Comparative Literature
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing students to the comparative study of European and non-European literatures, as well as to the theoretical and methodological issues raised by this approach.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Students will achieve an in-depth knowledge of a selection of authors and works from several European and non-European literatures and they will gain a better understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues related to the study of literature.
Competence: By approaching a plurality of historical and cultural horizons in multiple languages, students will improve their hermeneutical competences and their ability to dialog with different cultures. At the end of the course, they will be able to autonomously apply the knowledge and the competences they will have gained to the study of literary works from different times and literatures.
Competence: By approaching a plurality of historical and cultural horizons in multiple languages, students will improve their hermeneutical competences and their ability to dialog with different cultures. At the end of the course, they will be able to autonomously apply the knowledge and the competences they will have gained to the study of literary works from different times and literatures.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will deal first with J.M. Coetzee's "Disgrace" and then with Gustave Flaubert's "Madame Bovary" and it will be focused on some aspects of novel writing that have to do with the theme of dialogism. To this end, we will also refer to Coetzee's essays and to Flaubert's correspondence and we will discuss some theoretical works by Mikhail Bakhtin (and suggestions from other authors such as Rita Felski, Toril Moi, Paul Ricoeur, and Charles Taylor). In the third part of the course, students will be confronted with a selection of short stories by Alice Munro, to re-elaborate the issues discussed in the first two parts through textual criticism.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with SLD should also contact the teacher, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with SLD should also contact the teacher, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
Teaching methods
The topics of the course will be presented by the teacher and discussed with the students. For part C, attending students will participate in group work on a short story by Alice Munro.
Teaching Resources
Part A:
J. M. Coetzee, "Disgrace", Vintage, 1999.
Part B:
Gustave Flaubert, "Madame Bovary. Moeurs de province", Gallimard and other publishers.
Parts A and B:
Mikhail Bakhtin, parts of "Dialogue in the Novel" and "Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics";
critical essays on "Disgrace" and "Madame Bovary".
More information will be given in class and on the Ariel website of the course.
Part C:
Alice Munro, one short story that will be assigned to each group by the teacher (for non-attending students, information will be given on the Ariel website of the course).
J. M. Coetzee, "Disgrace", Vintage, 1999.
Part B:
Gustave Flaubert, "Madame Bovary. Moeurs de province", Gallimard and other publishers.
Parts A and B:
Mikhail Bakhtin, parts of "Dialogue in the Novel" and "Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics";
critical essays on "Disgrace" and "Madame Bovary".
More information will be given in class and on the Ariel website of the course.
Part C:
Alice Munro, one short story that will be assigned to each group by the teacher (for non-attending students, information will be given on the Ariel website of the course).
Assessment methods and Criteria
For parts A and B, the exam will consist of an interview in which students will have to present the works in the program and critically discuss them in relation to the issues addressed during the course. Language property and the precision of historical-literary references will also be appreciated. For part C, the exam will be oral for non-attending students; for attending students, the work produced in the group activity will be evaluated (see "Metodi didattici"). The overall evaluation will be out of thirty. Further information will be given in class and on the Ariel website of the course.
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
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Mondays, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, by appointment.
Dipartimento di Studi letterari, filologici e linguistici, Modern studies section, second floor