Tasso, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2010.

3. Texts for the monographic part (B):Attending students, as indicated above, must know the texts read in class and the notes taken during the lessons. They will also have to study an opera chosen from Corbaccio, Mandragola and Ortis. Non-attending students will have to study two works among those listed above.

Available to all students, some in-depth essays will be uploaded to Virtuale as possible further information.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students are required to study the manuals indicated in point 2 a, the study of the texts indicated in section 2b, for point 3, of two complete works among those covered in class.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons. Due to the characteristics of the course, which is based on dialogue with texts, widespread student participation is desirable.
Before tackling a text, one or more lessons will be dedicated to the presentation of the author and the work.
Before each lesson, therefore at the end of the previous lesson, students are invited to ask which text the following lesson will focus on. It is advisable for students to have the text they are discussing with them in class.

Assessment methods

Assessment for the course includes a written and an oral exam.

Written exam (2 hours). Students will be required to analyse texts included in the reading list, showing their ability to discuss their thematic and formal features, as well as the cultural and literary context. Students will also be required to answer some questions about the history of Italian literature, metrics, rhetoric, philology. The choice of questions will include: two commentaries of texts selected from the reading list for the first (general) part of the course; one question on Italian literary history; one question on the topic of the second part (monographic) of the course. Students are required to sit the written exam before taking the oral exam, but they are allowed to take the oral exam even if they don't 'pass' the written exam. The result of the written exam will form a part of the final overall mark. Markers will assess: accuracy of the answers; quality of expression and critical language; structure of argument; quality of critical reflection; knowledge of the contents of the course; ability to provide clear and accurate interpretations of the texts; ability to use the specialist language of literary criticism.

In some cases (for instance: non-native speakers of Italian), students might be allowed to substitute the written exam with a 3,000-word essay, whose topic must be agreed in advance with the lecturer.

Oral exam (approx. 30 minutes). 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. Students may choose whether they prefer to discuss sections 1 (lectures) and 2 (set primary readings and textbook) in a single oral exam or in two different sessions.

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 (both written and verbal); 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 verbal and written 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 verbal and written expression with major problems in the use of technical language will result in a fail.

Teaching tools

 Seminars

Presentations, where deemed necessary, PowerPoint

'Virtual' e-learning platform (for in-depth texts and essays).

Office hours

See the website of Marco Veglia