14055 - Italian Literature II (1) (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.

Course contents

1. Course of lectures

Course title: Culture and Literature of the Baroque.

A specific critical perspective will be applied to a series of texts in Italian literature, focusing on works and authors from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century (up to the Unification of Italy) included in the syllabus.

Attending students must study the teaching materials indicated in point 1 of the Texts/Bibliography section and be familiar with the texts and topics covered in class.

Please note: Attending students are those who have taken at least 2/3 of the course, i.e. at least 10 lessons out of 15.

2. Individual study

Through the manuals and texts indicated in point 2 of the Texts/Bibliography section, students will undertake the study of the history of Italian literature from Tasso (excluded) to the Unification of Italy (1861) and of a selection of canonical literary texts.

Non-attending students: see the appropriate section in Texts/Bibliography.

Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is suggested to get in touch immediately with the University office responsible(https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) and with the lecturer, in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the exam.

Changes of lecturer are not permitted. Only in special cases, with well-documented needs and with the consent of both lecturers involved, can exceptions be considered.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Course lectures
Lecture notes and teaching materials available online via the Virtuale Platform. Critical readings will be suggested during the course.
2. Manuals and texts
2a) Manuals: Attending students: Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Profilo di Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento, Milan, Mondadori, 2021 or subsequent reprint (single volume), pp. 387-643); non-attending students: Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento, Milan, Mondadori, 2018 or subsequent reprint, pp. 55-603.
2b) Texts (the ‘recommended critical readings’ are just recommended and, therefore, not compulsory):
G. Galilei, Il saggiatore (recommended ed.: Guaragnella-Lavopa, Milano, Rizzoli, 2023). Recommended critical reading A. Battistini, Galileo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011.
G.B. Marino, Adone, Canto I (recommended ed.: Russo, Milano, Rizzoli, 2013). Recommended critical reading: E. Russo, Marino, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008.
C. Goldoni, La locandiera (any unabridged edition, possibly with an adequate introduction and commentary; it is particularly recommended the ed. Mamone-Megale, Venezia, Marsilio, 2007). Recommended critical readings: F. Fido, Nuova guida a Goldoni. Teatro e società nel Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000; C. Alberti, Goldoni, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004; Goldoni e il teatro comico del Settecento, edited by P. Vescovo, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
V. Alfieri, Saul and Mirra or Vita (any unabridged edition, commented and provided with an adequate introduction); recommended critical readings: G. Fenocchio, Alfieri, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012; A. Di Benedetto, V. Perdichizzi, Alfieri, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2014; A. Battistini, Svelare e rigenerare. Studi sulla cultura del Settecento, edited by A. Cristiani and F. Ferretti, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2019, pp. 233-279.
U. Foscolo, Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis; recommended editions: Binni-Felici, Milano, Garzanti, 2007; Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012; recommended critical readings: M. Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino; A. Campana, Ugo Foscolo. Literature and Politics, Napoli, Liguori, 2010; M. A. Tezoli, Foscolo, Bari, Laterza, 2020).
G. Leopardi: the 10 canti and 4 operette indicated below. Canti, I (‘All'Italia’); IX (‘Ultimo canto di Saffo’); XI (‘Il passero solitario’); XII (‘L'infinito’); XIII (‘La sera del dì di festa’); XXI (‘A Silvia’); XXIII (‘Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell'Asia’); XXVIII (‘’A se stesso‘’); XXXIII (‘Il tramonto della luna’); XXIV (‘La ginestra, o il fiore del deserto’). Operette morali, XII (Dialogo della Natura e di un Islandese); XVIII (Cantico del gallo silvestre); XXI (Il Copernico. Dialogo); XXIII (Dialogo di un venditore d'almanacchi e di un passeggere). Recommended editions of the Canti: Gavazzeni-Lombardi (Milano, Rizzoli, 1998); Campana ( Roma, Carocci, 2014); Blasucci (Parma, Guanda, 2 vols., 2019-2023); of the Operette: Melosi, (Milano, Rizzoli, 2010). Also recommended the ed. G. Leopardi, I Canti e le Operette morali, edited by G. Tellini, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1994. Recommended critical readings: G. Tellini, Leopardi, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2001; M.A. Bazzocchi, Leopardi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008.

A. Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, reading (or re-reading) the novel in its entirety. The reading of Storia della colonna infame, an appendix to the novel, is optional. Recommended editions: Raimondi-Bottoni, Milano, Principato, 1987 (reprinted: Roma, Carocci, 2021); Nigro, Milano, Mondadori, 2006; De Cristofaro, Milano, Rizzoli, 2014; recommended critical readings: E. Raimondi, Il romanzo senza idillio, Bologna, il Mulino, 1974 or later reprint; F. De Cristofaro, Manzoni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009; Frare, Leggere i Promessi Sposi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2016.

Non-attending students
In addition to the texts indicated in section 2b, non-attending students are required to study the textbook by Alfano-Italia-Russo-Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento, Milano, Mondadori, 2018 or later ed., vol. 2, pp. 55-603 (from Epoch 6, ch. 2 to the end of Epoch 9). Non-attending students are obviously NOT required to study the materials available on Virtuale. Please note: the study of the aforementioned Profilo di Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a fine Ottocento is reserved for attending students ONLY.

Assessment methods

Knowledge is tested through a written test on the PC, with the EOL programme, lasting 2 hours (up to a maximum of 3 hours for students with a DSA certificate) and is divided into three sections: the first consists of a sequence of 15 multiple-choice questions (quizzes) on the Alfano, Italia, Russo, Tomasi textbook (any of the two versions) in which one point is awarded for each correct question and 0 points for each incorrect or missing answer. The second section (max. 10 points) consists of recognition, comprehension and a brief critical analysis of a literary text from among those listed in the course syllabus  (max 15 lines). The third section consists of two open questions to be answered in 10 lines each: these questions concern, for attending students, the topics of the lecture course and, for non-attending students, two topics from the textbook Alfano, Italia, Russo, Tomasi, Da tasso a fine Ottocento, Mondadori 2018 (max 4 points for each answer). The maximum score achievable is therefore 33, equivalent to 30L.

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.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Baffetti