World Literatures in English
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course offers opportunities for analysis and reflection on a broad spectrum of literary proposals, covering texts from various parts of the world, provided they are written in English. The perspective through which world literatures are analysed and the critical and theoretical framework are defined in the specific syllabi. All courses aim to provide basic literary and historical knowledge of the texts examined and teach students to contextualise, critically analyse and engage in dialogue with the literary works under scrutiny
Expected learning outcomes
During the course, students will acquire basic historical and literary knowledge of the texts on the reading list; they will also learn to analyse them from a formal- and content-related point of view and situate them in their cultural contexts. At the end of the course, students will be able to place a literary work in its historical and cultural context, critically analyse it, and make comparisons with other texts under analysis, in line with the critical framework provided in class.
Lesson period: First 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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course, titled "Beyond Human Perspectives", delves into the field of literature and environmental humanities, which examines the multifaceted relationships between human and non-human animals and the environments they share. Through a wide selection of literary texts from across the English-speaking world, students will engage with thought-provoking perspectives on how humans perceive—and consequently represent—their encounters with other living beings and with the planet itself.
These literary works offer rich and sundry portrayals of interspecies encounters and environmental consciousness. Together, we will explore how literature not only reflects but also challenges and reshapes our understanding of the more-than-human world.
Part B of the course will be carried out as a joint international course in collaboration with North Bengal University, Siliguri, India. Some lectures will be given by Professor Binayak Roy and students will be invited to work in groups with Indian colleagues. Parts A+B are mandatory; Part C, while not mandatory, is fully integrated into the ecocritical and ethical approach of the course, and is therefore recommended.
This program is valid until February 2027.
The Teams code for the course is 1otoaan.
These literary works offer rich and sundry portrayals of interspecies encounters and environmental consciousness. Together, we will explore how literature not only reflects but also challenges and reshapes our understanding of the more-than-human world.
Part B of the course will be carried out as a joint international course in collaboration with North Bengal University, Siliguri, India. Some lectures will be given by Professor Binayak Roy and students will be invited to work in groups with Indian colleagues. Parts A+B are mandatory; Part C, while not mandatory, is fully integrated into the ecocritical and ethical approach of the course, and is therefore recommended.
This program is valid until February 2027.
The Teams code for the course is 1otoaan.
Prerequisites for admission
The course — entirely in English — and the primary and secondary bibliography require a good knowledge of English, both oral and written, as well as a basic knowledge of the English classics. The course is not recommended for first-year students.
Teaching methods
The course deploys the following teaching methods: lectures with close reading and textual analysis; whenever possible, videos, images, and music will also be employed. Team projects will also be encouraged and will form part of the course, possibly with students from an Indian university who follow the same course. Students will be asked to take an active part in the critical reading of the texts; they should, therefore, be willing to read some works during the course.
Teaching Resources
All students will need to study the following general essays:
1) Manfred Jahn, "Narratology 2.2: A Guide to the Theory of Narrative", 2021 [Free online].
2) Video: "Lecture by Peter Singer at Unimi, 03-06-24", https://video.unimi.it/media/2020
3) David Damrosch, What Is World Literature (On the course Team)
4) Timothy Clark. The value of ecocriticism. Cambridge U.P. Chapters 1-4. Available online
5) Greg Garrard. Ecocriticism; chapter 6, Animals.
6) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
In addition to this reading list, students will study all materials uploaded on Teams before or during the course.
LITERARY TEXTS
Part A Poetry
Animal poetry. A selection of animal poems from different epochs and cultures will be prepared.
Alice Oswald, Dart. Available Online
Part B Short stories
1. Mark Twain, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"
2. George Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant".
3. Rudyard Kipling, "Rikki-Tikki-Tawi"
4. R.K. Narayan, "Blind Dog"
5. Amitav Ghosh, "The Living Mountain"
1) Manfred Jahn, "Narratology 2.2: A Guide to the Theory of Narrative", 2021 [Free online].
2) Video: "Lecture by Peter Singer at Unimi, 03-06-24", https://video.unimi.it/media/2020
3) David Damrosch, What Is World Literature (On the course Team)
4) Timothy Clark. The value of ecocriticism. Cambridge U.P. Chapters 1-4. Available online
5) Greg Garrard. Ecocriticism; chapter 6, Animals.
6) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
In addition to this reading list, students will study all materials uploaded on Teams before or during the course.
LITERARY TEXTS
Part A Poetry
Animal poetry. A selection of animal poems from different epochs and cultures will be prepared.
Alice Oswald, Dart. Available Online
Part B Short stories
1. Mark Twain, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"
2. George Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant".
3. Rudyard Kipling, "Rikki-Tikki-Tawi"
4. R.K. Narayan, "Blind Dog"
5. Amitav Ghosh, "The Living Mountain"
Assessment methods and Criteria
**Oral Exam Overview:**
The oral exam consists of a graded discussion worth a total of thirty points. This test will assess your understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus by verifying your ability to recognize, identify, and describe the literary and cultural issues discussed during the course.
Please note that proficiency in reading and translating texts in English is a prerequisite for this exam. Additionally, your ability to connect various works, authors, and the cultural contexts presented will also be evaluated.
To participate in the exam, make sure to bring all the literary texts included in the syllabus.
The exam is generally conducted in English.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn"; the student will have to retake the entire exam in a subsequent session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are encouraged to contact the teacher well in advance. Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (DSA) must be agreed upon with the instructor, in coordination with the appropriate office.
The oral exam consists of a graded discussion worth a total of thirty points. This test will assess your understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus by verifying your ability to recognize, identify, and describe the literary and cultural issues discussed during the course.
Please note that proficiency in reading and translating texts in English is a prerequisite for this exam. Additionally, your ability to connect various works, authors, and the cultural contexts presented will also be evaluated.
To participate in the exam, make sure to bring all the literary texts included in the syllabus.
The exam is generally conducted in English.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn"; the student will have to retake the entire exam in a subsequent session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are encouraged to contact the teacher well in advance. Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (DSA) must be agreed upon with the instructor, in coordination with the appropriate office.
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Iannaccaro Giuliana, Vescovi Alessandro
Professor(s)
Reception:
Three hours a week. Please send me a mail in advance to make an appointment.
Piazza S. Alessandro 1, Anglistica; or Microsoft Teams Platform
Reception:
Every Friday 2:30 pm. Please use the form to reserve a position.
Teacher's office or Teams