Literary Culture and Genres of Modernity
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to offer an in-depth know-how of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Italian literature culture. Focus will be put on genres, types and forms of literary expression, according to the variety of their textual articulations and their multiple audience.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) Awareness of the relationship between literary, semi-literary and extra-literary dominion in the context of twentieth-century production; 2) Knowledge of the modern literary genres system; 3) Awareness of the writer's professional role. 4) Awareness of the plurality of perspectives on literary texts.
Skills: 1) Ability to identify the main textual features (structural, thematic, stylistic) linked to the genre's historical development 2) Ability to describe textual choices in connection with fiction and nonfiction production 3) Ability to sort through the modes and genres outline.
Skills: 1) Ability to identify the main textual features (structural, thematic, stylistic) linked to the genre's historical development 2) Ability to describe textual choices in connection with fiction and nonfiction production 3) Ability to sort through the modes and genres outline.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The syllabus plans the most important aspects of Anna Maria Ortese's biography and the critical analisis of three of her works
Part A: Between literature and journalism - "Angelici dolori" (1937) and "Il mare non bagna Napoli" (1953)
Part B: A life-long novel - "Il porto di Toledo" (1975"
Part A: Between literature and journalism - "Angelici dolori" (1937) and "Il mare non bagna Napoli" (1953)
Part B: A life-long novel - "Il porto di Toledo" (1975"
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have a general knowledge of twentieth-century Italian literature, methodological awareness and a basic critical lexicon.
Teaching methods
Lectures; In-class discussions; Focus on assessment and marking
Teaching Resources
Course syllabus for attending students:
Part A: Between literature and journalism
Students must read one work with critical essays:
1) A. M. Ortese, Angelici dolori, in Angelici dolori e altri racconti, Milano, Adelphi, 2006, pp. 11-150
Critical essays: L. Clerici, Apparizione e visione. Vita e opere di Anna Maria Ortese, Milano, Luni Editrice, 2025 (La vocazione letteraria, pp. 70-99); F. Amigoni, I rottami del niente, in Fantasmi del Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2004, pp. 95-123
2) A. M. Ortese, Il mare non bagna Napoli, Milano, Adelphi, 2008
Critical essays: A. Baldi, Storie di ordinaria agonia: i racconti napoletani di Anna Maria Ortese, in "narrativa", Université Paris X - Nanterre, n. 24, Janvier 2003, pp. 55-83; A. Benvenuto, Il mare non bagna Napoli. Anna Maria Ortese e gli amici di Napoli, in Novecento italiano. Saggi su Pirandello, Rebora, Montale, Ortese, Maier, Cecovini e La Capria, Napoli, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, 2008, pp. 45-61
Part B: A life-long novel
Students must read one work among the following with critical essay:
A.M. Ortese, Il porto di Toledo, Milano, Adelphi, 1998
Critical essays: P. Villani, Prima persona femminile: Anna Maria Ortese e la scrittura autobioscopica, in "Italianistica", anno XLIX, n. 3, 2020, pp. 51-63; S. Sgavicchia, Essere contemporanei: memoria e utopia nel Porto di Toledo di Anna Maria Ortese, in "Atlantide" 3, Cahiers de l'EA 4276 - L'Antique, le Moderne, 2015 - on-line: https://ricerca.unistrapg.it/bitstream/20.500.12071/690/1/Ortese%20Nantes%20sgavicchia.pdf
Course syllabus for non attending students:
L. Clerici, Apparizione e visione. Vita e opere di Anna Maria Ortese, Milano, Luni Editrice, 2025 (Il mare non bagna Napoli, pp. 222-278; Il porto di Toledo, pp. 452-481)
Part A: Between literature and journalism
Students must read one work with critical essays:
1) A. M. Ortese, Angelici dolori, in Angelici dolori e altri racconti, Milano, Adelphi, 2006, pp. 11-150
Critical essays: L. Clerici, Apparizione e visione. Vita e opere di Anna Maria Ortese, Milano, Luni Editrice, 2025 (La vocazione letteraria, pp. 70-99); F. Amigoni, I rottami del niente, in Fantasmi del Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2004, pp. 95-123
2) A. M. Ortese, Il mare non bagna Napoli, Milano, Adelphi, 2008
Critical essays: A. Baldi, Storie di ordinaria agonia: i racconti napoletani di Anna Maria Ortese, in "narrativa", Université Paris X - Nanterre, n. 24, Janvier 2003, pp. 55-83; A. Benvenuto, Il mare non bagna Napoli. Anna Maria Ortese e gli amici di Napoli, in Novecento italiano. Saggi su Pirandello, Rebora, Montale, Ortese, Maier, Cecovini e La Capria, Napoli, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, 2008, pp. 45-61
Part B: A life-long novel
Students must read one work among the following with critical essay:
A.M. Ortese, Il porto di Toledo, Milano, Adelphi, 1998
Critical essays: P. Villani, Prima persona femminile: Anna Maria Ortese e la scrittura autobioscopica, in "Italianistica", anno XLIX, n. 3, 2020, pp. 51-63; S. Sgavicchia, Essere contemporanei: memoria e utopia nel Porto di Toledo di Anna Maria Ortese, in "Atlantide" 3, Cahiers de l'EA 4276 - L'Antique, le Moderne, 2015 - on-line: https://ricerca.unistrapg.it/bitstream/20.500.12071/690/1/Ortese%20Nantes%20sgavicchia.pdf
Course syllabus for non attending students:
L. Clerici, Apparizione e visione. Vita e opere di Anna Maria Ortese, Milano, Luni Editrice, 2025 (Il mare non bagna Napoli, pp. 222-278; Il porto di Toledo, pp. 452-481)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The overall evaluation consists of an oral exam on the issues addressed and on the texts included in the syllabus. Students are expected to understand and explain the historical and cultural dynamics of the literary system in modern and contemporary Italy, and to properly analyse the individually chosen literary texts.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, 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. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order 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:
Clerici Luca
Professor(s)