Places and Representations of Contemporary Italy
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide the main tools for a formal (i.e. linguistic and structural) analysis of literary texts, and to study the connection of such texts with their historical and social context. The focus is on the representation of places and the underlying world views.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students are expected to master the tools for a formal analysis and historical and social interpretation of texts, being able to define such tools and properly adopt them when reading texts on their own.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into two didactic Units.
Unit I examines current developments and dynamics of literary tourism, focusing in particular on Italian writers' houses open to the public.
Didactic Unit II focuses on literary interpretations of a topical place in the international tourist imaginary: the lakes of Lombardy. To this end will be analysed the short stories set on Lake Maggiore collected by Piero Chiara in L'uovo al cianuro (1969) and Andrea Vitali's larian choral novel Una finestra vistalago (2003) .
Unit I examines current developments and dynamics of literary tourism, focusing in particular on Italian writers' houses open to the public.
Didactic Unit II focuses on literary interpretations of a topical place in the international tourist imaginary: the lakes of Lombardy. To this end will be analysed the short stories set on Lake Maggiore collected by Piero Chiara in L'uovo al cianuro (1969) and Andrea Vitali's larian choral novel Una finestra vistalago (2003) .
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of Italian literary history and culture from the Unification of Italy to the end of the 20th Century. Basic knowledge of narratology and rhetoric.
Teaching methods
The course is conducted through lectures, supported by the viewing of images and films.
Teaching Resources
Unit 1. Literary Tourism. Italian writers' houses
Attending students will prepare for the exam with the notes taken in class and the book by M. Novelli, La finestra di Leopardi. Viaggio nelle case dei grandi scrittori italiani, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Non-attending students will prepare for the exam chapter 1 (Turismi letterari) of the book by G. Capecchi, Sulle orme dei poeti. Letteratura, turismo e promozione del territorio, Patron, Bologna and eight chapters of their choice (excluding the italicised interludes) of the book by M. Novelli, La finestra di Leopardi. Viaggio nelle case dei grandi scrittori italiani, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Unit 2. Paper Lakes
Attending students will prepare for the exam with the notes taken in class and the following two texts: P. Chiara, L'uovo al cianuro, Mondadori, Milano; A. Vitali, Una finestra vistalago, Garzanti, Milano.
Bibliography: M. Novelli, Nel golfo irrequieto. La narrativa di Piero Chiara, Fondazione Mondadori, Milano, pp. 43-72; M. Novelli, Vitali, magro e saporito, in V. Spinazzola (ed.), Tirature '15, Faam - il Saggiatore, Milan 2015, pp. 89-93.
Non-attending students will prepare, in addition to the texts and bibliography indicated above, F. Benozzo, Lago, in Luoghi della letteratura italiana, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, pp. 243-252.
Bibliography will be uploaded on the course's Ariel site.
Attending students will prepare for the exam with the notes taken in class and the book by M. Novelli, La finestra di Leopardi. Viaggio nelle case dei grandi scrittori italiani, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Non-attending students will prepare for the exam chapter 1 (Turismi letterari) of the book by G. Capecchi, Sulle orme dei poeti. Letteratura, turismo e promozione del territorio, Patron, Bologna and eight chapters of their choice (excluding the italicised interludes) of the book by M. Novelli, La finestra di Leopardi. Viaggio nelle case dei grandi scrittori italiani, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Unit 2. Paper Lakes
Attending students will prepare for the exam with the notes taken in class and the following two texts: P. Chiara, L'uovo al cianuro, Mondadori, Milano; A. Vitali, Una finestra vistalago, Garzanti, Milano.
Bibliography: M. Novelli, Nel golfo irrequieto. La narrativa di Piero Chiara, Fondazione Mondadori, Milano, pp. 43-72; M. Novelli, Vitali, magro e saporito, in V. Spinazzola (ed.), Tirature '15, Faam - il Saggiatore, Milan 2015, pp. 89-93.
Non-attending students will prepare, in addition to the texts and bibliography indicated above, F. Benozzo, Lago, in Luoghi della letteratura italiana, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, pp. 243-252.
Bibliography will be uploaded on the course's Ariel site.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview on the topics of the program, aimed at verifying the knowledge of the main topics, the acquisition of the basic methodological tools for the interpretation of literary texts and the ability to apply them appropriately and independently to the scheduled texts. There are no intermediate tests or examinations with partial syllabuses; students must present all teaching units for examination without exception. The final grade will be derived from the average of the marks obtained during the interview in the individual units.
Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended for better exam preparation. The syllabus is in any case already inclusive of integrations for students who are unable to attend.
Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended for better exam preparation. The syllabus is in any case already inclusive of integrations for students who are unable to attend.
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Novelli Mauro Giacomo
Professor(s)