Modern Italian Literature
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course shows the main lines of evolution of modern italian literature, within the framework of historical-cultural context and of peculiarities of literary and linguistical history; presents the instruments and the critical methods useful to analyze and interpretate texts; gives the main lines of history of the critical literature referring to the studied period, according to the most recent tendencies of scientific studies.
Expected learning outcomes
Comprehension and punctual analysis of the literary text, within the framework of the relevant historical and cultural contexts, using the critical literature and developing capability of selection; capability of autonomous confrontation and judgement; capability of define and discussing problems of interpretation, with awareness of the different methodological perspectives. Capability of preparing a scientific bibliography and programming a research agenda. Capability of expressing clairly and properly, using the terms specific to the discipline.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
If it will be necessary to resort to the distance learning, the programme will be maintained with the following changes, that permit to participate to the course originally designed for the presence learning.
Teaching methods:
Lectures will be held remotely, mainly in synchronous format (via Microsoft Teams), and will be divided into two parts (frontal teaching and interaction with students). During synchronous lectures students can ask questions and requests for explanations and/or deepenings on the contents of the lessons. Asynchronous lessons (video lessons) will take place every three-four synchronous lessons.
The calendar of asynchronous and synchronous lessons will be published on Ariel at the beginning of the course.
All lessons, including the synchronous ones, will be recorded and made available on Ariel; they will take place at the scheduled time of frontal lessons.
Bibliography:
The bibliography will not be modified.
The slides projected during the lessons will also be made available on Ariel, at the end of every teaching part.
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures.
Assessement methods and criteria:
Finally, in case it proves impossible to hold the exam face to face (as is indicated in the programme), the exam will take place remotely (via Microsoft Teams), in ways which will be communicated on the course page on Ariel at the end of the course.
Teaching methods:
Lectures will be held remotely, mainly in synchronous format (via Microsoft Teams), and will be divided into two parts (frontal teaching and interaction with students). During synchronous lectures students can ask questions and requests for explanations and/or deepenings on the contents of the lessons. Asynchronous lessons (video lessons) will take place every three-four synchronous lessons.
The calendar of asynchronous and synchronous lessons will be published on Ariel at the beginning of the course.
All lessons, including the synchronous ones, will be recorded and made available on Ariel; they will take place at the scheduled time of frontal lessons.
Bibliography:
The bibliography will not be modified.
The slides projected during the lessons will also be made available on Ariel, at the end of every teaching part.
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures.
Assessement methods and criteria:
Finally, in case it proves impossible to hold the exam face to face (as is indicated in the programme), the exam will take place remotely (via Microsoft Teams), in ways which will be communicated on the course page on Ariel at the end of the course.
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Literature and civil life: from Parini to Leopardi
Part A (20 hours, 3 CFU): Classicism and Enlightenment in Parini's "Odi"
Part B (20 hours, 3 CFU): Foscolian poetical itineraries
Part C (20 hours, 3 CFU): Giacomo Leopardi: the first poetical time
The course aims to illustrate the characters of civil poetry through the texts of three 'exemplary' authors of literary modernity: Giuseppe Parini, Ugo Foscolo, Giacomo Leopardi. Part A will be dedicated to Parini's "Odi", especially those of the Enlightenment season; Part B will focus on Foscolo's lyrical itinerary, in particular on the collection of "Poesie" (1803) and on the "Sepolcri" (1806); Part C will focus on Leopardi's early songs.
Starting from the historical-cultural contexts of reference, and taking into account the authoritative critical positions, the analysis will be conducted through the reading and commentary of the above-mentioned texts, highlighting the motivations, models, linguistic choices, metrical structures. Particular attention will also be paid to the reconstruction of the compositional and editorial aspects, as well as to the relationships that the examined texts establish with the remaining production of their respective authors.
Part A (20 hours, 3 CFU): Classicism and Enlightenment in Parini's "Odi"
Part B (20 hours, 3 CFU): Foscolian poetical itineraries
Part C (20 hours, 3 CFU): Giacomo Leopardi: the first poetical time
The course aims to illustrate the characters of civil poetry through the texts of three 'exemplary' authors of literary modernity: Giuseppe Parini, Ugo Foscolo, Giacomo Leopardi. Part A will be dedicated to Parini's "Odi", especially those of the Enlightenment season; Part B will focus on Foscolo's lyrical itinerary, in particular on the collection of "Poesie" (1803) and on the "Sepolcri" (1806); Part C will focus on Leopardi's early songs.
Starting from the historical-cultural contexts of reference, and taking into account the authoritative critical positions, the analysis will be conducted through the reading and commentary of the above-mentioned texts, highlighting the motivations, models, linguistic choices, metrical structures. Particular attention will also be paid to the reconstruction of the compositional and editorial aspects, as well as to the relationships that the examined texts establish with the remaining production of their respective authors.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements for the admission. However, a good preparation in Italian literature, studied during the first three years of University, is recommended.
Teaching methods
Attendance to classes is strongly recommended although not compulsory. Frontal lectures aim primarily at the acquisition of knowledge through the discussion with the teacher, in order to promote the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge. Therefore, will be encouraged the participation of students, who will intervene with requests for further information and with reflections on the analysis and critical discussion of the literary texts examined.
Volunteer students can do an individual exercise of commentary that will be presented in class or developed in a short essay (to be delivered at the end of the course), in order to test the skills learned, as well as to measure themselves with bibliographic resources and methodologies for interpreting the literary texts. Students will find the text to comment (by one of the three authors analyzed during the lessons) in a list that will be published on Ariel at the beginning of the course. Individual work will contribute to the final evaluation of the exam.
The slides projected during the lessons will be available on Ariel.
Non-attending students have to obtain the materials indicated in this program and to contact the teacher via email or during reception hours.
Volunteer students can do an individual exercise of commentary that will be presented in class or developed in a short essay (to be delivered at the end of the course), in order to test the skills learned, as well as to measure themselves with bibliographic resources and methodologies for interpreting the literary texts. Students will find the text to comment (by one of the three authors analyzed during the lessons) in a list that will be published on Ariel at the beginning of the course. Individual work will contribute to the final evaluation of the exam.
The slides projected during the lessons will be available on Ariel.
Non-attending students have to obtain the materials indicated in this program and to contact the teacher via email or during reception hours.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
Part A
Text:
Giuseppe Parini, "Le Odi", in one of these two editions (free choice): "Le Odi", edited by Nadia Ebani, Milano-Parma, Fondazione Bembo-Guanda, 2010; "Il Giorno; Le Odi", edited by Giuseppe Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2011 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Giuseppe Petronio, "Parini e l'illuminismo lombardo", Bari, Laterza, 1987 (chapters I, II, III, IV, IX, X, XI).
2. Vittorio Criscuolo, "La nascita di un mito: Parini 'poeta civile'", in "L'amabil rito. Società e cultura nella Milano di Parini", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi, Carlo Capra, Francesco Degrada, Fernando Mazzocca, Bologna, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2000, vol. I, pp. 71-99.
3. Nadia Ebani, "Parini: la proporzione delle parti e il libro delle «Odi»", «Strumenti critici», a. XXII, nr. 2 (May 2007), pp. 213-226.
Part B
Text:
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", edited by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 (essay available on Internet).
2. "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 voll. (choosing three essays between the following ones: Paola Italia, Franco Longoni, Guido Lucchini, Emilio Pasquini, Gilberto Pizzamiglio, Maria Antonietta Terzoli).
Part C
Text:
Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", in one of these three editions (free choice): edited by Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; edited by Lucio Felici, Roma, Newton Compton (editorial series: "Grandi tascabili economici" and "Mammut"); edited by Ugo Dotti, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1993 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»" e "I tempi dei «Canti»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43, 177-218.
2. "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", edited by Christian Genetelli, with the collaboration of Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013 (choosing two essays between the following ones: Alessandro Martini, Giulia Raboni, Emilio Russo, William Spaggiari).
Non-attending students:
Part A
Text:
Giuseppe Parini, "Le Odi", in one of these two editions (free choice): "Le Odi", edited by Nadia Ebani, Milano-Parma, Fondazione Bembo-Guanda, 2010; "Il Giorno; Le Odi", edited by Giuseppe Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2011 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Giuseppe Petronio, "Parini e l'illuminismo lombardo", Bari, Laterza, 1987 (chapters I, II, III, IV, IX, X, XI).
2. Vittorio Criscuolo, "La nascita di un mito: Parini 'poeta civile'", in "L'amabil rito. Società e cultura nella Milano di Parini", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi, Carlo Capra, Francesco Degrada, Fernando Mazzocca, Bologna, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2000, vol. I, pp. 71-99.
3. Nadia Ebani, "Parini: la proporzione delle parti e il libro delle «Odi»", «Strumenti critici», a. XXII, nr. 2 (May 2007), pp. 213-226.
4. Giuseppe Nicoletti, "Parini", Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2015.
Part B
Text:
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", edited by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 (essay available on Internet).
2. "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 voll. (choosing three essays between the following ones: Paola Italia, Franco Longoni, Guido Lucchini, Emilio Pasquini, Gilberto Pizzamiglio, Maria Antonietta Terzoli).
3. Maria Antonietta Terzoli, "Foscolo", Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000 (or subsequent reprints).
Part C
Text:
Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", in one of these three editions (free choice): edited by Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; edited by Lucio Felici, Roma, Newton Compton (editorial series: "Grandi tascabili economici" and "Mammut"); edited by Ugo Dotti, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1993 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»" e "I tempi dei «Canti»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43, 177-218.
2. "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", edited by Christian Genetelli, with the collaboration of Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013 (choosing two essays between the following ones: Alessandro Martini, Giulia Raboni, Emilio Russo, William Spaggiari).
3. "Leopardi", edited by Franco D'Intino e Massimo Natale, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (choosing two essays between the following ones: "La poesia", "La prosa", "L'epistolario", "Le traduzioni e gli scritti filologici").
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Part A
Text:
Giuseppe Parini, "Le Odi", in one of these two editions (free choice): "Le Odi", edited by Nadia Ebani, Milano-Parma, Fondazione Bembo-Guanda, 2010; "Il Giorno; Le Odi", edited by Giuseppe Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2011 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Giuseppe Petronio, "Parini e l'illuminismo lombardo", Bari, Laterza, 1987 (chapters I, II, III, IV, IX, X, XI).
2. Vittorio Criscuolo, "La nascita di un mito: Parini 'poeta civile'", in "L'amabil rito. Società e cultura nella Milano di Parini", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi, Carlo Capra, Francesco Degrada, Fernando Mazzocca, Bologna, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2000, vol. I, pp. 71-99.
3. Nadia Ebani, "Parini: la proporzione delle parti e il libro delle «Odi»", «Strumenti critici», a. XXII, nr. 2 (May 2007), pp. 213-226.
Part B
Text:
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", edited by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 (essay available on Internet).
2. "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 voll. (choosing three essays between the following ones: Paola Italia, Franco Longoni, Guido Lucchini, Emilio Pasquini, Gilberto Pizzamiglio, Maria Antonietta Terzoli).
Part C
Text:
Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", in one of these three editions (free choice): edited by Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; edited by Lucio Felici, Roma, Newton Compton (editorial series: "Grandi tascabili economici" and "Mammut"); edited by Ugo Dotti, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1993 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»" e "I tempi dei «Canti»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43, 177-218.
2. "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", edited by Christian Genetelli, with the collaboration of Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013 (choosing two essays between the following ones: Alessandro Martini, Giulia Raboni, Emilio Russo, William Spaggiari).
Non-attending students:
Part A
Text:
Giuseppe Parini, "Le Odi", in one of these two editions (free choice): "Le Odi", edited by Nadia Ebani, Milano-Parma, Fondazione Bembo-Guanda, 2010; "Il Giorno; Le Odi", edited by Giuseppe Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2011 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Giuseppe Petronio, "Parini e l'illuminismo lombardo", Bari, Laterza, 1987 (chapters I, II, III, IV, IX, X, XI).
2. Vittorio Criscuolo, "La nascita di un mito: Parini 'poeta civile'", in "L'amabil rito. Società e cultura nella Milano di Parini", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi, Carlo Capra, Francesco Degrada, Fernando Mazzocca, Bologna, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2000, vol. I, pp. 71-99.
3. Nadia Ebani, "Parini: la proporzione delle parti e il libro delle «Odi»", «Strumenti critici», a. XXII, nr. 2 (May 2007), pp. 213-226.
4. Giuseppe Nicoletti, "Parini", Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2015.
Part B
Text:
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", edited by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 (essay available on Internet).
2. "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", edited by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 voll. (choosing three essays between the following ones: Paola Italia, Franco Longoni, Guido Lucchini, Emilio Pasquini, Gilberto Pizzamiglio, Maria Antonietta Terzoli).
3. Maria Antonietta Terzoli, "Foscolo", Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000 (or subsequent reprints).
Part C
Text:
Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", in one of these three editions (free choice): edited by Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014; edited by Lucio Felici, Roma, Newton Compton (editorial series: "Grandi tascabili economici" and "Mammut"); edited by Ugo Dotti, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1993 (or subsequent reprints).
At the end of the teaching part, a detailed list of the literary texts to prepare for the exam will be provided on Ariel.
Bibliography:
1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»" e "I tempi dei «Canti»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43, 177-218.
2. "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", edited by Christian Genetelli, with the collaboration of Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013 (choosing two essays between the following ones: Alessandro Martini, Giulia Raboni, Emilio Russo, William Spaggiari).
3. "Leopardi", edited by Franco D'Intino e Massimo Natale, Roma, Carocci, 2018 (choosing two essays between the following ones: "La poesia", "La prosa", "L'epistolario", "Le traduzioni e gli scritti filologici").
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral examination, intended to verify the knowledge of the contents on the programme. The reading of the texts will start from the paraphrase and then will be highlighted the most significant thematic and conceptual elements; the critical bibliography indicated in the programme will offer a useful support for the discussion of the contents.
Will be evaluated the ability to formulate an organic response, to adopt the right formal register and use the appropriate specialized vocabulary, to recognize and discuss interpretative issues, to analyze the various levels of a literary text (structure, themes, style, intertextuality) in relation to the historical-cultural context.
The final evaluation will be determined in 30s.
In defining the final evaluation, the commentary exercises carried out by volunteer students (short essay or class report) will be taken into account (see the section "Teaching methods").
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Will be evaluated the ability to formulate an organic response, to adopt the right formal register and use the appropriate specialized vocabulary, to recognize and discuss interpretative issues, to analyze the various levels of a literary text (structure, themes, style, intertextuality) in relation to the historical-cultural context.
The final evaluation will be determined in 30s.
In defining the final evaluation, the commentary exercises carried out by volunteer students (short essay or class report) will be taken into account (see the section "Teaching methods").
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)