American Literature 3
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course is a third formative step in the curriculum specializing in American Literature, which is organized by literary genres, and it is addressed to third-year students. The third year of teaching will bring the treatment of US narrative and poetry production to the contemporary era, and add the treatment of drama.
Expected learning outcomes
Required knowledge: at the end of the course, students should be able to situate the primary texts included in the reading list in their historical, cultural and literary context. They should also be able to contextualize each author within the or literary period to which they belong. They should demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of all the literary works included in the reading list. Required linguistic skills: at the end of the course, students should demonstrate the ability to read and translate the original versions of the literary works included in the reading list, (or to paraphrase them in English, in the case of international students), to discuss in English what they learned during the course. Required literary skills: at the end of the course, students should be able to perform a critical and formal text analysis of the literary works included in the reading list, and an ability to make connections between the various authors and works they have been studying.
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
Lesson period
Second semester
The course will be held in person. Should the public health emergency continue, classes will be held on Teams.
Course syllabus
The title of the course is Contemporary American Literature and is divided into three didactic units that will be taught in the following order:
A) Post-World War II American Poetry/American Poetry After World War II
B) American Prose After World War II
C) Modern and contemporary American Theatre
Students from Lingue who major in American Literature must attend the whole course, which provides 9 credits, and are required to complete the whole course syllabus.
The course syllabus is valid until July 2022.
A) Post-World War II American Poetry/American Poetry After World War II
B) American Prose After World War II
C) Modern and contemporary American Theatre
Students from Lingue who major in American Literature must attend the whole course, which provides 9 credits, and are required to complete the whole course syllabus.
The course syllabus is valid until July 2022.
Prerequisites for admission
Students enrolled at Lingue are required to have taken and passed the English language test administered by the degree course and the exams American Literature I and American Literature II.
The course is entirely delivered in English, and requires an adequate knowledge of the English language.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome as long as they have the required linguistic skills.
The course is entirely delivered in English, and requires an adequate knowledge of the English language.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome as long as they have the required linguistic skills.
Teaching methods
Classes will begin with an introductory discussion/brainstorming, followed by a lecture focused on the context, the analysis and interpretation of the texts listed in the syllabus, and a final discussion. Students are required to read the texts in advance.
Teaching Resources
Unit A: Post-World War II American Poetry/American Poetry After World War II
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
INTRODUCTION, p. 3
ROBERT LOWELL (1917-1977), p. 286
"Skunk Hour", p. 301
RICHARD WILBUR (b. 1921), p. 327
"The Beautiful Changes", p. 328
POSTMODERN MANIFESTOS, p. 369
Charles Olson, From Projective Verse, p. 376
Frank O'Hara, From Personism: A Manifesto, p. 378
A.R. Ammons, From A Poem Is A Walk, p. 382
A. R. AMMONS (1926-2001), p. 460
From Garbage, p. 468
ALLEN GINSBERG (1926-1997), p. 485
From Howl, p. 487
FRANK O'HARA (1926-1966), p. 499
"Why I Am Not a Painter", p. 501
JOHN ASHBERY (b. 1927), p. 511
From "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror", p. 515
ANNE SEXTON (1928-1974), p. 549
"Sylvia's Death", p.
SYLVIA PLATH (1932-1963), p. 620
"Lady Lazarus", p. 622
"Daddy", p. 626
· Paola Loreto, "La poesia americana dal secondo dopoguerra a oggi", in Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, a cura di Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, pp. 323-356.
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017: chapters 12 & 14.
Unit B: American Prose After World War II
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
BERNARD MALAMUD, 176
"The Magic Barrel", pp. 177-189.
RALPH ELLISON, p.189
Invisible Man, pp. 190-206.
FLANNERY O'CONNOR, p. 426
"The life You save May Be Your Own", pp. 427-435.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find", pp. 449-459.
TONY MORRISON, p. 605
"Recitatif", pp. 607-619
DON DELILLO, p. 700
from White Noise, pp. 702-719
THOMAS PYNCHON, p.730
"Entropy", pp. 731-741
GRACE PALEY, p. 355
"A Conversation with My Father", pp. 356-360; "Here", p. 360
RAYMOND CARVER, p. 742
"Cathedral", pp. 743-753
LESLIE MARMON SILKO, p. 1006
"Lullaby", pp. 1007-1013
SANDRA CISNEROS, p.1060
"Woman Hollering Creek", pp. 1061-1068
CREATIVE NONFICTION:
EDWARD ABBEY, "Havasu", pp. 1090-94
BARRY LOPEZ, "The Raven", pp. 1095-96
JAMAICA KINCAID, "Girl", pp. 1097-98
HUNTER S. THOMPSON, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", pp. 1099-1100
JOAN DIDION, "Slouching Towards Bethelehem", pp. 1101-1103
DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, from Consider the Lobster, pp. 1104-1108
· Two of the following texts:
SAUL BELLOW, Dangling Man (1944)
J. D. SALINGER, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
JACK KEROUAC, On the Road (1957)
KURT VONNEGUT, Slaughterhouse N. 5 (1969)
N. SCOTT MOMADAY, The Way to Rainy Mountain (1969)
MAXINE HONG KINGSTON, The Woman Warrior (1976)
TONI MORRISON, Beloved (1987)
DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, Girl with Curious Hair (1989)
PHILIP ROTH, American Pastoral (1997)
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017: chapters 9, 11, 13.
· Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, ed. by Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, chapters 6, 10, 12 e 14.
Unit C: Modern and contemporary American Theatre
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. D):
SUSAN GLASPELL, p. 240
Trifles, pp. 241-250
EUGENE O' NEILL, p. 387
Long Day's Journey into Night, pp. 389-466
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, p. 73
A Streetcar Named Desire, pp. 76-138
ARTHUR MILLER, p. 218
Death of a Salesman, pp. 221-286
SAM SHEPARD, p. 861
True West (862-901)
· Two of the following texts:
CLIFFORD ODETS, Waiting for Lefty (1935)
EDWARD ALBEE, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? (1962)
LEROI JONES, The Duchman (1964)
JOHN GUARE, Six Degrees of Separation (1990)
TONY KUSHNER, Angels in America (1993)
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017, chapter 16.
· Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, a cura di Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, chapter 6.
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
INTRODUCTION, p. 3
ROBERT LOWELL (1917-1977), p. 286
"Skunk Hour", p. 301
RICHARD WILBUR (b. 1921), p. 327
"The Beautiful Changes", p. 328
POSTMODERN MANIFESTOS, p. 369
Charles Olson, From Projective Verse, p. 376
Frank O'Hara, From Personism: A Manifesto, p. 378
A.R. Ammons, From A Poem Is A Walk, p. 382
A. R. AMMONS (1926-2001), p. 460
From Garbage, p. 468
ALLEN GINSBERG (1926-1997), p. 485
From Howl, p. 487
FRANK O'HARA (1926-1966), p. 499
"Why I Am Not a Painter", p. 501
JOHN ASHBERY (b. 1927), p. 511
From "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror", p. 515
ANNE SEXTON (1928-1974), p. 549
"Sylvia's Death", p.
SYLVIA PLATH (1932-1963), p. 620
"Lady Lazarus", p. 622
"Daddy", p. 626
· Paola Loreto, "La poesia americana dal secondo dopoguerra a oggi", in Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, a cura di Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, pp. 323-356.
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017: chapters 12 & 14.
Unit B: American Prose After World War II
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
BERNARD MALAMUD, 176
"The Magic Barrel", pp. 177-189.
RALPH ELLISON, p.189
Invisible Man, pp. 190-206.
FLANNERY O'CONNOR, p. 426
"The life You save May Be Your Own", pp. 427-435.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find", pp. 449-459.
TONY MORRISON, p. 605
"Recitatif", pp. 607-619
DON DELILLO, p. 700
from White Noise, pp. 702-719
THOMAS PYNCHON, p.730
"Entropy", pp. 731-741
GRACE PALEY, p. 355
"A Conversation with My Father", pp. 356-360; "Here", p. 360
RAYMOND CARVER, p. 742
"Cathedral", pp. 743-753
LESLIE MARMON SILKO, p. 1006
"Lullaby", pp. 1007-1013
SANDRA CISNEROS, p.1060
"Woman Hollering Creek", pp. 1061-1068
CREATIVE NONFICTION:
EDWARD ABBEY, "Havasu", pp. 1090-94
BARRY LOPEZ, "The Raven", pp. 1095-96
JAMAICA KINCAID, "Girl", pp. 1097-98
HUNTER S. THOMPSON, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", pp. 1099-1100
JOAN DIDION, "Slouching Towards Bethelehem", pp. 1101-1103
DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, from Consider the Lobster, pp. 1104-1108
· Two of the following texts:
SAUL BELLOW, Dangling Man (1944)
J. D. SALINGER, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
JACK KEROUAC, On the Road (1957)
KURT VONNEGUT, Slaughterhouse N. 5 (1969)
N. SCOTT MOMADAY, The Way to Rainy Mountain (1969)
MAXINE HONG KINGSTON, The Woman Warrior (1976)
TONI MORRISON, Beloved (1987)
DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, Girl with Curious Hair (1989)
PHILIP ROTH, American Pastoral (1997)
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017: chapters 9, 11, 13.
· Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, ed. by Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, chapters 6, 10, 12 e 14.
Unit C: Modern and contemporary American Theatre
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. D):
SUSAN GLASPELL, p. 240
Trifles, pp. 241-250
EUGENE O' NEILL, p. 387
Long Day's Journey into Night, pp. 389-466
· From The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 9th edition (Vol. E):
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, p. 73
A Streetcar Named Desire, pp. 76-138
ARTHUR MILLER, p. 218
Death of a Salesman, pp. 221-286
SAM SHEPARD, p. 861
True West (862-901)
· Two of the following texts:
CLIFFORD ODETS, Waiting for Lefty (1935)
EDWARD ALBEE, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? (1962)
LEROI JONES, The Duchman (1964)
JOHN GUARE, Six Degrees of Separation (1990)
TONY KUSHNER, Angels in America (1993)
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, ed. by, La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni, Carocci, 2017, chapter 16.
· Il Novecento USA. Narrazioni e culture letterarie del secolo americano, a cura di Sara Antonelli e Giorgio Mariani. Roma, Carocci, 2009, chapter 6.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral. The students will be asked to prove their ability to read and translate the literary texts listed in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase the same in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary context of both the texts and writers; their knowledge of the literary works; their ability to critically analyse the individual literary works and to compare them.
Students from Lingue have to take their exam in English. They should be aware that the quality of their exposition will be part of the exam assessment.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with any disabilities should contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
Students from Lingue have to take their exam in English. They should be aware that the quality of their exposition will be part of the exam assessment.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with any disabilities should contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours