Scandinavian Literature 1
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to introduce first-year students to the study of Scandinavian literature through a synoptic overview of the literatures of the Nordic countries in their historical, political and cultural context, from their origins to the beginning of the twentieth century. The historical overview will be accompanied by a more detailed study of significant authors as well as by the analysis of single literary works in their formal and thematic aspects.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of the literary history of the Nordic Countries from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century, with special focus on the most significant authors, genres, texts and literary movements.
Ability to read and understand and Nordic literary texts in Italian translation as well as to analyse their formal and thematic aspects in their historical and cultural background.
Ability to read and understand and Nordic literary texts in Italian translation as well as to analyse their formal and thematic aspects in their historical and cultural background.
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
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is an introduction to Nordic literary history until the beginning of the 20th century. It consists of three subsequent units:
unit A: From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment;
unit B: From Romanticism to Symbolism;
unit C: Analysis of three novels by J.P. Jacobsen, K. Hamsun and H. Söderberg.
The course corresponds to 9 ECTS. Students from programmes other than Foreign Languages and Literatures may acquire 6 ECTS if it is allowed by their syllabus; they will attend only units A+B.
Unit A follows the development of Nordic literatures from the Middle Ages to the 18th century with special focus on Old Norse literature and its genres, especially Eddic poetry and "Egil's saga", but also on the main Renaissance and Baroque authors, down to the birth of modern Scandinavian drama with Holberg. Unit B is devoted to the literary history of the 19th century, with Ibsen's and Strindberg's drama and the development of the novel. The historical overview will be accompanied by the analysis of literary texts representative of the different currents and authors. Unit C will be devoted to reading in Italian translation three novels from the time between Naturalism and Symbolism: Danish "Niels Lyhne" by J.P. Jacobsen, Norwegian "Pan" by K. Hamsun, Swedish "Doktor Glas" by H. Söderberg. The three works will be analysed with the aid of narratological and stylistic tools.
This course programme is valid until February 2021.
unit A: From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment;
unit B: From Romanticism to Symbolism;
unit C: Analysis of three novels by J.P. Jacobsen, K. Hamsun and H. Söderberg.
The course corresponds to 9 ECTS. Students from programmes other than Foreign Languages and Literatures may acquire 6 ECTS if it is allowed by their syllabus; they will attend only units A+B.
Unit A follows the development of Nordic literatures from the Middle Ages to the 18th century with special focus on Old Norse literature and its genres, especially Eddic poetry and "Egil's saga", but also on the main Renaissance and Baroque authors, down to the birth of modern Scandinavian drama with Holberg. Unit B is devoted to the literary history of the 19th century, with Ibsen's and Strindberg's drama and the development of the novel. The historical overview will be accompanied by the analysis of literary texts representative of the different currents and authors. Unit C will be devoted to reading in Italian translation three novels from the time between Naturalism and Symbolism: Danish "Niels Lyhne" by J.P. Jacobsen, Norwegian "Pan" by K. Hamsun, Swedish "Doktor Glas" by H. Söderberg. The three works will be analysed with the aid of narratological and stylistic tools.
This course programme is valid until February 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Teaching methodologies: frontal lessons; reading and analysis of literary works both during classes and individually; individual study of critical contributions.
Teaching Resources
Reading list and materials for units A and B:
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, chapters 1-5.
- Additional materials available on the Ariel platform (I. Middle Ages; II. From the 16th to the 18th century; III. Romanticism; IV. From Realism to Symbolism).
- Text anthology available on the Ariel platform (I. Middle Ages; II. From the 16th to the 18th century; III. Romanticism; IV. From Realism to Symbolism).
- The course programme includes the contents of the lessons, all the texts collected in the anthology, as well as the texts discussed during classes and included in the PowerPoint presentations available on the Ariel platform.
- In addition, students are required to individually read and analyse the following works in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- H.C. Andersen, 10 fairytales at free choice among: "L'acciarino magico, La principessa sul pisello, Mignolina/Pollicina, La sirenetta, Il soldatino di stagno, Il brutto anatroccolo, La regina delle nevi, Le scarpette rosse, La piccola fiammiferaia, L'uomo di neve, L'ombra, I vestiti nuovi dell'imperatore", in "Fiabe e storie", Donzelli, or in "Fiabe", Einaudi, or other unabridged editions (i.e., not versions edited for children);
- J.P. Jacobsen, "Marie Grubbe", Carbonio, 2019;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt" or "Casa di bambola" or "Spettri" or "L'anatra selvatica" (any unabridged edition);
- K. Hamsun, "Fame", Adelphi or other editions;
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition) or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition) or "Verso Damasco I" (Adelphi) or "Teatro da camera (Casa bruciata)", Adelphi;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea) or "Il viaggio meraviglioso di Nils Holgersson" (any unabridged edition) or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea).
Reading list and materials for unit C:
Students are required to read in Italian translation the following works, which will be analysed during classes:
1. J.P. Jacobsen, "Niels Lyhne", Iperborea or Mondadori;
2. K. Hamsun, "Pan", Adelphi or other editions;
3. H. Söderberg, "Dottor Glas", Lindau.
- The course programme includes the contents of the lessons, all the excerpts analysed during classes with PowerPoint presentations available on the Ariel platform.
Additional reading list and materials for students who do not attend classes regularly:
In addition to the reading list and materials mentioned above, these students are required to individually read and analyse the following texts in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present) for each unit.
Unit A:
One of the following sagas:
- "La Saga di Eirík il Rosso", in "Saghe della Vinlandia", Diana;
- "La Saga dei Volsunghi", Pratiche ed. or Carocci or Mondadori;
- "La Saga di Njáll", Mondadori;
- "La Saga di Egill Skallagrimsson", Mondadori (in "Antiche saghe nordiche").
Unit B:
One of the following works:
- L. Holberg, "Chiamatemi Erasmus. Erasmus Montanus ovvero Rasmus Berg", Jaca Book;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt" or "Casa di bambola" or "Spettri" or "L'anatra selvatica", (any unabridged edition);
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition) or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition) or "Verso Damasco I" (Adelphi) or "Teatro da camera (Casa bruciata)", Adelphi;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea) or "Il viaggio meraviglioso di Nils Holgersson" (any unabridged edition) or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea).
Unit C:
Critical readings on the narrative works mentioned above will be available on the Ariel platform.
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, chapters 1-5.
- Additional materials available on the Ariel platform (I. Middle Ages; II. From the 16th to the 18th century; III. Romanticism; IV. From Realism to Symbolism).
- Text anthology available on the Ariel platform (I. Middle Ages; II. From the 16th to the 18th century; III. Romanticism; IV. From Realism to Symbolism).
- The course programme includes the contents of the lessons, all the texts collected in the anthology, as well as the texts discussed during classes and included in the PowerPoint presentations available on the Ariel platform.
- In addition, students are required to individually read and analyse the following works in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- H.C. Andersen, 10 fairytales at free choice among: "L'acciarino magico, La principessa sul pisello, Mignolina/Pollicina, La sirenetta, Il soldatino di stagno, Il brutto anatroccolo, La regina delle nevi, Le scarpette rosse, La piccola fiammiferaia, L'uomo di neve, L'ombra, I vestiti nuovi dell'imperatore", in "Fiabe e storie", Donzelli, or in "Fiabe", Einaudi, or other unabridged editions (i.e., not versions edited for children);
- J.P. Jacobsen, "Marie Grubbe", Carbonio, 2019;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt" or "Casa di bambola" or "Spettri" or "L'anatra selvatica" (any unabridged edition);
- K. Hamsun, "Fame", Adelphi or other editions;
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition) or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition) or "Verso Damasco I" (Adelphi) or "Teatro da camera (Casa bruciata)", Adelphi;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea) or "Il viaggio meraviglioso di Nils Holgersson" (any unabridged edition) or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea).
Reading list and materials for unit C:
Students are required to read in Italian translation the following works, which will be analysed during classes:
1. J.P. Jacobsen, "Niels Lyhne", Iperborea or Mondadori;
2. K. Hamsun, "Pan", Adelphi or other editions;
3. H. Söderberg, "Dottor Glas", Lindau.
- The course programme includes the contents of the lessons, all the excerpts analysed during classes with PowerPoint presentations available on the Ariel platform.
Additional reading list and materials for students who do not attend classes regularly:
In addition to the reading list and materials mentioned above, these students are required to individually read and analyse the following texts in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present) for each unit.
Unit A:
One of the following sagas:
- "La Saga di Eirík il Rosso", in "Saghe della Vinlandia", Diana;
- "La Saga dei Volsunghi", Pratiche ed. or Carocci or Mondadori;
- "La Saga di Njáll", Mondadori;
- "La Saga di Egill Skallagrimsson", Mondadori (in "Antiche saghe nordiche").
Unit B:
One of the following works:
- L. Holberg, "Chiamatemi Erasmus. Erasmus Montanus ovvero Rasmus Berg", Jaca Book;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt" or "Casa di bambola" or "Spettri" or "L'anatra selvatica", (any unabridged edition);
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition) or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition) or "Verso Damasco I" (Adelphi) or "Teatro da camera (Casa bruciata)", Adelphi;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea) or "Il viaggio meraviglioso di Nils Holgersson" (any unabridged edition) or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea).
Unit C:
Critical readings on the narrative works mentioned above will be available on the Ariel platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists in an individual interview with questions by the teacher, student/teacher interaction, and comment and analysis of one or more texts included in the reading list and materials. The interview is in Italian and its duration varies according to the number of didactic units. The aim is to ascertain the student's knowledge of the course contents and texts, the ability to discuss authors and works in their contexts, the presentation and discussion skills, the use of technical terminology, the ability to discuss themes critically and in a personal way. The final mark follows the 30-point system. The student can reject the result (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.
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