American Literature Lm
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is offered in a double annuality as a specialized exploration of selections of US literary production, which will be conducted either from a thematic point of view or from a recent and current critical perspective. The course will present the fundamental theory and methodology of one or more critical approaches. Literary works will be read in class with the aim of training students in the skill of applying literary theory to critical text analysis.
Expected learning outcomes
Required knowledge: at the end of the course, students should demonstrate that they have understood the critical perspectives illustrated in class, and that they have become able to apply them to their analysis of literary texts. Moreover, they should prove their in-depth knowledge of all the literary works included in the course reading list. Required linguistic skills: at the end of the course, students should demonstrate the ability to read the original versions of the literary works included in the reading list, and to translate them into Italian (or to paraphrase them in English, in the case of international students). Moreover, they should demonstrate, in English, their capacity to interpret the literary texts correctly, and to discuss their interpretations, as well as their application of the acquired theory and methodology to literary analysis. Required literary skills: at the end of the course, students should be able to conduct a critical interpretation of the literary works included in the reading list according to the acquired theory and methods, and to perform a literary analysis of the same from both a thematic and a formal point of view. Finally, they should show the ability to make connections between the various authors and works they have been studying.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is offered as an option within the Laurea Magistrale curriculum in LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE FOR EDUCATION, CRITICISM AND TRANSLATION (Classe LM-37 R). It is titled "American Poetry & Translation" and consists of the following didactic parts:
A: For a theory of poetry translation
B: Translating from and into American poetry: Eco-Translations & Poets' Translations
C: Poetry translation & World Literature. Mistranslation.
Students from both Lingue and other-than-Lingue degree courses who want to acquire 6 credits should complete Parts A and B; those who want to acquire 9 credits should complete the whole course syllabus.
The course will first propose a model specifically constructed for poetry translation and then pursue theories of eco-translation, a poet's version, World Lit translation, and mistranslation. Critical analyses of translations of both American poems into Italian and Italian poems into American will be led in class, as well as the evaluation of exercises in translation.
The course syllabus is valid until February 2027.
A: For a theory of poetry translation
B: Translating from and into American poetry: Eco-Translations & Poets' Translations
C: Poetry translation & World Literature. Mistranslation.
Students from both Lingue and other-than-Lingue degree courses who want to acquire 6 credits should complete Parts A and B; those who want to acquire 9 credits should complete the whole course syllabus.
The course will first propose a model specifically constructed for poetry translation and then pursue theories of eco-translation, a poet's version, World Lit translation, and mistranslation. Critical analyses of translations of both American poems into Italian and Italian poems into American will be led in class, as well as the evaluation of exercises in translation.
The course syllabus is valid until February 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is open to students from all degree courses. It is delivered in English but requires a knowledge of the Italian language for the writing and discussion of translations. Lectures, materials, and bibliography require a mastery of the English language and good Italian.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome if they possess the required linguistic skills.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome if they possess the required linguistic skills.
Teaching methods
The course is mainly delivered as seminar-and-partly workshop classes, in which students will be involved in reading and interpreting literary texts, discussing theoretical and critical essays, and analyzing poetry translations. Students must come to class having prepared the readings assigned for the week's syllabus. Moreover, they will be asked to do presentations as part of their training in the skills of literary criticism and poetry translation. Audio-visual materials may be used in class.
Teaching Resources
Parts A and B:
Poetry translation theory:
· George Steiner, "The Hermeneutic Motion", chapter 5 of After Babel, 1998 (1975): pp. 312-435.
· Gianpaolo Vincenzi, Per una teoria della traduzione, EUM, 2010: "Introduzione" and chapters 2 and 3.
· Lawrence Venuti, "How to Read a Translation", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· From Franco Buffoni (a cura di), La traduzione del testo poetico, Milano, Guerini e Associati, 1989: F. Buffoni, "Introduzione" (pp. 11-30); Luciano Erba, "Traduzione come bricolage" (pp. 138-142); Edoardo Sanguineti, "Per la storia di un'imitazione" (pp. 202-209); Antonio Prete, "Traduzione come esegesi" (pp. 230-33); Nadia Fusini, "Gli enigmi della traduzione" (pp. 272-278).
· From Rosita Copioli (a cura di), L'altro versante: Tradurre poesia, Paideia, 1983: Sergio Solmi, pp. 247-51; Giacomo Leopardi, pp. 13-14; Luciano Anceschi, pp. 15-19.
· Lawrence Venuti, "The Poet's Version; Or, An Ethics of Translation", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· Paola Loreto, "«Englishing» Dante: Three Recent American Poets' Translations of the Inferno." ACME 74.2 (2022): 181-195 (Open Access).
Case studies:
· Paola Loreto (a cura di), Introduzione, "Agosto", "Un incontro" e "Attraversando la palude", in Mary Oliver, Primitivo americano. Einaudi, 2023.
· Robert Lowell, "Introduction" and "The Infinite", in Imitations, The Noonday Press, 1990.
· Attilio Bertolucci, "Polvere di neve", in Imitazioni, Scheiwiller, 1994.
· Da "Versioni d'autore", P1389 (Campo), P712 (Giudici), P258 (Luzi), P1593 (Montale), P632 (Rosselli), in Emily Dickinson, Tutte le poesie, a cura di Marialuisa Bulgheroni, Mondadori 1997, pp. 1641-1667.
· Lawrence Venuti (ed. and tr.), "Introduction", "Giacere", "Innocenza", "Grido", "Sogno nel bosco", in Antonia Pozzi, Breath: Poems and Letters. Wesleyan UP, 2002.
Part C:
Poetry translation theory:
· Lawrence Venuti, "Translation Studies and World Literature", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· Pascale Casanova, "Literature as World," New Left Review 31 (Jan./Feb. 2005): pp. 71-90; World Literature in Theory, David Damrosch, ed., 2014 (ON MYARIEL).
Case studies:
· Eliot Weinberger & Octavio Paz (ed. and tr.), Introduction and poems (into the language of the student's main linguistic competence) from 19 Ways of Looking at Wang Wei. Asphodel Press, 1987.
· Orchid Tierney, final Interview (pp. 101-104), "carbon sink" (pp. 11-12), "garden | eden" (p. 14), "earth | urf" (pp. 26-28), from a year of misreading the wildcats, The Operating System, 2019 (ON MYARIEL).
Poetry translation theory:
· George Steiner, "The Hermeneutic Motion", chapter 5 of After Babel, 1998 (1975): pp. 312-435.
· Gianpaolo Vincenzi, Per una teoria della traduzione, EUM, 2010: "Introduzione" and chapters 2 and 3.
· Lawrence Venuti, "How to Read a Translation", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· From Franco Buffoni (a cura di), La traduzione del testo poetico, Milano, Guerini e Associati, 1989: F. Buffoni, "Introduzione" (pp. 11-30); Luciano Erba, "Traduzione come bricolage" (pp. 138-142); Edoardo Sanguineti, "Per la storia di un'imitazione" (pp. 202-209); Antonio Prete, "Traduzione come esegesi" (pp. 230-33); Nadia Fusini, "Gli enigmi della traduzione" (pp. 272-278).
· From Rosita Copioli (a cura di), L'altro versante: Tradurre poesia, Paideia, 1983: Sergio Solmi, pp. 247-51; Giacomo Leopardi, pp. 13-14; Luciano Anceschi, pp. 15-19.
· Lawrence Venuti, "The Poet's Version; Or, An Ethics of Translation", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· Paola Loreto, "«Englishing» Dante: Three Recent American Poets' Translations of the Inferno." ACME 74.2 (2022): 181-195 (Open Access).
Case studies:
· Paola Loreto (a cura di), Introduzione, "Agosto", "Un incontro" e "Attraversando la palude", in Mary Oliver, Primitivo americano. Einaudi, 2023.
· Robert Lowell, "Introduction" and "The Infinite", in Imitations, The Noonday Press, 1990.
· Attilio Bertolucci, "Polvere di neve", in Imitazioni, Scheiwiller, 1994.
· Da "Versioni d'autore", P1389 (Campo), P712 (Giudici), P258 (Luzi), P1593 (Montale), P632 (Rosselli), in Emily Dickinson, Tutte le poesie, a cura di Marialuisa Bulgheroni, Mondadori 1997, pp. 1641-1667.
· Lawrence Venuti (ed. and tr.), "Introduction", "Giacere", "Innocenza", "Grido", "Sogno nel bosco", in Antonia Pozzi, Breath: Poems and Letters. Wesleyan UP, 2002.
Part C:
Poetry translation theory:
· Lawrence Venuti, "Translation Studies and World Literature", in Translation Changes Everything: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2013.
· Pascale Casanova, "Literature as World," New Left Review 31 (Jan./Feb. 2005): pp. 71-90; World Literature in Theory, David Damrosch, ed., 2014 (ON MYARIEL).
Case studies:
· Eliot Weinberger & Octavio Paz (ed. and tr.), Introduction and poems (into the language of the student's main linguistic competence) from 19 Ways of Looking at Wang Wei. Asphodel Press, 1987.
· Orchid Tierney, final Interview (pp. 101-104), "carbon sink" (pp. 11-12), "garden | eden" (p. 14), "earth | urf" (pp. 26-28), from a year of misreading the wildcats, The Operating System, 2019 (ON MYARIEL).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral: Oral: the exam is an interview, which will begin with the discussion of a 2-to-4-page paper consisting of either the analysis of a translation from the course reading list; or an attempt at newly translating an American poem into Italian, accompanied by a commentary of the translating work. The paper will have to be handed in ahead of the exam date. During the remaining part of the oral exam, students will have to demonstrate: their capacity to read and translate from the American poems included in the books listed in the course syllabus; their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary context of both the texts and writers proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical abilities (i.e., their capacity to analyze the literary works, to evaluate translations, and to connect different authors, texts and literary trends). A midterm written text will help students manage their study of the exam materials and will focus on the theory of poetry translation.
LM students from Lingue are required to take their exams in English. Students from other-than-Lingue degree courses may choose to take their exam either in Italian or in English.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result during the exam (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Students with any disabilities should contact the teacher, too, to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
LM students from Lingue are required to take their exams in English. Students from other-than-Lingue degree courses may choose to take their exam either in Italian or in English.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result during the exam (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Students with any disabilities should contact the teacher, too, to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
Modules or teaching units
Unità didattica A
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica B
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica C
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
In the Fall semester (teaching period) on Fridays at 14:30; in the Spring Semester (teaching period) on Wednesdays at 14:30. Please write Prof. Loreto to fix an appointment..
Dept. of Lingue, Anglistica section, third Floor (Sottotetto), piazza Sant'Alessandro 1