Literary Theory and Criticism
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with a solid basic grounding in the fundamental topics of literary theory and the methodological issues concerning the study of literature, in particular by refining the techniques for analysing and interpreting literary texts and discussing the assumptions, methods and aims of literary criticism.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: students will learn the fundamental topics of theoretical, philosophical and methodological reflection on literature, such as interpretation and reception, the definition of literature and literary genres, narrative, poetry and versification, value and canon, and will gain a deeper knowledge of the possible perspectives of analysis in relation to these problems and a greater capacity for critical thinking and discussion.
Skills: students will become more competent at analysing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.
Skills: students will become more competent at analysing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.
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
Surname A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Part A and Part B aim to illustrate some problems in literary theory, to reflect on the historical issues addressed and debated by theory, on the form, possible definition, nature and relational mode of literary texts, and on the most recent developments in literary theory. At the same time, the tools of theory will be discussed in relation to the analysis of literary texts.
Part C revisits some theoretical issues through the analysis of an essay ("A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf) and a novel ("Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad). In particular, it will explore questions related to essay writing, the theory of the novel, and developments in feminist and postcolonial criticism.
Part C revisits some theoretical issues through the analysis of an essay ("A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf) and a novel ("Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad). In particular, it will explore questions related to essay writing, the theory of the novel, and developments in feminist and postcolonial criticism.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are advised to take this course and the corresponding exam in their second year, after acquiring basic knowledge of Italian Literature and Italian Linguistics
Teaching methods
The course will be delivered in a lecture format, with some time allocated for discussion with the instructor. These moments of interaction are intended to help students explore the topics in greater depth, enhance their analytical, reasoning, and interpretative skills, and facilitate learning. In order to participate more actively, students are encouraged to read the works and essays listed in the syllabus while attending the course. Teaching materials for discussion will be made available on the course's Ariel website. Regular attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
PART A and PART B
Laura Neri, Giuseppe Carrara (a cura di), "Teoria della letteratura. Campi, problemi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2022.
Further teaching materials provided in class and on MyAriel website.
PART C
Virginia Woolf, "A Room of one's own" (Penguin or Oxford's classics)
Joseph Conrad, "Heart of Darkness" (Penguin, Norton Critical Edition or Oxford's classics).
Chinua Achebe, "Un'immagine dell'Africa: Il razzismo in Cuore di tenebra di Conrad" (1977), in "Speranze e ostacoli. Saggi scelti 1965-1987", Jaca Book, pp.11-27 (available on MyAriel).
Edward Said, "Cultura e imperialismo", only pp. 60-70 and 107-129 (available on MyAriel).
Alice Walker, "Alla ricerca dei giardini delle nostre madri", in "Critiche femministe e teorie letterarie", pp. 309-319 (available on MyAriel).
TEACHING RESOURCES FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
6 ECTS:
Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" e "Lettura 4").
9 ECTS:
Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" e "Lettura 4").
Supplementary readings and study guides on Woolf and Conrad will be available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
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.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism.
Laura Neri, Giuseppe Carrara (a cura di), "Teoria della letteratura. Campi, problemi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2022.
Further teaching materials provided in class and on MyAriel website.
PART C
Virginia Woolf, "A Room of one's own" (Penguin or Oxford's classics)
Joseph Conrad, "Heart of Darkness" (Penguin, Norton Critical Edition or Oxford's classics).
Chinua Achebe, "Un'immagine dell'Africa: Il razzismo in Cuore di tenebra di Conrad" (1977), in "Speranze e ostacoli. Saggi scelti 1965-1987", Jaca Book, pp.11-27 (available on MyAriel).
Edward Said, "Cultura e imperialismo", only pp. 60-70 and 107-129 (available on MyAriel).
Alice Walker, "Alla ricerca dei giardini delle nostre madri", in "Critiche femministe e teorie letterarie", pp. 309-319 (available on MyAriel).
TEACHING RESOURCES FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
6 ECTS:
Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" e "Lettura 4").
9 ECTS:
Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" e "Lettura 4").
Supplementary readings and study guides on Woolf and Conrad will be available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
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.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be an oral assessment covering the topics discussed during the course. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate at least a sufficient understanding of the content of each part of the course (Parts A, B, and C for those earning 9 credits; Parts A and B for those earning 6). Students will be expected to present the works included in the syllabus and to critically engage with the issues addressed in class. Language proficiency—including the use of appropriate technical terminology—and the accuracy of historical and literary references will also be taken into account when determining the final grade. Grades are expressed on a thirty-point scale, with 18/30 as the minimum passing mark.
Modules or teaching units
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
Surname I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Part A and Part B aim to illustrate several issues in literary theory, engaging with the historical questions that have been addressed and debated within the field, as well as with problems concerning form, possible definitions, the nature and relational modalities of the literary text, and the most recent developments emerging from theoretical studies of literature. At the same time, the tools of literary theory will be discussed in relation to their application in the analysis of literary texts.
Part C, drawing on critical essays and the analysis of three short novels ("The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood, "At the Mountains of Madness" by H. P. Lovecraft, and "The Terror" by Arthur Machen), examines in greater depth the notion of the "haunted space" within Gothic literature, understood not merely as a thematic repertoire (the castle, the house, the convent, the cemetery, the forest, etc.) but as a structural element through which the encounter with alterity is articulated.
Part C, drawing on critical essays and the analysis of three short novels ("The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood, "At the Mountains of Madness" by H. P. Lovecraft, and "The Terror" by Arthur Machen), examines in greater depth the notion of the "haunted space" within Gothic literature, understood not merely as a thematic repertoire (the castle, the house, the convent, the cemetery, the forest, etc.) but as a structural element through which the encounter with alterity is articulated.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to attend the course and take the exam in the second year, in order to have previously acquired basic knowledge in Italian Literature and Italian Linguistics.
Teaching methods
The course will be offered in a lecture format, but some time will be devoted to discussion with the teacher. This will help students delve into the issues under discussion, improve their analysis, reasoning, and interpretation skills, and learn more easily. To participate more actively, students will also be encouraged to read the works and essays in the course syllabus while attending classes. The Ariel website of the course will be used to share the teaching materials that might be proposed for discussion.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Teaching Resources
PART A and PART B
1. Laura Neri, Giuseppe Carrara (a cura di), "Teoria della letteratura. Campi, problemi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2022.
2. The slides and materials used in class and made available on myAriel.
PART C
Literary texts:
1. Blackwood, Algernon, "I salici", Milano, il Saggiatore, 2022.
2. Lovecraft, Howard Phillips, "Le montagne della follia", Milano, il Saggiatore, 2017.
3. Machen, Arthur, "Il terrore", Macerata, Quodlibet, 2022.
Critical and theoretical essays:
1. Botting, Fred, "In Gothic Darkly: Heterotopia, History, Culture", in Punter, D. (a cura di), "A New Companion to the Gothic", Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp. 13-24 (available on myAriel).
2. Fisher, Mark, "The Weird and the Eerie. Lo strano e l'inquietante nel mondo contemporaneo", Roma, minimum fax 2018, pp. 7-13, 71-75 (available on myAriel).
3. Foucault, Michel, "Spazi altri. I luoghi delle eterotopie", Milano, Mimesis, 2011, pp. 19-32 (available on myAriel).
4. Punter, David, "Storia della letteratura del terrore. Il gotico dal settecento ad oggi", Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1994, pp. 3-21, 239-242 (on A. Machen), 255-263 (on H.P. Lovecraft), 299-304 (on A. Blackwood), 367-388 (available on myAriel).
5. Scaffai, Niccolò, "Letteratura e ecologia. Forme e temi di una relazione narrativa", Roma, Carocci, 2017, pp. 23-33 (available on myAriel).
TEACHING RESOURCES FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
6 cfu:
1. Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" and "Lettura 4").
9 cfu:
1. Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" and "Lettura 4").
2. Supplementary readings and study aids on the Gothic, Blackwood, Lovecraft, and Machen will be made available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
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.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (I-Z).
1. Laura Neri, Giuseppe Carrara (a cura di), "Teoria della letteratura. Campi, problemi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2022.
2. The slides and materials used in class and made available on myAriel.
PART C
Literary texts:
1. Blackwood, Algernon, "I salici", Milano, il Saggiatore, 2022.
2. Lovecraft, Howard Phillips, "Le montagne della follia", Milano, il Saggiatore, 2017.
3. Machen, Arthur, "Il terrore", Macerata, Quodlibet, 2022.
Critical and theoretical essays:
1. Botting, Fred, "In Gothic Darkly: Heterotopia, History, Culture", in Punter, D. (a cura di), "A New Companion to the Gothic", Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp. 13-24 (available on myAriel).
2. Fisher, Mark, "The Weird and the Eerie. Lo strano e l'inquietante nel mondo contemporaneo", Roma, minimum fax 2018, pp. 7-13, 71-75 (available on myAriel).
3. Foucault, Michel, "Spazi altri. I luoghi delle eterotopie", Milano, Mimesis, 2011, pp. 19-32 (available on myAriel).
4. Punter, David, "Storia della letteratura del terrore. Il gotico dal settecento ad oggi", Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1994, pp. 3-21, 239-242 (on A. Machen), 255-263 (on H.P. Lovecraft), 299-304 (on A. Blackwood), 367-388 (available on myAriel).
5. Scaffai, Niccolò, "Letteratura e ecologia. Forme e temi di una relazione narrativa", Roma, Carocci, 2017, pp. 23-33 (available on myAriel).
TEACHING RESOURCES FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
6 cfu:
1. Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" and "Lettura 4").
9 cfu:
1. Federico Bertoni, "Letteratura. Teoria, metodi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci 2018 (with the exception of chapters titled "Lettura 1", "Lettura 2", "Lettura 3" and "Lettura 4").
2. Supplementary readings and study aids on the Gothic, Blackwood, Lovecraft, and Machen will be made available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
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.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (I-Z).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist of an oral exam about the topics of the course. In order to pass the exam, students will have to demonstrate at least sufficient knowledge of the topics of each part of the course (A, B, and C, if they are to acquire 9 credits; A and B, if they are to acquire 6). Students will be asked to present the works comprised in the course syllabus and to critically discuss about the issues that will have been dealt. Language proficiency (this includes technical language proficiency) and the accuracy of historical and literary references will also contribute to the final score.
Modules or teaching units
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
Professor(s)