Scandinavian Literature 1
A.Y. 2022/2023
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.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is an introduction to Nordic literary history until the beginning of the 20th century, with an additional focus on the analysis of dramatic texts.
It consists of three sections:
A: From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment (prof. S. Severini);
B: From Romanticism to Symbolism (prof. S. Severini);
C: Introduction to the analysis of Scandinavian drama (prof. A. Meregalli).
Parts A and B are taught one after the other (2 lessons per week); part C has 1 lesson per week along the term.
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 sections A+B.
The first section (A) follows the development of Nordic literatures from the Middle Ages, with the first lkiterary runic inscriptions, to the 18th century with special focus on Old Norse literature and its genres, but also on the main Renaissance and Baroque authors, down to the birth of modern Scandinavian drama with Holberg.
Section B continues from section A and is devoted to the literary history of the 19th century, with the development of the novel, Ibsen's and Strindberg's drama, down until Symbolism at the end of the century. A special focus is on the novel in the second half of the 19th century.
In both sections A and B, the historical overview will be accompanied by the analysis of literary texts representative of the different currents and authors, either included in the reading list or as ecxcerpts in an anthology prepared by the teacher.
Section C will be devoted to the formal and technical charactersitics of the dramatic genre through the study and analysis of three Scandinavian theatrical works between the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.
This course programme is valid until September 2023.
It consists of three sections:
A: From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment (prof. S. Severini);
B: From Romanticism to Symbolism (prof. S. Severini);
C: Introduction to the analysis of Scandinavian drama (prof. A. Meregalli).
Parts A and B are taught one after the other (2 lessons per week); part C has 1 lesson per week along the term.
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 sections A+B.
The first section (A) follows the development of Nordic literatures from the Middle Ages, with the first lkiterary runic inscriptions, to the 18th century with special focus on Old Norse literature and its genres, but also on the main Renaissance and Baroque authors, down to the birth of modern Scandinavian drama with Holberg.
Section B continues from section A and is devoted to the literary history of the 19th century, with the development of the novel, Ibsen's and Strindberg's drama, down until Symbolism at the end of the century. A special focus is on the novel in the second half of the 19th century.
In both sections A and B, the historical overview will be accompanied by the analysis of literary texts representative of the different currents and authors, either included in the reading list or as ecxcerpts in an anthology prepared by the teacher.
Section C will be devoted to the formal and technical charactersitics of the dramatic genre through the study and analysis of three Scandinavian theatrical works between the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.
This course programme is valid until September 2023.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Teaching methodologies: frontal lessons; reading and analysis of literary works both during classes and individually; individual study of secondary literature.
Teaching Resources
Reading list and materials for SECTIONS A and B:
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, chapters 1-5.
- Text anthologies available on the Ariel platform: I. "From Middle Ages to the Enlightenment"; II. "From Romanticism to Symbolism";
The syllabus includes the contents of the lessons, all the texts collected in the anthologies, as well as texts discussed during classes. The materials used in classes will be available on the Ariel page.
In addition, students are required to individually read and analyse the following works in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- "La saga di Kormákr", Edizioni dell'Orso 2021;
- H. C. Andersen, 8 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 Andersen, "Fiabe e storie", Donzelli, or in H. C. Andersen, "Fiabe", Einaudi, or other unabridged editions, i.e., not versions edited for children;
- J. P. Jacobsen, "Niels Lyhne", Iperborea, 2017;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt", or "Casa di bambola", or "Spettri", or "L'anatra selvatica" (each in any unabridged edition);
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition), or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition), or "Verso Damasco I" (any unabridged edition), or "La casa bruciata" in "Teatro da camera" (Adelphi);
- K. Hamsun, "Sotto la stella d'autunno", Iperborea 1995, or "Fame", Adelphi 2002;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea), or "Il meraviglioso viaggio di Nils Holgersson" (Iperborea, or another unabridged edition), or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea), or "Jerusalem" (Iperborea).
Reading list and materials for SECTION C:
1. The following texts, in Italian or English translation (available on the Ariel platform or at the Library of Foreign Languages):
- Henrik Ibsen, "Hedda Gabler", in "Drammi moderni", ed. R. Alonge, BUR;
- August Strindberg, "Il pellicano", in "Teatro da camera", Adelphi.
- - Kjeld Abell, "Il pechinese azzurro", Bulzoni.
2. Any additional materials available on the Ariel page.
3. The contents of lessons in class, for students who attend classes (PowerPoint presentations will be available on the Ariel page).
Further (not mandatory) reference works:
- J.P. Ryngaert, "L'analisi del testo teatrale", Roma 2006;
- M. Pfister, "The theory of drama", Cambridge 1988.
Additional reading list for students who do not attend classes (in addition to the list above; all tesxts listed below are mandatory).
PARTS A and B:
- "Saga di Egill", in "Antiche saghe nordiche", a cura di M. Meli, vol. 2, Mondadori 1997, pp. 459-714 (available on the Ariel page);
- Ludvig Holberg, "Epistole. Nota Introduttiva" + "Epistola 29", in Ludvig Holberg, "Con la ragione come bussola". Antologia degli scritti a cura di Jørgen Stender Clausen. Traduzione di Anna Maria Paroli Clausen, Giardini Editori e Stampatori, Pisa 1990, pp. 263-265; pp. 268-271 (available on the Ariel page);
- H. Ibsen, "Rosmersholm", Einaudi 1990, or any other unabridged edition:
- F. Bendini, "Percorsi antropologici. Casa di bambola", in «Burattini. Rivista del teatro di figura», giugno 1986, anno II, n. 8, pp. 37-38 (available on the Ariel page);
- A. Strindberg, one play at the student's own choice among "Attraverso i deserti verso la terra promessa/Ellade/L'agnello e la bestia", in August Strindberg, "Drammi della storia universale". Cura e traduzione di Franco Perelli, edizionidipagina 2017, pp. 155-189, pp. 190-144, pp. 245-279;
- L. Koch, "Architetture sognate e mobili medianici nei 'Drammi da camera' di Strindberg", in Ludovica Koch, "Al di qua o al di là dell'umano. Studi e esperienze di letteratura". A cura di Gian Carlo Roscioni, Donzelli Editore 1997, pp. 111-122 (available on the Ariel page).
PART C:
All the following critical studiues are mandatory:
- Templeton, Joan, Ibsen's Women, Cambridge 1997: solo il cap. 9: "The deviant woman as hero: Hedda Gabler", pp. 204-232.
- Tornqvist, Egil, "Theme and structure of Pelikanen/The pelican" + "The Moernity of Strindbergian Drama", in Id., Strindbergian Drama. Themes and Structure, Stockholm 1982, pp. 207-219.
- Kjøller Ritzu, Merete, "Il dialogo latente. Virtuosismo innovativo e tecnica teatrale", in - Kjeld Abell, "Il pechinese azzurro", Bulzoni, 1985, pp. 243-282.
- M. Ciaravolo (ed.), "Storia delle letterature scandinave", Iperborea 2019, chapters 1-5.
- Text anthologies available on the Ariel platform: I. "From Middle Ages to the Enlightenment"; II. "From Romanticism to Symbolism";
The syllabus includes the contents of the lessons, all the texts collected in the anthologies, as well as texts discussed during classes. The materials used in classes will be available on the Ariel page.
In addition, students are required to individually read and analyse the following works in Italian translation (including prefaces and afterwords, when present):
- "La saga di Kormákr", Edizioni dell'Orso 2021;
- H. C. Andersen, 8 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 Andersen, "Fiabe e storie", Donzelli, or in H. C. Andersen, "Fiabe", Einaudi, or other unabridged editions, i.e., not versions edited for children;
- J. P. Jacobsen, "Niels Lyhne", Iperborea, 2017;
- H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt", or "Casa di bambola", or "Spettri", or "L'anatra selvatica" (each in any unabridged edition);
- A. Strindberg, "Il padre" (any unabridged edition), or "La Signorina Julie" (any unabridged edition), or "Verso Damasco I" (any unabridged edition), or "La casa bruciata" in "Teatro da camera" (Adelphi);
- K. Hamsun, "Sotto la stella d'autunno", Iperborea 1995, or "Fame", Adelphi 2002;
- S. Lagerlöf, "La Saga di Gösta Berling" (Iperborea), or "Il meraviglioso viaggio di Nils Holgersson" (Iperborea, or another unabridged edition), or "L'imperatore di Portugallia" (Iperborea), or "Jerusalem" (Iperborea).
Reading list and materials for SECTION C:
1. The following texts, in Italian or English translation (available on the Ariel platform or at the Library of Foreign Languages):
- Henrik Ibsen, "Hedda Gabler", in "Drammi moderni", ed. R. Alonge, BUR;
- August Strindberg, "Il pellicano", in "Teatro da camera", Adelphi.
- - Kjeld Abell, "Il pechinese azzurro", Bulzoni.
2. Any additional materials available on the Ariel page.
3. The contents of lessons in class, for students who attend classes (PowerPoint presentations will be available on the Ariel page).
Further (not mandatory) reference works:
- J.P. Ryngaert, "L'analisi del testo teatrale", Roma 2006;
- M. Pfister, "The theory of drama", Cambridge 1988.
Additional reading list for students who do not attend classes (in addition to the list above; all tesxts listed below are mandatory).
PARTS A and B:
- "Saga di Egill", in "Antiche saghe nordiche", a cura di M. Meli, vol. 2, Mondadori 1997, pp. 459-714 (available on the Ariel page);
- Ludvig Holberg, "Epistole. Nota Introduttiva" + "Epistola 29", in Ludvig Holberg, "Con la ragione come bussola". Antologia degli scritti a cura di Jørgen Stender Clausen. Traduzione di Anna Maria Paroli Clausen, Giardini Editori e Stampatori, Pisa 1990, pp. 263-265; pp. 268-271 (available on the Ariel page);
- H. Ibsen, "Rosmersholm", Einaudi 1990, or any other unabridged edition:
- F. Bendini, "Percorsi antropologici. Casa di bambola", in «Burattini. Rivista del teatro di figura», giugno 1986, anno II, n. 8, pp. 37-38 (available on the Ariel page);
- A. Strindberg, one play at the student's own choice among "Attraverso i deserti verso la terra promessa/Ellade/L'agnello e la bestia", in August Strindberg, "Drammi della storia universale". Cura e traduzione di Franco Perelli, edizionidipagina 2017, pp. 155-189, pp. 190-144, pp. 245-279;
- L. Koch, "Architetture sognate e mobili medianici nei 'Drammi da camera' di Strindberg", in Ludovica Koch, "Al di qua o al di là dell'umano. Studi e esperienze di letteratura". A cura di Gian Carlo Roscioni, Donzelli Editore 1997, pp. 111-122 (available on the Ariel page).
PART C:
All the following critical studiues are mandatory:
- Templeton, Joan, Ibsen's Women, Cambridge 1997: solo il cap. 9: "The deviant woman as hero: Hedda Gabler", pp. 204-232.
- Tornqvist, Egil, "Theme and structure of Pelikanen/The pelican" + "The Moernity of Strindbergian Drama", in Id., Strindbergian Drama. Themes and Structure, Stockholm 1982, pp. 207-219.
- Kjøller Ritzu, Merete, "Il dialogo latente. Virtuosismo innovativo e tecnica teatrale", in - Kjeld Abell, "Il pechinese azzurro", Bulzoni, 1985, pp. 243-282.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of two individual interviews with the two course instructors, 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 interviews are in Italian and their duration varies according to the number of ECTS. 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 grade is expressed in the 30-point system and is the result of the two interviews. The student can reject the grade (which will be registered as "ritirata/o" in this case).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teachers as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teachers to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
The final grade is expressed in the 30-point system and is the result of the two interviews. The student can reject the grade (which will be registered as "ritirata/o" in this case).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teachers as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teachers 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
Professor:
Meregalli Andrea
Unita' didattica B+C
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Severini Sara
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 2 p.m. on Teams or at office. Please contact me in advance in order to organize office hours.
Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Mediations. Piazza S. Alessandro, 1