Icelandic Language and Literature
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is an introduction to the study of the Icelandic language and literature. The linguistic part focuses on basic notions of Icelandic grammar, vocabulary and language use. The literary part offers an overview of Icelandic literary history with special focus on significant authors, works and genres.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will develop basic communicative skills in Icelandic. They will be able to understand and use simple sentences in everyday contexts. They will know the most important aspects of the Icelandic literary history, will be able to analyse texts in the Italian translation and discuss them with reference to the historical and cultural background.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Aimed at absolute beginners, the course consists in two sections, dedicated respectively to Icelandic literature (unit A) and to Icelandic language (Units B and C). Unit A consists of 10 lessons in the course of the term. Units B and C are one after the other, with two lessons per week (10 lessons for each units).
Students will attend units A+B for 6 ECTS; they will add unit C for 9 ECTS. MA students who take the course for the second time are required to contact the teacher for an individual syllabus.
Unit A is conceived as an introduction and provides a general overview of the social, cultural and literary development of Iceland, from the Age of Settlement to the present day with particular emphasis on the 20th century, through its rich poetic production, which for many centuries was its main literary genre.
Units B and C aim to present the morphological, grammatical and syntactic aspects of Icelandic, to stimulate linguistic understanding in the reading process and build an essential vocabulary for everyday usage.
This course programme is valid until February 2021.
Students will attend units A+B for 6 ECTS; they will add unit C for 9 ECTS. MA students who take the course for the second time are required to contact the teacher for an individual syllabus.
Unit A is conceived as an introduction and provides a general overview of the social, cultural and literary development of Iceland, from the Age of Settlement to the present day with particular emphasis on the 20th century, through its rich poetic production, which for many centuries was its main literary genre.
Units B and C aim to present the morphological, grammatical and syntactic aspects of Icelandic, to stimulate linguistic understanding in the reading process and build an essential vocabulary for everyday usage.
This course programme is valid until February 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
None. The reading list is partially in English.
Teaching methods
Teaching methodologies: frontal lessons; short home assignments; reading and analysis of literary works both during classes and individually; individual study of critical contributions.
Teaching Resources
Reading list and materials for unit A:
NB Detailed and complete information will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, all the paragraphs on Iceland: pp.19-104; 132-137; 195-201; 238-247; 371-377; 489-510; 719-729; 842-844; 881-884; 936-940.
- G. Karlsson, A Brief History of Iceland, Mál og Menning, Reykjavík 2000 (and reprints)
- P. Scardigli (ed.), Il canzoniere eddico, Garzanti, Milano 1982 (a selection of texts)
- L. Koch, Gli scaldi, Einaudi, Torino 1984 (a selection of poems)
- Ólason V., The Traditional Ballads of Iceland, Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Reykjavík 1982 (a selection of texts)
- Cosimini S., "Hallgrímur Pétursson e i Salmi", in Del Zotto C. (ed.), La letteratura cristiana in Islanda, Carocci, Roma 2010, pp. 55-86
Chiesa Isnardi G., Lirica scandinava del dopoguerra, Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali, Pisa-Roma 1997 (a selection of texts)
- Additional materials will be available on the Ariel platform
Reading list and materials for units B and C:
- A. Einarsdóttir, G. Theodórsdóttir, M. Garðarsdóttir e S. Þorvaldsdóttir, Learning Icelandic, Reykjavík, Mál og menning 2001 (and reprints), + exercise book
- Additional materials available on the Ariel platform
Reading list and materials for students who do not attend classes regularly:
Unit A (this reading list replaces the one given above for students attending classes):
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, all the paragraphs on Iceland: pp.19-104; 132-137; 195-201; 238-247; 371-377; 489-510; 719-729; 842-844; 881-884; 936-940.
- G. Karlsson, A Brief History of Iceland, Mál og Menning, Reykjavík 2000 (and reprints)
In addition, students are required to individually read the following texts in Italian translation (including and prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- Halldór Laxness, Gente indipendente, Milano, Iperborea, 2004
- Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Paradiso e Inferno, Milano, Iperborea, 2011
- Arnaldur Indriðason, Sotto la città, Milano, Guanda 2005
Units B and C: same materials as above.
The complete reading list will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course. Students that do not attend classes are required to contact the teacher per email as soon as possible in order to check their reading list.
NB Detailed and complete information will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, all the paragraphs on Iceland: pp.19-104; 132-137; 195-201; 238-247; 371-377; 489-510; 719-729; 842-844; 881-884; 936-940.
- G. Karlsson, A Brief History of Iceland, Mál og Menning, Reykjavík 2000 (and reprints)
- P. Scardigli (ed.), Il canzoniere eddico, Garzanti, Milano 1982 (a selection of texts)
- L. Koch, Gli scaldi, Einaudi, Torino 1984 (a selection of poems)
- Ólason V., The Traditional Ballads of Iceland, Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Reykjavík 1982 (a selection of texts)
- Cosimini S., "Hallgrímur Pétursson e i Salmi", in Del Zotto C. (ed.), La letteratura cristiana in Islanda, Carocci, Roma 2010, pp. 55-86
Chiesa Isnardi G., Lirica scandinava del dopoguerra, Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali, Pisa-Roma 1997 (a selection of texts)
- Additional materials will be available on the Ariel platform
Reading list and materials for units B and C:
- A. Einarsdóttir, G. Theodórsdóttir, M. Garðarsdóttir e S. Þorvaldsdóttir, Learning Icelandic, Reykjavík, Mál og menning 2001 (and reprints), + exercise book
- Additional materials available on the Ariel platform
Reading list and materials for students who do not attend classes regularly:
Unit A (this reading list replaces the one given above for students attending classes):
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, all the paragraphs on Iceland: pp.19-104; 132-137; 195-201; 238-247; 371-377; 489-510; 719-729; 842-844; 881-884; 936-940.
- G. Karlsson, A Brief History of Iceland, Mál og Menning, Reykjavík 2000 (and reprints)
In addition, students are required to individually read the following texts in Italian translation (including and prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- Halldór Laxness, Gente indipendente, Milano, Iperborea, 2004
- Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Paradiso e Inferno, Milano, Iperborea, 2011
- Arnaldur Indriðason, Sotto la città, Milano, Guanda 2005
Units B and C: same materials as above.
The complete reading list will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course. Students that do not attend classes are required to contact the teacher per email as soon as possible in order to check their reading list.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual discussion with questions by the teacher, student/teacher interaction, and comment and analysis of one or more texts included in the reading list and materials.
Before the oral exam, there will be a short preliminary written test in order to assess the student's knowledge of the Icelandic language. The written test lasts ca. 90 minutes and consists of a reading comprehension test, a short composition (max 200 words) and question/answer exercices to assess linguistic skills at level A1.
The written test will take place during the course, in two parts (at the end of units B and C; exact dates will be made known during the course). Students who do not attend the course will take the written test before the oral exam on the same day. Students must pass the written test (18/30) in order to gain access to the oral exam. The student can reject the mark of the written test and repeat it on a following occasion.
The discussion is in Italian and its duration varies according to the number of didactic units. The aim of the discussion is to ascertain: 1) that the student knows the Icelandic literary history, with special focus on the poetic production, and distinguisches the various aspects of Icelandic history, culture and society presented during classes, as well as being able to analyse the literary texts of the syllabus with reference to their authors and contexts; 2) that the student possesses adequate presentation and discussion skills, uses technical terminology correctly, is able to discuss themes critically and in a personal way.
The final mark follows the 30-point system and is calculated on the basis of the results of the written test and the oral exam, approximately in the following ratio:
exam for 6 ECTS: 30% written test, 70% oral exam.
exam for 9 ECTS: 50% written test, 50% oral exam.
The student can reject the final mark (which will be registered as "ritirato" in this case).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teacher to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
Before the oral exam, there will be a short preliminary written test in order to assess the student's knowledge of the Icelandic language. The written test lasts ca. 90 minutes and consists of a reading comprehension test, a short composition (max 200 words) and question/answer exercices to assess linguistic skills at level A1.
The written test will take place during the course, in two parts (at the end of units B and C; exact dates will be made known during the course). Students who do not attend the course will take the written test before the oral exam on the same day. Students must pass the written test (18/30) in order to gain access to the oral exam. The student can reject the mark of the written test and repeat it on a following occasion.
The discussion is in Italian and its duration varies according to the number of didactic units. The aim of the discussion is to ascertain: 1) that the student knows the Icelandic literary history, with special focus on the poetic production, and distinguisches the various aspects of Icelandic history, culture and society presented during classes, as well as being able to analyse the literary texts of the syllabus with reference to their authors and contexts; 2) that the student possesses adequate presentation and discussion skills, uses technical terminology correctly, is able to discuss themes critically and in a personal way.
The final mark follows the 30-point system and is calculated on the basis of the results of the written test and the oral exam, approximately in the following ratio:
exam for 6 ECTS: 30% written test, 70% oral exam.
exam for 9 ECTS: 50% written test, 50% oral exam.
The student can reject the final mark (which will be registered as "ritirato" in this case).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teacher to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
on Fridays from 12:00 to 13:30
to be defined