Polish Literature 2
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is an advanced step of the Polish Literature Programme and aims to provide an introduction to the Polish theater of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The great romantic tradition, represented by the drama The Forefathers by Adam Mickiewicz, provides themes and characters for the modernist theater of "Młoda Polska" and for the Polish one of the '900.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate to have acquired a good knowledge of the history of Polish theater starting from its origins up to the post-avant-garde of Jerzy Grotowski and Tadeusz Kantor, focussing in particular on Romantic and Modernist drama.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course students should be able to remember and analyze the most relevant features of all the dramaturgical works examined and to know how to place them in the overall outline of the history of Polish theater and Polish tradition of critical studies. Student should also be able to demonstrate that they are fully aware of the most important authors and dramaturgical works of the Polish theatrical tradition. They should be able to analyze the dramaturgical texts from the point of view of style and contents, relying on the information received during the lessons and obtained from the consultation of the texts indicated in the bibliography.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course students should be able to remember and analyze the most relevant features of all the dramaturgical works examined and to know how to place them in the overall outline of the history of Polish theater and Polish tradition of critical studies. Student should also be able to demonstrate that they are fully aware of the most important authors and dramaturgical works of the Polish theatrical tradition. They should be able to analyze the dramaturgical texts from the point of view of style and contents, relying on the information received during the lessons and obtained from the consultation of the texts indicated in the bibliography.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The course, entitled Introduction to Polish theater of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: from Adam Mickiewicz to Tadeusz Kantor, aims to provide an introduction to the Polish theater of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The great romantic tradition, represented by the drama The Forefathers (Dziady) by Adam Mickiewicz, provides themes and characters for the modernist theater of the "Młoda Polska" and for the Polish theater of the 1900s: the latter constitutes one of the major contributions to contemporary European culture.
The course is divided into three teaching units: Teaching Unit A, The Polish Theater: Genesis and History, deals with the genesis of Polish 20th century theater providing a quick excursus on the scenic tradition of previous centuries, from the Middle Ages to the great romantic drama; Teaching Unit B, entitled The "Forefathers" of contemporary Polish theater: Adam Mickiewicz and Stanisław Wyspiański, provides a detailed analysis of the drama The Forefathers by Adam Mickiewicz and the most important works of the playwright, painter, set designer and director Stanisław Wyspiański;Teaching Unit C, The dramaturgical activity of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Tadeusz Kantor and Jerzy Grotowski deals with the legacy of Wyspiański in the plays of authors such as Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz ("Witkacy"), Jerzy Grotowski and Tadeusz Kantor. During the course of Teaching units B and C the reading of Polish literary texts in language is foreseen, but no specific linguistic skills are required for the students. The course program is valid until February 2022. From the 2022 summer session only the 2020-2021 program will apply.
The course is divided into three teaching units: Teaching Unit A, The Polish Theater: Genesis and History, deals with the genesis of Polish 20th century theater providing a quick excursus on the scenic tradition of previous centuries, from the Middle Ages to the great romantic drama; Teaching Unit B, entitled The "Forefathers" of contemporary Polish theater: Adam Mickiewicz and Stanisław Wyspiański, provides a detailed analysis of the drama The Forefathers by Adam Mickiewicz and the most important works of the playwright, painter, set designer and director Stanisław Wyspiański;Teaching Unit C, The dramaturgical activity of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Tadeusz Kantor and Jerzy Grotowski deals with the legacy of Wyspiański in the plays of authors such as Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz ("Witkacy"), Jerzy Grotowski and Tadeusz Kantor. During the course of Teaching units B and C the reading of Polish literary texts in language is foreseen, but no specific linguistic skills are required for the students. The course program is valid until February 2022. From the 2022 summer session only the 2020-2021 program will apply.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held partially in Polish, the materials and the bibliography for the exam presuppose the skills gained in previous courses. For students of the degree course in foreign languages and literatures, the prerequisites are those actually in force.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures, reading, translation and commentary of Polish plays and dramas.
Teaching Resources
During the course teaching materials will be distributed in the form of photocopies and others will be available on the Ariel website https://lbernardinilp1.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Bibliography
Overall bibliography for the Course:
Antonio Attisani (editor), Enciclopedia del teatro del '900, Milano, 1980, voci (pp.): Polonia: 93-103; Grotowski: 216-220; Kantor: 235-240; Witkiewicz: 328-329; Wyspiański: 330-331;
Lamberto Trezzini, Il teatro in Polonia, Cappelli Editore, Bologna 1962;
Bibliography for the specific Teaching Units:
Teaching Unit A:
Luigi Marinelli (editor), Storia della letteratura polacca, Torino, Einaudi, 2004: special reference to chapters IX-X-XI-XII;
Adam Mickiewicz, Dziady, Conrado Wallenrod e altri componimenti, Roma 2006
Teaching Unit B:
Pensare per immagini. Stanisław Wyspiański drammaturgo e pittore, edited by Andrea Ceccherelli, Elżbieta Jastrzębowska, Marcello Piacentini, Anton Maria Raffo, Accademia Polacca delle Scienze, Biblioteca e Centro di Studi a Roma (Conferenze 124), Roma 2008;
Stanisław Wyspiański, Le nozze, edited by Silvano De Fanti, Bologna, CSEO Biblioteca, 1983;
Teaching Unit C:
Jozef Chrobak (editor) Il viaggio di Tadeusz Kantor: compendio biografico, translated by Silvia Parlagreco and Natalia Zarzecka, Titivillus, Corazzano 2002;
Jerzy Grotowski, Per un teatro povero; prefazione di Peter Brook, Roma, Bulzoni, 1970;
Jennifer Kumiega (editor), Jerzy Grotowski : la ricerca nel teatro e dopo il teatro, 1959-1984, Firenze,La casa Usher 1989].
Jerzy Grotowski : testi 1968-1998, Roma, Bulzoni 2007;
Tadeusz Kantor, La mia opera, il mio viaggio: commento intimo, introduction by Gillo Dorfles, Milano : F. Motta, 1991;
Tadeusz Kantor, La classe morta, edited by Luigi Marinelli and Silvia Parlagreco; with a text by ricordo di Andrzej Wajda, Milano, Libri Scheiwiller, 2003;
Pietro Marchesani, Momenti e aspetti della fortuna di Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, «Aevum», XLVIII, 1974, pp. 160-182;
Jozef Chrobrak, Silvia Parlagreco, Valerio Valoriani, Natalia Zarzecka, Kantor. Wielopole-Wielopole. Dossier, Gremese, Roma, 2006;
Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Teatro, introduction and translations by Giovanni Pampiglione, 2 Voll., Roma, Bulzoni, 1979.
Warning for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students includes the following additional readings:
Felice Cappa e Piero Gelli (editors), Dizionario dello spettacolo del '900, Baldini e Castoldi, Milano, 1998, voci (pp.): Grotowski: i501-502; Gombrowicz: 484-85; Kantor: 569-70; Przybyszewski: 873-74; Schiller Leon: 985; Witkiewicz: 1165-66; Wyspiański: 1167-68.
Given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students dedicate an appropriate amount of time to studying and elaborating the contents of the program, obtaining notes on the content of the lessons and integrating the bibliography with further materials available online or in libraries.
Bibliography
Overall bibliography for the Course:
Antonio Attisani (editor), Enciclopedia del teatro del '900, Milano, 1980, voci (pp.): Polonia: 93-103; Grotowski: 216-220; Kantor: 235-240; Witkiewicz: 328-329; Wyspiański: 330-331;
Lamberto Trezzini, Il teatro in Polonia, Cappelli Editore, Bologna 1962;
Bibliography for the specific Teaching Units:
Teaching Unit A:
Luigi Marinelli (editor), Storia della letteratura polacca, Torino, Einaudi, 2004: special reference to chapters IX-X-XI-XII;
Adam Mickiewicz, Dziady, Conrado Wallenrod e altri componimenti, Roma 2006
Teaching Unit B:
Pensare per immagini. Stanisław Wyspiański drammaturgo e pittore, edited by Andrea Ceccherelli, Elżbieta Jastrzębowska, Marcello Piacentini, Anton Maria Raffo, Accademia Polacca delle Scienze, Biblioteca e Centro di Studi a Roma (Conferenze 124), Roma 2008;
Stanisław Wyspiański, Le nozze, edited by Silvano De Fanti, Bologna, CSEO Biblioteca, 1983;
Teaching Unit C:
Jozef Chrobak (editor) Il viaggio di Tadeusz Kantor: compendio biografico, translated by Silvia Parlagreco and Natalia Zarzecka, Titivillus, Corazzano 2002;
Jerzy Grotowski, Per un teatro povero; prefazione di Peter Brook, Roma, Bulzoni, 1970;
Jennifer Kumiega (editor), Jerzy Grotowski : la ricerca nel teatro e dopo il teatro, 1959-1984, Firenze,La casa Usher 1989].
Jerzy Grotowski : testi 1968-1998, Roma, Bulzoni 2007;
Tadeusz Kantor, La mia opera, il mio viaggio: commento intimo, introduction by Gillo Dorfles, Milano : F. Motta, 1991;
Tadeusz Kantor, La classe morta, edited by Luigi Marinelli and Silvia Parlagreco; with a text by ricordo di Andrzej Wajda, Milano, Libri Scheiwiller, 2003;
Pietro Marchesani, Momenti e aspetti della fortuna di Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, «Aevum», XLVIII, 1974, pp. 160-182;
Jozef Chrobrak, Silvia Parlagreco, Valerio Valoriani, Natalia Zarzecka, Kantor. Wielopole-Wielopole. Dossier, Gremese, Roma, 2006;
Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Teatro, introduction and translations by Giovanni Pampiglione, 2 Voll., Roma, Bulzoni, 1979.
Warning for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students includes the following additional readings:
Felice Cappa e Piero Gelli (editors), Dizionario dello spettacolo del '900, Baldini e Castoldi, Milano, 1998, voci (pp.): Grotowski: i501-502; Gombrowicz: 484-85; Kantor: 569-70; Przybyszewski: 873-74; Schiller Leon: 985; Witkiewicz: 1165-66; Wyspiański: 1167-68.
Given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students dedicate an appropriate amount of time to studying and elaborating the contents of the program, obtaining notes on the content of the lessons and integrating the bibliography with further materials available online or in libraries.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student, and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the exam program. The interview has a variable duration depending on the student's ability to answer questions and takes place in Italian or, optionally, in Polish. The exam aims to verify the knowledge of the topics presented in class, the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works, to frame them critically, the skill in their exhibition, the precision in the use of specific terminology. The vote is displayed in thirtieths. An excellent knowledge of historical events, authors, literaryand theatrical works, supported by a broad and systematic vision of the topics covered in class and in the readings indicated in the bibliography, the demonstration of a very good control of expressive means and a specific language will be evaluated with votes of excellence (29 -30). Mnemonic knowledge of the subject, average synthesis and capability of in-depth analysis skills, a correct but not always appropriate language will lead to discrete evaluations (24-28). Approximate knowledge, superficial understanding, poor capacity for analysis and not always appropriate expression will lead to evaluations around or above the sufficiency (18-23). Obvious preparation gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials offered in the program will be negatively evaluated and will lead to the need to repeat the exam.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)