Scandinavian Literature 2
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
This course aims at developing interpretive and analytic skills in the evaluation of a specific thematic strand in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish literary works from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, it furnishes an overview of the history of Scandinavian literature in the 20th century, and intends to equip students with the capacity to read and analyze poems, short stories and a small selection of novels.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: students will approach Scandinavian 19th and 20th century literature by focusing on a chosen theme present in works by Danish, Norwegian and Swedish writers, as well as acquire knowledge of the history of 20th century Scandinavian literature, its main authors, currents and oeuvres. Applying knowledge and understanding: students will learn how to examine a chosen theme by working knowledgeably with secondary literature, practice critical reading of texts written in all three Scandinavian languages, understand how to situate authors, movements and works in their context, and examine literary works representative of the Scandinavian 20th century with a critical eye.
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
IN SHORT. THE SHORT STORY IN SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE. This course (9 cfu) examines the Scandinavian short story tradition by considering its place in literary history, by drawing on central concerns in short fiction theory (problems of definition, terminology) and by analyzing textual structures and narrative techniques. This approach to the short story will help understand the highlights and the variations on the genre in time and space, and provide tools and skills for discussing short prose. Unit A looks at authors and texts from the 19th century. Unit B investigates works representative of the 20th century short story. Unit C offers an overview of the history of Scandinavian literature in the 20th century.
Unit A: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, J.P. Jacobsen, Hjalmar Söderberg
Unit B: Karen Blixen, Cora Sandel, Torgny Lindgren
Unit C: Scandinavian literature in the 20th century
This course syllabus is valid until June 2024.
Unit A: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, J.P. Jacobsen, Hjalmar Söderberg
Unit B: Karen Blixen, Cora Sandel, Torgny Lindgren
Unit C: Scandinavian literature in the 20th century
This course syllabus is valid until June 2024.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are required to have passed Scandinavian languages 1 and Scandinavian literature 1 to be admitted. Although the teaching is done in Italian and the literary works avaliable in Italian translation, texts written in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish will be used in class. The reading list, which will be discussed during the lessons, includes critical works written both in the Scandinavian languages and in English.
Teaching methods
The teaching methodology combines lectures and class discussions of poetry and prose excerpts selected from the texts on the reading list.
Teaching Resources
General: Second year students will choose ONE of the following three texts: Asbjørn Aarseth, "Novellen som fiksjonsprosaens kortform", in: Id. Episke strukturer, Universitetsforlaget, 1979, sez. VI-VIII, pp. 135-142; Staffan Bergsten & Lars Elleström: "Novell och kortprosa", in: Litteraturhistoriens grundbegrepp, Studentlitteratur, 2004, pp. 156-159; Marie Lund, "Indledning" e "Genrestudiet", in: Novellen. Struktur, historie og analyse, Centrum, 1997, pp. 9-12 & 108-112. IN ADDITION: Boris Ejchenbaum, "Teoria della prosa", in: I formalisti russi, a cura di T. Todorov, Einaudi, 1968, pp. 233-247; Marie Louise Pratt, "The Short Story. The Long and the Short of It", in: The New Short Story Theories, ed. C. May, Ohio University Press, 1994, pp. 91-113.
Unit A:
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Faderen (1860; Il padre), Thrond (1860); Støv (1882; Polvere) in any unabridged edition in Norwegian or Italian; J.P. Jacobsen: Mogens og andre Noveller, ANNO (It. transl. by G. Gabetti, La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti, Guanda, 1988); Hjalmar Söderberg: Historietter, 1897 (It. transl. by M.C. Lombardi, Il disegno a inchiostro e altri racconti, Lindau, 2015).
Saggi critici: Henning Sehmsdorf: Bjørnson's Trond and Popular Tradition in: "Scandinavian Studies" 41: 1, 1969, pp. 56-66; Merete Kjøller Ritzu: L'alchimia della parola. I racconti di J.P. Jacobsen, G' D'Anna, 1982, pp. 47-125; Torsten Hegerfors: Hjalmar Söderbergs Pälsen, in: Novellanalyser, red. V. Edström & P-E. Henricson, Prisma, 1970, pp. 49-54.
Unità B:
Karen Blixen: Aben (1935; La scimmia); ); Ringen (1950; L'anello); Den udødelige Historie (1953; La storia immortale). Cora Sandel: En gåte (1932; Un'enigma); Kunsten å myrde (1935; L'arte di uccidere); Den stillferdige gjesten (1949; L'ospite silenziosa); Torgny Lindgren: Merabs skönhet (1983; La bellezza di Merab).
Saggi critici: Marianne Juhl & Bo Hakon Jørgensen: "Why Gothic Tales?", in: Isak Dinesen. Critical Views, ed. O.A. Pelensky, Ohio State University Press, 1993, pp. 88-99; Ellen Rees: "The Riddle Solved: Cora Sandel's En gåte", in: Studies in Short Fiction, 31:1, 1994, pp. 13-21; Pehrson Berger, Ingela: "'Orden dem hava stormvindens kraft'. Språk och identitet I Torgny Lindgrens berättelser", in: Rötter och rutter, red. A. Öhman, Umeå universitet, pp. 68-79.
Unità C: AA.VV.: Storia delle letterature scandinave, Milano, Iperborea, 2019, the following pages: 385-404, 408-417, 422-489, 533-552, 558-564, 572-574 (T. Tranströmer), 594-598, 621-685; an anthology of poems and prose available for download in Ariel. Two of the following three reads: Pär Lagerkvist, Il nano, Milano, Iperborea, 1991 [1944]; Karen Blixen, Il pranzo di Babette, preferably in the trilingual edition Torino, Einaudi, 1997 [1950]; Tarjei Vesaas, Gli uccelli, Milano, Iperborea, 1990 [1957].
Second year students may choose between reading the literary works in the original language or in Italian as long as the editions are unabridged. If present, the critical apparatus (introductions, forewords, afterwords, notes) is to be considered part of the reading.
STUDENTS UNABLE TO ATTEND LESSONS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR FOR CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS.
Unit A:
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Faderen (1860; Il padre), Thrond (1860); Støv (1882; Polvere) in any unabridged edition in Norwegian or Italian; J.P. Jacobsen: Mogens og andre Noveller, ANNO (It. transl. by G. Gabetti, La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti, Guanda, 1988); Hjalmar Söderberg: Historietter, 1897 (It. transl. by M.C. Lombardi, Il disegno a inchiostro e altri racconti, Lindau, 2015).
Saggi critici: Henning Sehmsdorf: Bjørnson's Trond and Popular Tradition in: "Scandinavian Studies" 41: 1, 1969, pp. 56-66; Merete Kjøller Ritzu: L'alchimia della parola. I racconti di J.P. Jacobsen, G' D'Anna, 1982, pp. 47-125; Torsten Hegerfors: Hjalmar Söderbergs Pälsen, in: Novellanalyser, red. V. Edström & P-E. Henricson, Prisma, 1970, pp. 49-54.
Unità B:
Karen Blixen: Aben (1935; La scimmia); ); Ringen (1950; L'anello); Den udødelige Historie (1953; La storia immortale). Cora Sandel: En gåte (1932; Un'enigma); Kunsten å myrde (1935; L'arte di uccidere); Den stillferdige gjesten (1949; L'ospite silenziosa); Torgny Lindgren: Merabs skönhet (1983; La bellezza di Merab).
Saggi critici: Marianne Juhl & Bo Hakon Jørgensen: "Why Gothic Tales?", in: Isak Dinesen. Critical Views, ed. O.A. Pelensky, Ohio State University Press, 1993, pp. 88-99; Ellen Rees: "The Riddle Solved: Cora Sandel's En gåte", in: Studies in Short Fiction, 31:1, 1994, pp. 13-21; Pehrson Berger, Ingela: "'Orden dem hava stormvindens kraft'. Språk och identitet I Torgny Lindgrens berättelser", in: Rötter och rutter, red. A. Öhman, Umeå universitet, pp. 68-79.
Unità C: AA.VV.: Storia delle letterature scandinave, Milano, Iperborea, 2019, the following pages: 385-404, 408-417, 422-489, 533-552, 558-564, 572-574 (T. Tranströmer), 594-598, 621-685; an anthology of poems and prose available for download in Ariel. Two of the following three reads: Pär Lagerkvist, Il nano, Milano, Iperborea, 1991 [1944]; Karen Blixen, Il pranzo di Babette, preferably in the trilingual edition Torino, Einaudi, 1997 [1950]; Tarjei Vesaas, Gli uccelli, Milano, Iperborea, 1990 [1957].
Second year students may choose between reading the literary works in the original language or in Italian as long as the editions are unabridged. If present, the critical apparatus (introductions, forewords, afterwords, notes) is to be considered part of the reading.
STUDENTS UNABLE TO ATTEND LESSONS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR FOR CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be assessed through an oral examination conducted by the instructor. Students are expected to be able to to answer questions concerning topics discussed in class; to provide analyses and comments to passages from texts on the reading list; to demonstrate the capacity to contextualize the literary works and analyze structural elements also with the help of the methodological tools provided in the theoretical texts present in the course syllabus.
Second year students can choose whether to take the exam in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. Grades are on a scale of 30, with a minimum of 18 (pass) and a maximum of 30+lode. Students have the right to reject the mark.
International and Erasmus students are requested to contact the instructor upon arrival if they intend to take this course.
Le modalità d'esame per studenti con disabilità e/o con DSA dovranno essere concordate col docente, in accordo con l'Ufficio competente.
Second year students can choose whether to take the exam in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. Grades are on a scale of 30, with a minimum of 18 (pass) and a maximum of 30+lode. Students have the right to reject the mark.
International and Erasmus students are requested to contact the instructor upon arrival if they intend to take this course.
Le modalità d'esame per studenti con disabilità e/o con DSA dovranno essere concordate col docente, in accordo con l'Ufficio competente.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B+C
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor(s)