Italian Modern and Contemporary Literature
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide an advanced overview of the modern literary system in Italy, in its historical development from Unity to the present day, according to different perspectives. One perspective is critical and methodological: it explores the functional relationships between the main actors of literary communication (authors, readers, publishers, critics). The other perspectives focus analytically on specific literary periods and examine the author's choices of genre and style.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) Essential account of the raise and development of the modern bourgeois literary system: cultural trends, movements and conceptions of literature; genres and styles; analytical knowledge of significant works of Italian literary tradition from Unity to the present day. 2) Main issues related to the modern dynamics of literary experience: modes and forms of literary reading; the narrative pact; functions of publishing mediation.
Skills: 1) Ability to examine the reading list recognizing the authorship and audience features: reading pacts, role of paratexts, discursive regime, space-time narrative coordinates. 2) Ability to delineate the genre system and its main transformations; ability to place the individual works correctly; ability to describe and interpret the paratextual sections. 3) Ability to analyse the works comparing different critical interpretations, and to build up a streamlined bibliography.
Skills: 1) Ability to examine the reading list recognizing the authorship and audience features: reading pacts, role of paratexts, discursive regime, space-time narrative coordinates. 2) Ability to delineate the genre system and its main transformations; ability to place the individual works correctly; ability to describe and interpret the paratextual sections. 3) Ability to analyse the works comparing different critical interpretations, and to build up a streamlined 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
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
The lessons will take place remotely, in both synchronous form, on Microsoft Teams, and with asynchronous resources and contents that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course.
On the Ariel website of the course students will find all the information to access the lessons (link etc.) and any eventual changes in the syllabus or in reference texts (bibliography etc.).
If it will not be possible to take the oral exam according to the methods provided in the Syllabus, the exam will take place remotely with the methods that will be communicated on the Ariel website at the end of the course.
On the Ariel website of the course students will find all the information to access the lessons (link etc.) and any eventual changes in the syllabus or in reference texts (bibliography etc.).
If it will not be possible to take the oral exam according to the methods provided in the Syllabus, the exam will take place remotely with the methods that will be communicated on the Ariel website at the end of the course.
Course syllabus
Teaching part A: The modern literary system
Teaching part A is meant to highlight dynamics and phases of the modern literary system, focusing on authors, intellectuals, horizon of expectation-related changes and the functional relationships between the main actors of literary communication (authors, readers, publishers, critics).
Teaching part B: The tradition of the novel in Italy
- Development of the novel in Italy from the beginning of the 18th century to the end of the 19th century.
Teaching part C: A journey in the United Italy: Torino-Aci Trezza and return
- Close reading of an outstanding classical work of 18th century Italian literature (I Malavoglia by Giovanni Verga) and of a best-seller for young readers (Cuore by Edmondo De Amicis) with focus on the setting in place, the characters' social background and the picture of the United Italy represented in both works. We will be analysing the following characteristics: narrative voice, characters' analysis, author's image, structural and stylistic devices.
In addition to the lessons, the didactic part B offers the opportunity of an optional Critical Writing Workshop, consisting in further seven lessons held by a teacher assistant. For students who decide to take the workshop, attendance is mandatory. The maximum number of participants is 35: enrolment will be possible within the first three lessons of the course.
During the workshop, students will be guided to the composition and discussion of a critical essay of 4/5 pages, about a twentieth-century Italian narrative text agreed with the teacher assistant. The evaluation of the paper will contribute to the final assessment of the exam. For students who will attend the Critical Writing workshop, the exam interview will focus on only one novel chosen by the student in the materials of Parts B and C together with the corresponding essay listed in the syllabus.
The positive evaluation of the workshop short essay favours the possibility of writing the Bachelor final paper in the discipline.
Teaching part A is meant to highlight dynamics and phases of the modern literary system, focusing on authors, intellectuals, horizon of expectation-related changes and the functional relationships between the main actors of literary communication (authors, readers, publishers, critics).
Teaching part B: The tradition of the novel in Italy
- Development of the novel in Italy from the beginning of the 18th century to the end of the 19th century.
Teaching part C: A journey in the United Italy: Torino-Aci Trezza and return
- Close reading of an outstanding classical work of 18th century Italian literature (I Malavoglia by Giovanni Verga) and of a best-seller for young readers (Cuore by Edmondo De Amicis) with focus on the setting in place, the characters' social background and the picture of the United Italy represented in both works. We will be analysing the following characteristics: narrative voice, characters' analysis, author's image, structural and stylistic devices.
In addition to the lessons, the didactic part B offers the opportunity of an optional Critical Writing Workshop, consisting in further seven lessons held by a teacher assistant. For students who decide to take the workshop, attendance is mandatory. The maximum number of participants is 35: enrolment will be possible within the first three lessons of the course.
During the workshop, students will be guided to the composition and discussion of a critical essay of 4/5 pages, about a twentieth-century Italian narrative text agreed with the teacher assistant. The evaluation of the paper will contribute to the final assessment of the exam. For students who will attend the Critical Writing workshop, the exam interview will focus on only one novel chosen by the student in the materials of Parts B and C together with the corresponding essay listed in the syllabus.
The positive evaluation of the workshop short essay favours the possibility of writing the Bachelor final paper in the discipline.
Prerequisites for admission
The students must have passed the exam in Italian contemporary literature.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with use of telematic tools, slides, audio-visual contents.
Dialogic teaching moments; explanation of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
The teaching materials will be available on ARIEL.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Dialogic teaching moments; explanation of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
The teaching materials will be available on ARIEL.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit A
- F. Brioschi, La letteratura e il suo doppio, in Critica della ragion poetica, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2002, pp. 21-78
- M. Bachtin, Epos e romanzo, in Estetica e romanzo, a c. di C. Strada Janovic, Torino, Einaudi, 1979, pp. 445-482
- V. Spinazzola, Dal romanzo popolare alla narrativa di intrattenimento, in Manuale di lette¬ratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, a c. di F. Brioschi e C. Di Girolamo, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, vol. IV Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, pp. 635-700
Teaching unit B
- G. Rosa, Il patto narrativo e Ai margini del sistema, in Il patto narrativo. La fondazione della civiltà romanzesca in Italia, Milano, il Saggiatore, FAAM, 2008, pp. 9-92
- A. Madrignani, Il romanzo da Nievo a D'Annunzio, in Manuale di lette¬ratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, a c. di F. Brioschi e C. Di Girolamo, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, vol. IV Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, pp. 501-555
One of the following texts, and related critical essay:
- Gabriele D'Annunzio, Il piacere (1889), any original version - V. Spinazzola, Gabriele D'Annunzio, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 135-139
- Emilio Salgari, Le tigri di Mompracem (1883-1900), any original version - V. Spinazzola, Emilio Salgari, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 68-72
Teaching unit C
- C. Riccardi, Da Nedda ai Malavoglia: storia del romanzo e Cronologia, in G. Verga, I Malavoglia, Milano, Mondadori ("Oscar"), 2015, pp. VII-XXIX e pp. XXXI-XLI
- E. Burgio, "Una bella cosa che vidi": pedagogia della carità e rappresentazione della società urbana in Edmondo De Amicis, Cuore (1886), in "Annuari Verdaguer", 20, 2012 - https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39054269.pdf
One of the following texts (and related critical essay):
- G. Verga, I Malavoglia (1881), any original version, Milano, Mondadori ("Oscar"), 2015 - V. Spinazzola, Giovanni Verga, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 92-97
- E. De Amicis, Cuore (1886), un'edizione integrale dell'opera - V. Spinazzola, Edmondo De Amicis, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 59-67
- F. Brioschi, La letteratura e il suo doppio, in Critica della ragion poetica, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2002, pp. 21-78
- M. Bachtin, Epos e romanzo, in Estetica e romanzo, a c. di C. Strada Janovic, Torino, Einaudi, 1979, pp. 445-482
- V. Spinazzola, Dal romanzo popolare alla narrativa di intrattenimento, in Manuale di lette¬ratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, a c. di F. Brioschi e C. Di Girolamo, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, vol. IV Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, pp. 635-700
Teaching unit B
- G. Rosa, Il patto narrativo e Ai margini del sistema, in Il patto narrativo. La fondazione della civiltà romanzesca in Italia, Milano, il Saggiatore, FAAM, 2008, pp. 9-92
- A. Madrignani, Il romanzo da Nievo a D'Annunzio, in Manuale di lette¬ratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, a c. di F. Brioschi e C. Di Girolamo, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, vol. IV Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, pp. 501-555
One of the following texts, and related critical essay:
- Gabriele D'Annunzio, Il piacere (1889), any original version - V. Spinazzola, Gabriele D'Annunzio, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 135-139
- Emilio Salgari, Le tigri di Mompracem (1883-1900), any original version - V. Spinazzola, Emilio Salgari, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 68-72
Teaching unit C
- C. Riccardi, Da Nedda ai Malavoglia: storia del romanzo e Cronologia, in G. Verga, I Malavoglia, Milano, Mondadori ("Oscar"), 2015, pp. VII-XXIX e pp. XXXI-XLI
- E. Burgio, "Una bella cosa che vidi": pedagogia della carità e rappresentazione della società urbana in Edmondo De Amicis, Cuore (1886), in "Annuari Verdaguer", 20, 2012 - https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39054269.pdf
One of the following texts (and related critical essay):
- G. Verga, I Malavoglia (1881), any original version, Milano, Mondadori ("Oscar"), 2015 - V. Spinazzola, Giovanni Verga, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 92-97
- E. De Amicis, Cuore (1886), un'edizione integrale dell'opera - V. Spinazzola, Edmondo De Amicis, in Letteratura e popolo borghese, Milano, Unicopli, 2000, pp. 59-67
Assessment methods and Criteria
The overall evaluation consists of an oral exam on the issues and the texts included in the syllabus.
Students are expected to understand and explain correctly the issues addressed, and to properly analyse the relevant literary texts.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Students are expected to understand and explain correctly the issues addressed, and to properly analyse the relevant literary texts.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
The lessons will take place remotely, mainly in synchronous form, on Microsoft Teams, but also with asynchronous resources and contents that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course. Anyway, synchronous lessons will always be recorded and made available on the Ariel teaching website as well.
On the Ariel website of the course students will find all the information to access the lessons (link etc.) and any eventual changes in the syllabus or in reference texts (bibliography etc.).
If it will not be possible to take the oral exam according to the methods provided in the Syllabus, the exam will take place remotely with the methods that will be communicated on the Ariel website of the course at the end of the course.
On the Ariel website of the course students will find all the information to access the lessons (link etc.) and any eventual changes in the syllabus or in reference texts (bibliography etc.).
If it will not be possible to take the oral exam according to the methods provided in the Syllabus, the exam will take place remotely with the methods that will be communicated on the Ariel website of the course at the end of the course.
Course syllabus
Students who plan to take this exam for 6 cfu are required to study units B and C.
The course syllabus includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
Teaching unit A: The modern literary system
Teaching Unit A is meant to highlight dynamics and phases of the modern literary system, focusing on authors, intellectuals, horizon of expectation-related changes and the functional relationships between the main actors of literary communication (authors, readers, publishers, critics).
Teaching unit B: Italian poetry in the second half of Twentieth Century
A history of the development of Italian poetry from the Fifties to the end of the Twentieth century (with in-depth analysis of several poems).
Critical Writing Workshop
In addition to the lessons, the didactic unit B offers the opportunity of an optional Critical Writing Workshop, consisting in further seven on line lessons held by a teacher assistant (on Microsoft Teams). For students who decide to take the workshop, attendance is mandatory. The maximum number of participants is 35: enrolment will be possible within the first three lessons of the course.
During the workshop, students will be guided to the composition and discussion of a critical essay of 4/5 pages, about a twentieth-century Italian narrative text agreed with the teacher assistant. The evaluation of the paper will contribute to the final assessment of the exam. For students who will attend the Critical Writing workshop, the exam interview on teaching unit B will focus on six (instead of twelve) of the poems presented in the course and on two of the three essays listed in the syllabus.
The positive evaluation of the workshop short essay favours the possibility of writing the Bachelor final paper in the discipline.
Teaching unit C: Among the voices of others: "Nel magma" by Mario Luzi and "La ragazza Carla" by Elio Pagliarani
In depth analysis of "Nel magma" by Mario Luzi and "La ragazza Carla" by Elio Pagliarani: genre features, voicing patterns, characters system, space and time structures, rhetorical and stylistic devices, macro-textual stuctures.
The course syllabus includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
Teaching unit A: The modern literary system
Teaching Unit A is meant to highlight dynamics and phases of the modern literary system, focusing on authors, intellectuals, horizon of expectation-related changes and the functional relationships between the main actors of literary communication (authors, readers, publishers, critics).
Teaching unit B: Italian poetry in the second half of Twentieth Century
A history of the development of Italian poetry from the Fifties to the end of the Twentieth century (with in-depth analysis of several poems).
Critical Writing Workshop
In addition to the lessons, the didactic unit B offers the opportunity of an optional Critical Writing Workshop, consisting in further seven on line lessons held by a teacher assistant (on Microsoft Teams). For students who decide to take the workshop, attendance is mandatory. The maximum number of participants is 35: enrolment will be possible within the first three lessons of the course.
During the workshop, students will be guided to the composition and discussion of a critical essay of 4/5 pages, about a twentieth-century Italian narrative text agreed with the teacher assistant. The evaluation of the paper will contribute to the final assessment of the exam. For students who will attend the Critical Writing workshop, the exam interview on teaching unit B will focus on six (instead of twelve) of the poems presented in the course and on two of the three essays listed in the syllabus.
The positive evaluation of the workshop short essay favours the possibility of writing the Bachelor final paper in the discipline.
Teaching unit C: Among the voices of others: "Nel magma" by Mario Luzi and "La ragazza Carla" by Elio Pagliarani
In depth analysis of "Nel magma" by Mario Luzi and "La ragazza Carla" by Elio Pagliarani: genre features, voicing patterns, characters system, space and time structures, rhetorical and stylistic devices, macro-textual stuctures.
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have passed the exam in Italian contemporary literature.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with use of telematic tools, slides, audio-visual contents.
Dialogic teaching moments; explanation of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Dialogic teaching moments; explanation of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit A
- F. Brioschi, La letteratura e il suo doppio, in id., Critica della ragion poetica, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2002, pp. 20-78
- M. Bachtin, Epos e romanzo, in Id., Estetica e romanzo, Torino, Einaudi, 2001, pp. 445-483
- V. Spinazzola, Dal romanzo popolare alla narrativa di intrattenimento, in F. Brioschi, C. Di Girolamo, Manuale di letteratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, IV. Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, pp. 634-700.
Teaching unit B
- E. Testa, Introduzione, in Dopo la lirica. Poeti italiani 1960-2000, Torino, Einaudi, 2005, pp. V-XXX
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea. Forme e tecniche dal 1950 ad oggi, Roma, Carocci, 2005.
- L. Zuliani, L'italiano della canzone, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (limitedly to chapters I. Il rapporto con la poesia, pp. 12-26; 4. La canzone italiana oggi, pp. 78-120).
Students also have to study 12 of the italian poems of the second half of Twentieth century which will be presented and analyzed by the professor during the lessons.
Unità didattica C
- M. Luzi, Nel magma, in M. Luzi, Le poesie, Milano, Garzanti, 2014 (oppure in M. Luzi, L'opera poetica, Milano, Mondadori, 1998)
- E. Pagliarani, La ragazza Carla, in E. Pagliarani, Tutte le poesie (1946-2011), Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2019
- S. Verdino, Poesia dovunque. Analisi di Nel magma, in Id. La poesia di Mario Luzi. Studi e materiali (1985-2005), Padova, Esedra, 2006, pp. 115-148
- S. Ghidinelli, La doppia scena dell'io. Modi della presenza e regimi della voce in Nel magma di Mario Luzi, «Trivio», 2, 2015, pp. 90-114.
- M. Marrucci, Effetti di romanzizzazione in Elio Pagliarani, «Moderna», II, 2, 2000, pp. 137-166.
- G. Menechella, Le domeniche di Carla, «Carte italiane», 2, I, 2004, pp. 43-66.
- F. Brioschi, La letteratura e il suo doppio, in id., Critica della ragion poetica, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2002, pp. 20-78
- M. Bachtin, Epos e romanzo, in Id., Estetica e romanzo, Torino, Einaudi, 2001, pp. 445-483
- V. Spinazzola, Dal romanzo popolare alla narrativa di intrattenimento, in F. Brioschi, C. Di Girolamo, Manuale di letteratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi, IV. Dall'Unità d'Italia alla fine del Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1996, pp. 634-700.
Teaching unit B
- E. Testa, Introduzione, in Dopo la lirica. Poeti italiani 1960-2000, Torino, Einaudi, 2005, pp. V-XXX
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea. Forme e tecniche dal 1950 ad oggi, Roma, Carocci, 2005.
- L. Zuliani, L'italiano della canzone, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (limitedly to chapters I. Il rapporto con la poesia, pp. 12-26; 4. La canzone italiana oggi, pp. 78-120).
Students also have to study 12 of the italian poems of the second half of Twentieth century which will be presented and analyzed by the professor during the lessons.
Unità didattica C
- M. Luzi, Nel magma, in M. Luzi, Le poesie, Milano, Garzanti, 2014 (oppure in M. Luzi, L'opera poetica, Milano, Mondadori, 1998)
- E. Pagliarani, La ragazza Carla, in E. Pagliarani, Tutte le poesie (1946-2011), Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2019
- S. Verdino, Poesia dovunque. Analisi di Nel magma, in Id. La poesia di Mario Luzi. Studi e materiali (1985-2005), Padova, Esedra, 2006, pp. 115-148
- S. Ghidinelli, La doppia scena dell'io. Modi della presenza e regimi della voce in Nel magma di Mario Luzi, «Trivio», 2, 2015, pp. 90-114.
- M. Marrucci, Effetti di romanzizzazione in Elio Pagliarani, «Moderna», II, 2, 2000, pp. 137-166.
- G. Menechella, Le domeniche di Carla, «Carte italiane», 2, I, 2004, pp. 43-66.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The overall evaluation consists of an oral exam on the issues and the texts included in the syllabus.
Students are expected to understand and explain correctly the issues addressed, and to properly analyse the relevant literary texts.
Students are expected to understand and explain correctly the issues addressed, and to properly analyse the relevant literary texts.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)