Modern Italian Literature

A.Y. 2025/2026
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-FIL-LET/10
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims: 1) to provide student with advanced preparation on authors, themes and trends of Modern Italian Literature, through the reading and analysis of literary texts and critical essays; 2) to give the instruments and the critical methods for the interpretation of literary texts, and for the evaluation of the critical bibliography; 3) to improve the critical thinking skills.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledges: the main lines of evolution of modern Italian Literature, within the framework of historical-cultural context and of peculiarities of literary and linguistical history; the instruments and the critical methods useful to analyze and interpretate texts; the main lines of history of the critical literature referring to the studied period, according to the most recent tendencies of scientific studies.

Competencies: Comprehension and punctual analysis of the literary text, within the framework of the relevant historical-cultural contexts, using the critical literature and developing capability of selection; capability of autonomous confrontation and judgement; capability of define and discussing problems of interpretation, with awareness of the different methodological perspectives; capability of preparing a scientific bibliography and programming a research work; capability of expressing clairly and properly, using the appropriate specialized vocabulary of the discipline.
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
Title of the course (60 hours, 9 ECTS): Poetical paths from Foscolo to Leopardi

Part A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Ugo Foscolo: from «Poesie» to «Dei Sepolcri»
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Alessandro Manzoni's civic poetry
Part C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Giacomo Leopardi's «Canzoni»

Exam 6 ECTS: parts A and B or B and C.
Exam 9 ECTS: parts A, B, C.

The course aims to illustrate the poetic work of three 'exemplary' authors of literary modernity, with particular focus on their poetry of civic inspiration: Ugo Foscolo, Alessandro Manzoni, and Giacomo Leopardi. Part A focuses specifically on Foscolo's collection «Poesie» (1803) and the composition of «Dei Sepolcri» (1806); Part B examines Manzoni's political verses (1814-1821), without neglecting his early formation; while Part C concentrates on Leopardi's «Canzoni» (1824).
Beginning with a reconstruction of the historical and cultural context, the analysis is conducted through close reading and commentary on the texts, highlighting motivations, models, linguistic choices, and formal structures. Special attention is also given to the reconstruction of the compositional and editorial history, as well as to the relationships between the works examined and the authors' broader literary output.
The program is valid until July 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements for the admission. However, a good preparation in Italian literature, studied during the first three years of University, is recommended.
Teaching methods
Attendance to classes is strongly recommended although not compulsory. Frontal lectures aim primarily at the acquisition of knowledge through the discussion with the teacher, in order to promote the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge. Therefore, will be encouraged the participation of students, who will intervene with requests for further information and with reflections on the analysis and critical discussion of the literary texts examined.
According to the limits allowed by the size of the class, volunteer students can do an individual exercise of commentary that will be presented in class, in order to test the skills learned, as well as to measure themselves with bibliographic resources and methodologies for interpreting the literary texts. Students will find the text to comment (of one of the three authors) in a list that will be published on Ariel at the beginning of the lessons. Individual work will contribute to the final evaluation of the exam.
The slides projected during the lessons will be available on Ariel.
Non-attending students have to obtain the materials indicated in this program and to contact the teacher via email or during reception hours.
Teaching Resources
Attending students

Part A
Text
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", ed. by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 [available on Jstor].

2. Three essays between the following ones (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):
- Enzo Neppi, Ontologia dei "Sepolcri", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 63-123.
- Gilberto Pizzamiglio, "Pindemonte e Foscolo tra «Cimiteri» e «Sepolcri», in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 199-226.
- Franco Longoni, "«Dei Sepolcri» e Omero", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 313-331.
- Christian Del Vento, "I «Sepolcri» e la «nuova poetica» foscoliana", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 477-494.
- Guido Lucchini, "La polemica tra il Guillon e il Foscolo", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. II, pp. 655-684.
- Andrea Battistini, "Temi vichiani nei «Sepolcri»", in "«A egregie cose». Studi sui «Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, pp. 31-52.
- Francesco Bausi, "Dall'«epistola» al «carme». Sul genere metrico-letterario dei «Sepolcri»", in "I «Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo. La poesia e la fortuna", Atti del convegno di studi (Firenze, 28-29 marzo 2008), ed. by Arnaldo Bruni and Benedetta Rivalta, Bologna, Clueb, 2008, pp. 97-127.

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

Part B
Text
Alessandro Manzoni, "Tutte le poesie", ed. by Luca Danzi, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2012 (or subsequent reprints).
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography:

Four essays between the following ones (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):

- Giovanni Bardazzi, "L'ascesa per il «calle ascreo». Appunti sull'itinerario poetico del primo Manzoni", «Annali manzoniani», n.s., IV-V, 2001-2003, pp. 11-61.
- Luca Danzi, "Manzoni: «Marzo 1821»", Roma, Carocci, 2024, pp. 11-60.
- Pierantonio Frare, "Bettoni 1806, tra i «Versi in morte di Carlo Imbonati» e i «Sepolcri»", in "A egregie cose". Studi sui "Sepolcri" di Ugo Foscolo, ed. by Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, pp. 135-151.
- Pierantonio Frare, "Il Natale di Napoleone", «Versants», nr. 57/2, 2010, pp. 9-32 [academia.edu].
- Gianmarco Gaspari, "Manzoni fra Parini e Gessner. L'idillio, le poesie giovanili, il romanzo", «Studi sul Settecento e l'Ottocento», 18, 2023, pp. 67-87.

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

Part C
Text:
One of these two editions:
- Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", a cura di Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (o ristampe successive).
- Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", a cura di Luigi Blasucci, Milani-Parma, Fondazione Pietro Bembo/Ugo Guanda, 2 tt., 2019-2021.
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):

1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43.
2. Paola Italia, "Il metodo Leopardi. Varianti e stile nella formazione delle «Canzoni»", Roma, Carocci, 2016, pp. 31-84.
3. Two essays between the following ones:
- Paola Italia, "Foscolo in Leopardi: i «Sepolcri» e le canzoni «patriottiche»", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. II, pp. 721-740.
- Giulia Raboni, "Ultimo canto di Saffo", in "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", ed. by Christian Genetelli, with Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013, pp. 115-129 [academia.edu].
- Emilio Russo, "Note per il «Bruto minore», in "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", ed. by Christian Genetelli, with Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013, pp. 75-90 [academia.edu].
- Lionello Sozzi, "Le californie selve: un'utopia leopardiana", «Annali della Scuola Superiore di Pisa», s. III, XV, 1985, pp. 187-232 [Jstor].

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

Non-attending students

Part A
Text
Ugo Foscolo, "Poesie", ed. by Matteo Palumbo, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2010 (or subsequent reprints).
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography:
1. Pierantonio Frare, "Le «Poesie» del Foscolo: rime o canzoniere?", «Italianistica», vol. 12, nr. 1 (1983), pp. 35-49 [available on Jstor].

2. Four essays between the following ones (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):
- Enzo Neppi, Ontologia dei "Sepolcri", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 63-123.
- Gilberto Pizzamiglio, "Pindemonte e Foscolo tra «Cimiteri» e «Sepolcri», in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 199-226.
- Franco Longoni, "«Dei Sepolcri» e Omero", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 313-331.
- Christian Del Vento, "I «Sepolcri» e la «nuova poetica» foscoliana", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. I, pp. 477-494.
- Guido Lucchini, "La polemica tra il Guillon e il Foscolo", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. II, pp. 655-684.
- Andrea Battistini, "Temi vichiani nei «Sepolcri»", in "«A egregie cose». Studi sui «Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, pp. 31-52.
- Francesco Bausi, "Dall'«epistola» al «carme». Sul genere metrico-letterario dei «Sepolcri»", in "I «Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo. La poesia e la fortuna", Atti del convegno di studi (Firenze, 28-29 marzo 2008), ed. by Arnaldo Bruni and Benedetta Rivalta, Bologna, Clueb, 2008, pp. 97-127.

To consolidate the knowledge of the author and his literary work, it is recommended the following volume: Giuseppe Nicoletti, "Foscolo", Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006 (IV rist. 2025).

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

Part B
Text
Alessandro Manzoni, "Tutte le poesie", ed. by Luca Danzi, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 2012 (or subsequent reprints).
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography:

It is necessary to study the following essays (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):

- Giovanni Bardazzi, "L'ascesa per il «calle ascreo». Appunti sull'itinerario poetico del primo Manzoni", «Annali manzoniani», n.s., IV-V, 2001-2003, pp. 11-61.
- Luca Danzi, "Manzoni: «Marzo 1821»", Roma, Carocci, 2024, pp. 11-60.
- Pierantonio Frare, "Bettoni 1806, tra i «Versi in morte di Carlo Imbonati» e i «Sepolcri»", in "A egregie cose". Studi sui "Sepolcri" di Ugo Foscolo, ed. by Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, pp. 135-151.
- Pierantonio Frare, "Il Natale di Napoleone", «Versants», nr. 57/2, 2010, pp. 9-32 [academia.edu].
- Gianmarco Gaspari, "Manzoni fra Parini e Gessner. L'idillio, le poesie giovanili, il romanzo", «Studi sul Settecento e l'Ottocento», 18, 2023, pp. 67-87.

To consolidate the knowledge of the author and his literary work, it is recommended the following volume: Gino Tellini, "Manzoni", Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2007.

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

Part C
Text:
One of these two editions:
- Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", a cura di Andrea Campana, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (o ristampe successive).
- Giacomo Leopardi, "Canti", a cura di Luigi Blasucci, Milani-Parma, Fondazione Pietro Bembo/Ugo Guanda, 2 tt., 2019-2021.
Commentary on the texts will be the subject of the lessons. At the beginning of the lessons the list of texts to analyze for the exam will be available on the MyAriel website.

Bibliography (the books are available in the Library of Scienze dell'antichità e Filologia moderna):

1. Luigi Blasucci, "Morfologia delle «Canzoni»", in Id., "I tempi dei «Canti». Nuovi studi leopardiani", Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 3-43.
2. Paola Italia, "Il metodo Leopardi. Varianti e stile nella formazione delle «Canzoni»", Roma, Carocci, 2016, pp. 31-84.
3. Three essays between the following ones:
- Paola Italia, "Foscolo in Leopardi: i «Sepolcri» e le canzoni «patriottiche»", in "«Dei Sepolcri» di Ugo Foscolo", ed. by Gennaro Barbarisi and William Spaggiari, Milano, Cisalpino-Monduzzi, 2006, 2 tt., t. II, pp. 721-740.
- Giulia Raboni, "Ultimo canto di Saffo", in "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", ed. by Christian Genetelli, with Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013, pp. 115-129 [academia.edu].
- Emilio Russo, "Note per il «Bruto minore», in "Lettura dei «Canti» di Giacomo Leopardi. Due giornate di studi in onore di Alessandro Martini", ed. by Christian Genetelli, with Edoardo Fumagalli and Guido Pedrojetta, Novara, Interlinea, 2013, pp. 75-90 [academia.edu].
- Lionello Sozzi, "Le californie selve: un'utopia leopardiana", «Annali della Scuola Superiore di Pisa», s. III, XV, 1985, pp. 187-232 [Jstor].

To consolidate the knowledge of the author and his literary work, it is recommended the following volume: Gino Tellini, "Leopardi", Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2001 (V rist. 2025).

Any further titles will be communicated on the MyAriel website at the beginning of the lessons.

International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral examination, intended to verify the knowledge of the contents on the programme. The detailed commentary of the text, that will start from the paraphrase, will highlight the most significant thematic and conceptual elements; the critical bibliography indicated in the programme will offer a useful support for the discussion of the contents.
The evaluation will take into account the ability to formulate an organic response, to adopt the right formal register and use the appropriate specialized vocabulary, to recognize and discuss interpretative issues, to analyze the various levels of a literary text (structure, themes, style, intertextuality) in relation to the historical-cultural context.
The final evaluation will be determined in 30s.
In defining the final evaluation, the commentary exercises carried out by volunteer students (see the section "Teaching methods").
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Part A and B
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)