Italian Contemporary Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide a first overview of contemporary Italian literature, according to three perspectives. The first one is critical and methodological: it is designed to ensure the knowledge of the contemporary literary institutions. The second one is historical: it offers an overview of the changing relationships between writers and readers during the Twentieth century. The third one provides a training in close reading of a selection of literary works and exemplary authors.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) Essential historical overview of Italian literature from Unity to the present day (major works and authors, main genres and trends, time frames). 2) Understanding roles and functions of the literary system: author, audience, critical and publishing mediation. 3) Textual analysis techniques (narrative structures; stylistic, rhetorical and metric devices); awareness of the multiple research perspectives on literary works. 4) Criteria for bibliographical tagging.
Skills: 1) Ability to identify main textual features (structural, thematic, stylistic) and to interpret them. Ability to describe textual choices as a result of the author-readers interaction. 2) Ability of setting appropriate chronological sequences and to correctly attribute individual works to a genre. Ability to illustrate the essential data of a historical framework. 3) Ability to sort through literary functional relationships that define the modern literary system and shape the texts. Ability to use bibliographical references for close reading. Ability to handle a basic critical glossary 4) Ability to connect the reading list to its bibliographical reference; ability to identify bibliographical data in order to describe, interpret and evaluate texts and their reliability.
Skills: 1) Ability to identify main textual features (structural, thematic, stylistic) and to interpret them. Ability to describe textual choices as a result of the author-readers interaction. 2) Ability of setting appropriate chronological sequences and to correctly attribute individual works to a genre. Ability to illustrate the essential data of a historical framework. 3) Ability to sort through literary functional relationships that define the modern literary system and shape the texts. Ability to use bibliographical references for close reading. Ability to handle a basic critical glossary 4) Ability to connect the reading list to its bibliographical reference; ability to identify bibliographical data in order to describe, interpret and evaluate texts and their reliability.
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
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course syllabus includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
First part
- Distinctive features of the Nineteenth-Twentieth century literary system
- Relationships between authors, readers, publishers
- Dynamics of the genres system and literary levels
- Criteria for bibliographic identification
- Tools for literary analysis of poetry and fiction
Second part:
- Knowledge of prominent figures and moments of Twentieth-century Italian literary history
- Overview of Twentieth-century Italian poetry, through the analysis of exemplary authors and texts
Third part:
- Close reading of "Le ceneri di Gramsci" by Pier Paolo Pasolini: genre profile, definition of the poetic voice, structures of space and time, metrical/stylistic choices
Students taking the exam for 6 ECTS must prepare the Third Part, while they can freely choose whether to prepare the First Part or the Second Part."
First part
- Distinctive features of the Nineteenth-Twentieth century literary system
- Relationships between authors, readers, publishers
- Dynamics of the genres system and literary levels
- Criteria for bibliographic identification
- Tools for literary analysis of poetry and fiction
Second part:
- Knowledge of prominent figures and moments of Twentieth-century Italian literary history
- Overview of Twentieth-century Italian poetry, through the analysis of exemplary authors and texts
Third part:
- Close reading of "Le ceneri di Gramsci" by Pier Paolo Pasolini: genre profile, definition of the poetic voice, structures of space and time, metrical/stylistic choices
Students taking the exam for 6 ECTS must prepare the Third Part, while they can freely choose whether to prepare the First Part or the Second Part."
Prerequisites for admission
An essential knowledge of Italian literary history from the Unification to the mid-Twentieth century.
Ability to use basic tools for text analysis and for reading critical contributions.
Ability to use basic tools for text analysis and for reading critical contributions.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with use of telematics tools, slides, audio-visual contents.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
First part:
- V. Spinazzola, L'esperienza della lettura, Milano, Unicopli, 2010 (limitedly to chapters 4. Le istituzioni della modernità, pp. 61-83; 5. Le coordinate del sistema letterario, pp. 84-98; 7. La valorizzazione del testo, p. 137-170);
- L. Chines, C. Varotti, Che cos'è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (limitedly to chapter 3. La narrazione, pp. 73-119).
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2005 (limitedly to chapter 4. Le metriche, pp. 105-144).
Second part:
- B. Manetti e M. Tortora (a cura di), Letteratura italiana contemporanea. Narrativa e poesia dal Novecento a oggi, Roma, Carocci, 2022, limitedly to chapters 1, 4-7, 9, 13-18 (pp. 21- 41; pp. 73-149; pp. 165-186; pp. 253-384). .
- Students must also study a selection of italian contemporary literary texts which will be presented and analyzed by the professor during the lessons.
Third part:
- P.P.Pasolini, Le ceneri di Gramsci, Milano, Garzanti, 2015.
- G. Santato, "Stupenda e misera città". Roma e Le ceneri di Gramsci, in Id., Pier Paolo Pasolini. L'opera poetica, narrativa, cinematografica, teatrale e saggistica. Ricostruzione critica, Roma, Carocci, 2019, pp. 187-218
Supplementary bibliography for non-attending students.
First part:
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2005 (limitedly to chapter 1. Dal primo al secondo Novecento, pp. 15-39)
Second part:
- Non-attending students will integrate the study of the literary texts presented during the lessons with the slides that will be made available for them on the Ariel website of the course.
Third part:
-A. Tricomi, Pasolini, Roma, Salerno Editore, 2020, pp. 79-113 (cap. IV, Da accusatore ad accusato: Ragazzi di vita, Le ceneri di Gramsci; cap. V, Reiterazioni, compromessi, par. 1., L'"Officina" della crisi).
- V. Spinazzola, L'esperienza della lettura, Milano, Unicopli, 2010 (limitedly to chapters 4. Le istituzioni della modernità, pp. 61-83; 5. Le coordinate del sistema letterario, pp. 84-98; 7. La valorizzazione del testo, p. 137-170);
- L. Chines, C. Varotti, Che cos'è un testo letterario, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (limitedly to chapter 3. La narrazione, pp. 73-119).
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2005 (limitedly to chapter 4. Le metriche, pp. 105-144).
Second part:
- B. Manetti e M. Tortora (a cura di), Letteratura italiana contemporanea. Narrativa e poesia dal Novecento a oggi, Roma, Carocci, 2022, limitedly to chapters 1, 4-7, 9, 13-18 (pp. 21- 41; pp. 73-149; pp. 165-186; pp. 253-384). .
- Students must also study a selection of italian contemporary literary texts which will be presented and analyzed by the professor during the lessons.
Third part:
- P.P.Pasolini, Le ceneri di Gramsci, Milano, Garzanti, 2015.
- G. Santato, "Stupenda e misera città". Roma e Le ceneri di Gramsci, in Id., Pier Paolo Pasolini. L'opera poetica, narrativa, cinematografica, teatrale e saggistica. Ricostruzione critica, Roma, Carocci, 2019, pp. 187-218
Supplementary bibliography for non-attending students.
First part:
- P. Giovannetti, Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2005 (limitedly to chapter 1. Dal primo al secondo Novecento, pp. 15-39)
Second part:
- Non-attending students will integrate the study of the literary texts presented during the lessons with the slides that will be made available for them on the Ariel website of the course.
Third part:
-A. Tricomi, Pasolini, Roma, Salerno Editore, 2020, pp. 79-113 (cap. IV, Da accusatore ad accusato: Ragazzi di vita, Le ceneri di Gramsci; cap. V, Reiterazioni, compromessi, par. 1., L'"Officina" della crisi).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written test
Students who take the exam for 9 CFU (both attending and non-attending) must take and pass a written test, which is held three times a year (May, September, December). The test consists of closed questions and focuses on First part and on the Handbook of Literary History indicated for Second part. It assesses knowledge and skills related to the following topics:
- Characteristics of the twentieth-century literary system;
- Text and paratext analysis tools;
- Elements of bibliographic identification;
- Essential knowledge on periods, authors, genres and trends of Twentieth century Italian literature
The written test assessment, expressed through a 30 points grade scale, is worth 50% of the final grade.
The results of written test will be communicated to students through the Ariel teaching platform.
A sample test is available on the same platform.
Oral exam
For students who pass the written test, the oral exam consists of an interview focusing on the literary texts presented in class during the Second part (attending students), or listed in the additional bibliography for non-attending students (in the section related to Second part), and on the entire program of Third part. The texts presented in class during Second part are available for attending students on the Ariel platform.
Students who take the exam for 6 CFU access directly the oral exam.
The evaluation of the oral examination will take into account the following parameters:
- Ability to provide an analytical description of the features of the literary texts under study, based on the content of the lessons and the critical bibliography
- Ability to argue and engage in critical reasoning
- Competence in the use of literary analysis categories
- Quality of the presentation
Students who take the exam for 9 CFU (both attending and non-attending) must take and pass a written test, which is held three times a year (May, September, December). The test consists of closed questions and focuses on First part and on the Handbook of Literary History indicated for Second part. It assesses knowledge and skills related to the following topics:
- Characteristics of the twentieth-century literary system;
- Text and paratext analysis tools;
- Elements of bibliographic identification;
- Essential knowledge on periods, authors, genres and trends of Twentieth century Italian literature
The written test assessment, expressed through a 30 points grade scale, is worth 50% of the final grade.
The results of written test will be communicated to students through the Ariel teaching platform.
A sample test is available on the same platform.
Oral exam
For students who pass the written test, the oral exam consists of an interview focusing on the literary texts presented in class during the Second part (attending students), or listed in the additional bibliography for non-attending students (in the section related to Second part), and on the entire program of Third part. The texts presented in class during Second part are available for attending students on the Ariel platform.
Students who take the exam for 6 CFU access directly the oral exam.
The evaluation of the oral examination will take into account the following parameters:
- Ability to provide an analytical description of the features of the literary texts under study, based on the content of the lessons and the critical bibliography
- Ability to argue and engage in critical reasoning
- Competence in the use of literary analysis categories
- Quality of the presentation
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Ghidinelli Stefano
blended edition
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
This course explores the structure and evolution of the Italian literary system from the 19th to the 20th century, with a focus on key authors, genres, and publishing dynamics. Students will develop analytical tools for interpreting narrative and poetic texts and gain familiarity with bibliographic identification methods. The course also includes in-depth readings of two contemporary family novels.
Part A - Literary System and Textual Analysis (3 ECTS)
Specific features of the 19th-20th century literary system
Relationships between authors, readers, and publishers
Genre dynamics and literary hierarchies
Tools for analyzing narrative and poetic texts
Bibliographic identification criteria
Part B - 20th-Century Italian Literature (3 ECTS)
Key figures and moments in 20th-century literary history
Developmental trends in 20th-century Italian literature through the analysis of selected texts
Part C - Case Studies: Family Novels (3 ECTS)
N. Ginburg, "Lessico famigliare"
M. Mari, "Leggenda privata"
Part A - Literary System and Textual Analysis (3 ECTS)
Specific features of the 19th-20th century literary system
Relationships between authors, readers, and publishers
Genre dynamics and literary hierarchies
Tools for analyzing narrative and poetic texts
Bibliographic identification criteria
Part B - 20th-Century Italian Literature (3 ECTS)
Key figures and moments in 20th-century literary history
Developmental trends in 20th-century Italian literature through the analysis of selected texts
Part C - Case Studies: Family Novels (3 ECTS)
N. Ginburg, "Lessico famigliare"
M. Mari, "Leggenda privata"
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of Italian history and literature from the Unification to the 20th century
Basic reading skills of literary texts and critical literature.
Basic reading skills of literary texts and critical literature.
Teaching methods
Teaching will be delivered in three formats:
1) In-person classes
2) Live streaming (synchronous) classes
3) Asynchronous classes
A detailed schedule of activities will be provided before the start of the course.
During the first class, the course program, assessment methods, and evaluation criteria will be explained in detail.
1) In-person classes
2) Live streaming (synchronous) classes
3) Asynchronous classes
A detailed schedule of activities will be provided before the start of the course.
During the first class, the course program, assessment methods, and evaluation criteria will be explained in detail.
Teaching Resources
Part A
- V. Spinazzola, "L'esperienza della lettura", Unicopli 2010 oppure goWare 2018 (limited to chapters: "Le istituzioni della modernità", pp. 61-83; "Le coordinate del sistema letterario", pp. 84-98; "La valorizzazione del testo", p. 137-170);
- L. Chines - C. Varotti, "Che cos'è un testo letterario", Carocci 2001, limited to chapter 3. "La narrazione", pp. 73-119.
- P. Giovannetti, "Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea", Carocci 2005, limited to chapter . 4, "Le metriche", pp. 105-144.
Part B
- B. Manetti e M. Tortora (des), "Letteratura italiana contemporanea. Narrativa e poesia dal Novecento a oggi", Carocci 2022, limitate to chapters 1, 4-7, 9, 13-18 (pp. 21- 41; pp. 73-149; pp. 165-186; pp. 253-384)
- Texts uploaded on the course's MyAriel website
Part C
Texts:
- N. Ginzburg, "Lessico famigliare", [1963], Einaudi 2014
2015, engl. trans. "Family Lexicon", Translated by Jenny McPhee, Daunt Books 2018
- M. Mari, "Leggenda privata", Einaudi 2017
Critical Readings
- D. Scarpa, "Cronistoria di Lessico famigliare", in N. Ginzburg, "Lessico famigliare", Einaudi 2014, pp. 213-262
- B. De Luca, "Un romanzo de-familiare: dispositivi stranianti in Leggenda privata di Michele Mari", "In Opera", I, 2023, pp. 165-175, available in OA https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/inopera/article/view/22165
Non attending students are required to prepare additional readings:
Part A
- P. Giovannetti, "Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea", cap. 1, "Dal primo al secondo Novecento", pp. 15-39
English speaking students can replace the previous reference with
The living Handbook of Narratology,
https://www.lhn.uni-hamburg.de/contents.html,
the following articles:
J. Schönert, Author
H. Schwalm, Autobiography
F. Jannidis, Character
D. Herman, Cognitive Narratology
S. Halliwell, Diegesis-Mimesis
P. Hühn, Event and Eventfullness
W. Schmid, Implied Author
Schmid, Implied Reader
Part B
- A. Baldini, "La battaglia per il romanzo", in A. Baldini, "A regola d'arte. Storia e geografia del campo letterario italiano", Quodlibet 2023, pp. 271-305.
Part C
- E. Gambaro, "L'io nascosto di Lessico familiare", in "Diventare autrice", Unicopli 2018, pp. 115-192
- E. Gambaro, "Mostri e fantasmi di famiglia. Su Leggenda privata di Michele Mari", Peter Lang, in press
- V. Spinazzola, "L'esperienza della lettura", Unicopli 2010 oppure goWare 2018 (limited to chapters: "Le istituzioni della modernità", pp. 61-83; "Le coordinate del sistema letterario", pp. 84-98; "La valorizzazione del testo", p. 137-170);
- L. Chines - C. Varotti, "Che cos'è un testo letterario", Carocci 2001, limited to chapter 3. "La narrazione", pp. 73-119.
- P. Giovannetti, "Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea", Carocci 2005, limited to chapter . 4, "Le metriche", pp. 105-144.
Part B
- B. Manetti e M. Tortora (des), "Letteratura italiana contemporanea. Narrativa e poesia dal Novecento a oggi", Carocci 2022, limitate to chapters 1, 4-7, 9, 13-18 (pp. 21- 41; pp. 73-149; pp. 165-186; pp. 253-384)
- Texts uploaded on the course's MyAriel website
Part C
Texts:
- N. Ginzburg, "Lessico famigliare", [1963], Einaudi 2014
2015, engl. trans. "Family Lexicon", Translated by Jenny McPhee, Daunt Books 2018
- M. Mari, "Leggenda privata", Einaudi 2017
Critical Readings
- D. Scarpa, "Cronistoria di Lessico famigliare", in N. Ginzburg, "Lessico famigliare", Einaudi 2014, pp. 213-262
- B. De Luca, "Un romanzo de-familiare: dispositivi stranianti in Leggenda privata di Michele Mari", "In Opera", I, 2023, pp. 165-175, available in OA https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/inopera/article/view/22165
Non attending students are required to prepare additional readings:
Part A
- P. Giovannetti, "Modi della poesia italiana contemporanea", cap. 1, "Dal primo al secondo Novecento", pp. 15-39
English speaking students can replace the previous reference with
The living Handbook of Narratology,
https://www.lhn.uni-hamburg.de/contents.html,
the following articles:
J. Schönert, Author
H. Schwalm, Autobiography
F. Jannidis, Character
D. Herman, Cognitive Narratology
S. Halliwell, Diegesis-Mimesis
P. Hühn, Event and Eventfullness
W. Schmid, Implied Author
Schmid, Implied Reader
Part B
- A. Baldini, "La battaglia per il romanzo", in A. Baldini, "A regola d'arte. Storia e geografia del campo letterario italiano", Quodlibet 2023, pp. 271-305.
Part C
- E. Gambaro, "L'io nascosto di Lessico familiare", in "Diventare autrice", Unicopli 2018, pp. 115-192
- E. Gambaro, "Mostri e fantasmi di famiglia. Su Leggenda privata di Michele Mari", Peter Lang, in press
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written test
Bboth attending and non-attending students taking the exam for 9 ECTS must complete a computer-based test.
The test consists of closed questions and focuses on parts A and B. It assesses knowledge and skills related to the following topics:
- The twentieth-century Italian literary system;
- Text analysis tools;
- Bibliographical identification skills;
- Essential knowledge of periods, authors, genres, and trends of Twentieth-century Italian literature
The test assessment, expressed through a 30-point grade scale, is worth 50% of the final grade.
The test results will appear on the Ariel teaching platform.
A sample test will be available on the same platform.
Oral exam
Students who pass the computer-based test will take the oral exam: it consists of an interview focusing on the texts presented in class during part B (available on Ariel) and on the entire program of part C.
Students who take the exam for 6 ECTS and Erasmus incoming students access directly the oral exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. SLD students should contact the teacher to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office
Bboth attending and non-attending students taking the exam for 9 ECTS must complete a computer-based test.
The test consists of closed questions and focuses on parts A and B. It assesses knowledge and skills related to the following topics:
- The twentieth-century Italian literary system;
- Text analysis tools;
- Bibliographical identification skills;
- Essential knowledge of periods, authors, genres, and trends of Twentieth-century Italian literature
The test assessment, expressed through a 30-point grade scale, is worth 50% of the final grade.
The test results will appear on the Ariel teaching platform.
A sample test will be available on the same platform.
Oral exam
Students who pass the computer-based test will take the oral exam: it consists of an interview focusing on the texts presented in class during part B (available on Ariel) and on the entire program of part C.
Students who take the exam for 6 ECTS and Erasmus incoming students access directly the oral exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. SLD students should contact the teacher to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Gambaro Elisa Ludovica
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The syllabus is shared with the following courses:
- [CAB-4](https://www.unimi.it/en/ugov/of/af202600000cab-4)
- [CAB-4](https://www.unimi.it/en/ugov/of/af202600000cab-4)
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Pischedda Bruno
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Mondays, 10:00AM - 1:00 PM. Please contact me to schedule an appointment.