Literary Theory and Criticism
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing students to the fundamental topics of literary theory and to the methodological issues concerning the study of literature, also by discussing different perspectives and concepts for analyzing and interpreting texts. Students will develop the ability to analyze, reason on and argue about the theoretical issues presented and a more sophisticated understanding of the premises, methods, and aims of literary criticism.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will address the fundamental topics of the theoretical, philosophical, and methodological reflection on literature: interpretation and reception, the definition of literature and literary genres, narrative, poetry and verse, value and the canon are some of the issues about which students will gain a deeper knowledge and improve their abilities of critical thinking and discussion. In addition, students will become more competent at analyzing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.
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
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In case the health emergency is prolonged in the second semester, the course will be organized as follows:
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Lessons will be held remotely, through synchronous classes on Microsoft Teams platform. Recording of the lessons will be available on the platform.
On Ariel website students will find teaching materials and pdf files of hard to find books and articles.
Students will also find on Ariel website guidelines to access online classes and updates on the course, exams and eventual changes in the course schedule, therefore frequent access on the Ariel website is highly recommended.
TEACHING MATERIALS
See the course syllabus
ASSESSMENT METHODS
If, due to health emergency conditions, should be impossible to take face-to-face oral tests, the exam will take place online on Microsoft Teams, following the instructions that will be communicated on the Ariel website. Modalities of the oral test and the evaluation criteria do not change with respect to what stated in the course syllabus.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Lessons will be held remotely, through synchronous classes on Microsoft Teams platform. Recording of the lessons will be available on the platform.
On Ariel website students will find teaching materials and pdf files of hard to find books and articles.
Students will also find on Ariel website guidelines to access online classes and updates on the course, exams and eventual changes in the course schedule, therefore frequent access on the Ariel website is highly recommended.
TEACHING MATERIALS
See the course syllabus
ASSESSMENT METHODS
If, due to health emergency conditions, should be impossible to take face-to-face oral tests, the exam will take place online on Microsoft Teams, following the instructions that will be communicated on the Ariel website. Modalities of the oral test and the evaluation criteria do not change with respect to what stated in the course syllabus.
Course syllabus
Tha part A of the course aims to illustrate some problems of literary theory, and to reflect in particular on literary form and on the possible definition, nature and relational mode of literary texts.
The part B critically deals with the theme of memory, both from a theoretical point of view, namely in its specific nature of imaginative recreation, and in terms of textual analysis. The texts that will be considered will be a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, Funes, and Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.
The part C intends to present and discuss again the forms of memory, in relation to literary writing, but this time in their implications with the processes of collective memory and finally with oblivion. The texts that will be taken into consideration will be a short story by Alice Munro, What is remembered, and The Periodic Table by Primo Levi.
The part B critically deals with the theme of memory, both from a theoretical point of view, namely in its specific nature of imaginative recreation, and in terms of textual analysis. The texts that will be considered will be a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, Funes, and Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.
The part C intends to present and discuss again the forms of memory, in relation to literary writing, but this time in their implications with the processes of collective memory and finally with oblivion. The texts that will be taken into consideration will be a short story by Alice Munro, What is remembered, and The Periodic Table by Primo Levi.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to attend the course and take the exam in the second year, in order to have previously acquired basic knowledge in Italian Literature and Italian Linguistics.
Teaching methods
The course will be offered in a lecture format, but some time will be devoted to discussion with the teacher. This will help students delve into the issues under discussion, improve their analysis, reasoning, and interpretation skills, and learn more easily. To participate more actively, students will also be encouraged to read the works and essays in the course syllabus while attending classes. The Ariel website of the course will be used to share the teaching materials that might be proposed for discussion.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Teaching Resources
PART A
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera, in La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 1983, 2006, pp. 11-55.
Jonathan Culler, Teoria della letteratura, Roma, Armando Editore 1999.
Enza Biagini, Augusta Brettoni, Paolo Orvieto, Teorie critiche del Novecento, Roma, Carocci, 2001 or any other edition (students will only study the pages indicated in class and on the Ariel website).
PART B
Jorge Luis Borges, Funes, in Finzioni, Tutte le opere, Milano, "I Meridiani" Mondadori 1997, or any other edition.
Italo Calvino, Le città invisibili, Torino, Einaudi, 1983, or any other edition.
Paolo Spinicci, Lezioni sul tempo, la memoria e il racconto, Milano, Cuem 2004, La memoria, chapters XIII, XIV, XV.
Laura Neri, Memoria, in I campi della retorica. Letteratura, argomentazione, discorso, Roma, Carocci 2011, pp. 159-181.
Laura Neri, The Fictional Value of Memory, in Between, n. 19, 2019, link: http://ojs.unica.it/index.php/between/issue/view/129/showToc
PART C
Alice Munro, Quello che si ricorda, in Nemico, amico, amante , Torino, Einaudi, 2014, or any other edition.
Primo Levi, Il sistema periodico, Torino, Einaudi 2014, or any other edition.
Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, il Mulino 2004.
Fabio Magro, Mauro Sambi, Lettura del Sistema periodico di Primo Levi, Padova, University Press (in print).
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
PART A
Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
PART B
Aleida Assmann, Ricordare. Forme e mutamenti della memoria culturale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2002, chapters VII, VIII, IX, pp. 165-267.
PART C
Aleida Assmann, Ricordare. Forme e mutamenti della memoria culturale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2002, chapters X, XI, pp. 269.-377.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H).
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera, in La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 1983, 2006, pp. 11-55.
Jonathan Culler, Teoria della letteratura, Roma, Armando Editore 1999.
Enza Biagini, Augusta Brettoni, Paolo Orvieto, Teorie critiche del Novecento, Roma, Carocci, 2001 or any other edition (students will only study the pages indicated in class and on the Ariel website).
PART B
Jorge Luis Borges, Funes, in Finzioni, Tutte le opere, Milano, "I Meridiani" Mondadori 1997, or any other edition.
Italo Calvino, Le città invisibili, Torino, Einaudi, 1983, or any other edition.
Paolo Spinicci, Lezioni sul tempo, la memoria e il racconto, Milano, Cuem 2004, La memoria, chapters XIII, XIV, XV.
Laura Neri, Memoria, in I campi della retorica. Letteratura, argomentazione, discorso, Roma, Carocci 2011, pp. 159-181.
Laura Neri, The Fictional Value of Memory, in Between, n. 19, 2019, link: http://ojs.unica.it/index.php/between/issue/view/129/showToc
PART C
Alice Munro, Quello che si ricorda, in Nemico, amico, amante , Torino, Einaudi, 2014, or any other edition.
Primo Levi, Il sistema periodico, Torino, Einaudi 2014, or any other edition.
Paul Ricoeur, Ricordare, dimenticare, perdonare. L'enigma del passato, Bologna, il Mulino 2004.
Fabio Magro, Mauro Sambi, Lettura del Sistema periodico di Primo Levi, Padova, University Press (in print).
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
PART A
Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
PART B
Aleida Assmann, Ricordare. Forme e mutamenti della memoria culturale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2002, chapters VII, VIII, IX, pp. 165-267.
PART C
Aleida Assmann, Ricordare. Forme e mutamenti della memoria culturale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2002, chapters X, XI, pp. 269.-377.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist of an oral exam about the topics of the course. In order to pass the exam, students will have to demonstrate at least sufficient knowledge of the topics of each part of the course ( A, B, and C, if they are to acquire 9 credits; either A and B or A and C, if they are to acquire 6). Students will be asked to present the works comprised in the course syllabus and to critically discuss about the issues that will have been dealt. Language proficiency (this includes technical language proficiency) and the accuracy of historical and literary references will also contribute to the final score.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In case the health emergency is prolonged in the second semester, the course will be organized as follows:
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Lessons will be held remotely, through synchronous classes on Microsoft Teams platform. Recording of the lessons will be available on the platform.
On Ariel website students will find teaching materials and pdf files of hard to find books and articles.
Students will also find on Ariel website guidelines to access online classes and updates on the course, exams and eventual changes in the course schedule, therefore frequent access on the Ariel website is highly recommended.
TEACHING MATERIALS
See the course syllabus
ASSESSMENT METHODS
If, due to health emergency conditions, should be impossible to take face-to-face oral tests, the exam will take place online on Microsoft Teams, following the instructions that will be communicated on the Ariel website. Modalities of the oral test and the evaluation criteria do not change with respect to what stated in the course syllabus.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Lessons will be held remotely, through synchronous classes on Microsoft Teams platform. Recording of the lessons will be available on the platform.
On Ariel website students will find teaching materials and pdf files of hard to find books and articles.
Students will also find on Ariel website guidelines to access online classes and updates on the course, exams and eventual changes in the course schedule, therefore frequent access on the Ariel website is highly recommended.
TEACHING MATERIALS
See the course syllabus
ASSESSMENT METHODS
If, due to health emergency conditions, should be impossible to take face-to-face oral tests, the exam will take place online on Microsoft Teams, following the instructions that will be communicated on the Ariel website. Modalities of the oral test and the evaluation criteria do not change with respect to what stated in the course syllabus.
Course syllabus
PART A of the course aims to illustrate some problems of literary theory, and to reflect in particular on literary form and on the possible definition, nature and relational mode of literary texts.
PART B deals, from a theoretical and historical point of view, with the literary phototext, through the reading of "Orlando" (1928) by Virginia Woolf and the discussion of some examples taken from 19th and 20th century literature.
PART C focuses on the textual analysis of four phototextual works particularly representative of 21st century literature: "Austerlitz" (2001) by W.G. Sebald, "Istanbul". (2003) by Orhan Pamuk, "Autopsia dell'ossessione" (2010) by Walter Siti and "Flashover" (2020) by Giorgio Falco.
The reading of the literary works dealt with in class will also be an opportunity to test some of the theoretical concepts discussed in the first part of the course.
PART B deals, from a theoretical and historical point of view, with the literary phototext, through the reading of "Orlando" (1928) by Virginia Woolf and the discussion of some examples taken from 19th and 20th century literature.
PART C focuses on the textual analysis of four phototextual works particularly representative of 21st century literature: "Austerlitz" (2001) by W.G. Sebald, "Istanbul". (2003) by Orhan Pamuk, "Autopsia dell'ossessione" (2010) by Walter Siti and "Flashover" (2020) by Giorgio Falco.
The reading of the literary works dealt with in class will also be an opportunity to test some of the theoretical concepts discussed in the first part of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to attend the course and take the exam in the second year, in order to have previously acquired basic knowledge in Italian Literature and Italian Linguistics.
Teaching methods
The course will be offered in a lecture format, but some time will be devoted to discussion with the teacher. This will help students delve into the issues under discussion, improve their analysis, reasoning, and interpretation skills, and learn more easily. To participate more actively, students will also be encouraged to read the works and essays in the course syllabus while attending classes. The Ariel website of the course will be used to share the teaching materials that might be proposed for discussion.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Teaching Resources
PART A
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera, in La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 1983, 2006, pp. 11-55.
Jonathan Culler, Teoria della letteratura, Roma, Armando Editore 1999.
Enza Biagini, Augusta Brettoni, Paolo Orvieto, Teorie critiche del Novecento, Roma, Carocci, 2001 or any other edition (students will only study the pages indicated in class and on the Ariel website).
PART B
- Giuseppe Carrara, "Storie a vista. Retorica e poetiche del fototesto", Mimesis, 2020.
- Virginia Woolf, "Orlando", Penguin 2000.
PART C
Two books to choose from:
- W. G. Sebald, Austerlitz, Adelphi, 2006.
- Walter Siti, Autopsia dell'ossessione, Mondadori, 2010.
- Orhan Pamuk, Istanbul, Einaudi, 2014.
- Giorgio Falco, Fleshover. Incendio a Venezia, fotografie di Sabrina Ragucci, Einaudi, 2020.
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
Parte A
- Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
Part B
- Sara Sullam, La performance del genere: Orlando di Virginia Woolf, in M. Paino, M. Rizzarelli, A. Sichera (a cura di), Scritture del corpo. Atti del XVIII Convegno internazionale Mod, ETS, Pisa 2018, pp. 453-459.
Part C
Students will read Sebald, Pamuk and Siti's books (see the reading list for attending students) and the following papers:
- Stefano Ercolino, Per un'estetica dell'irrappresentabile. Le immagini della Shoah in Austerlitz di W. G. Sebald, "Contemporanea", 9, 2011, pp. 93-107.
- Silvia Cucchi, "O neghi il tempo o ne sei negato". Fotografia e dualismo in Autopsia dell'ossessione di Walter Siti, "Cosmo", 13, 2018, pp. 347-358.
- Tina Maraucci, Autobiografia e memoria urbana: la città come spazio di scrittura del sé in Istanbul di Orhan Pamuk, in F. Bertuccelli (a cura di), Soggettività, identità nazionale, memorie, Firenze, Firenze University Press, 2017, pp. 137-150.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H)
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera, in La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 1983, 2006, pp. 11-55.
Jonathan Culler, Teoria della letteratura, Roma, Armando Editore 1999.
Enza Biagini, Augusta Brettoni, Paolo Orvieto, Teorie critiche del Novecento, Roma, Carocci, 2001 or any other edition (students will only study the pages indicated in class and on the Ariel website).
PART B
- Giuseppe Carrara, "Storie a vista. Retorica e poetiche del fototesto", Mimesis, 2020.
- Virginia Woolf, "Orlando", Penguin 2000.
PART C
Two books to choose from:
- W. G. Sebald, Austerlitz, Adelphi, 2006.
- Walter Siti, Autopsia dell'ossessione, Mondadori, 2010.
- Orhan Pamuk, Istanbul, Einaudi, 2014.
- Giorgio Falco, Fleshover. Incendio a Venezia, fotografie di Sabrina Ragucci, Einaudi, 2020.
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
Parte A
- Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
Part B
- Sara Sullam, La performance del genere: Orlando di Virginia Woolf, in M. Paino, M. Rizzarelli, A. Sichera (a cura di), Scritture del corpo. Atti del XVIII Convegno internazionale Mod, ETS, Pisa 2018, pp. 453-459.
Part C
Students will read Sebald, Pamuk and Siti's books (see the reading list for attending students) and the following papers:
- Stefano Ercolino, Per un'estetica dell'irrappresentabile. Le immagini della Shoah in Austerlitz di W. G. Sebald, "Contemporanea", 9, 2011, pp. 93-107.
- Silvia Cucchi, "O neghi il tempo o ne sei negato". Fotografia e dualismo in Autopsia dell'ossessione di Walter Siti, "Cosmo", 13, 2018, pp. 347-358.
- Tina Maraucci, Autobiografia e memoria urbana: la città come spazio di scrittura del sé in Istanbul di Orhan Pamuk, in F. Bertuccelli (a cura di), Soggettività, identità nazionale, memorie, Firenze, Firenze University Press, 2017, pp. 137-150.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist of an oral exam about the topics of the course. In order to pass the exam, students will have to demonstrate at least sufficient knowledge of the topics of each part of the course ( A, B, and C, if they are to acquire 9 credits; A and B if they are to acquire 6 credits). Students will be asked to present the works comprised in the course syllabus and to critically discuss about the issues that will have been dealt. Language proficiency (this includes technical language proficiency) and the accuracy of historical and literary references will also contribute to the final score.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)