Scandinavian Literature 3
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
This course aims at developing interpretive and analytic skills in the evaluation of a specific thematic strand in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish literary works from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, it will put the tools of text analysis to the test with a view to practice critical discussion and writing about relevant themes, texts and authors.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: students will approach Scandinavian 19th and 20th century literature by focusing on a chosen theme present in works by Danish, Norwegian and Swedish writers, they will acquire knowledge of the critical discussion and the tools of analysis regarding the chosen topic. Applying knowledge and understanding: students will learn how to examine a chosen theme by working knowledgeably with secondary literature, practice critical reading of texts written in all three Scandinavian languages, examine the primary literature with a critical eye.
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
IN SHORT. THE SHORT STORY IN SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE. This course (9 cfu) examines the Scandinavian short prose tradition by considering its place in literary history, by drawing on central concerns in short fiction theory (problems of definition, terminology) and by analyzing textual structures and narrative techniques. This approach to the short story will help understand the highlights and the variations on the genre in time and space, and provide tools and skills for discussing short prose. Unit B looks at authors and texts from the 19th century. Unit C investigates works representative of the 20th century short story. Unit A
TBD focuses on intermediality and Scandinavian literature.
Unit A: Intermedialità
Unit B: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, J.P. Jacobsen, Hjalmar Söderberg
Unit C: Karen Blixen, Cora Sandel, Torgny Lindgren
This course syllabus is valid until February 2028.
TBD focuses on intermediality and Scandinavian literature.
Unit A: Intermedialità
Unit B: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, J.P. Jacobsen, Hjalmar Söderberg
Unit C: Karen Blixen, Cora Sandel, Torgny Lindgren
This course syllabus is valid until February 2028.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are required to have passed Scandinavian languages 2 and Scandinavian literature 2 to take the exam. Units B and C are taught in Italian, unit A in English/Scandinavian. Literary works in Units B and C are avaliable in Italian translation, but texts written in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish will be used in class. The reading list, which will be discussed during the lessons, includes critical works written both in the Scandinavian languages and in English.
Teaching methods
The course is in person (ALFA) and the teaching methodology combines lectures and class discussions of excerpts selected from the texts on the reading list. Active participation in class discussion will contribute positively to the final grade.
Teaching Resources
General: Third year students will choose TWO of the following three texts: Asbjørn Aarseth, "Novellen som fiksjonsprosaens kortform", in: Id. Episke strukturer, Universitetsforlaget, 1979, sez. VI-VIII, pp. 135-142; Staffan Bergsten & Lars Elleström: "Novell och kortprosa", in: Litteraturhistoriens grundbegrepp, Studentlitteratur, 2004, pp. 156-159; Marie Lund, "Indledning" e "Genrestudiet", in: Novellen. Struktur, historie og analyse, Centrum, 1997, pp. 9-12 & 108-112. IN ADDITION: Boris Ejchenbaum, "Teoria della prosa", in: I formalisti russi, a cura di T. Todorov, Einaudi, 1968, pp. 233-247; Donald LoCicero, "Paul Heyse: Falkentheorie", in Ied. Novellentheorie: The Practicality of the Theoretical. De Gruyter Mouton), 1970, 66-83; Marie Louise Pratt, "The Short Story. The Long and the Short of It", in: The New Short Story Theories, ed. C. May, Ohio University Press, 1994, pp. 91-113.
Unit B:
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Faderen (1860; Il padre), Thrond (1860); Støv (1882; Polvere) in any unabridged edition in Norwegian or Italian; J.P. Jacobsen: Mogens og andre Noveller, ANNO (It. transl. by G. Gabetti, La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti, Guanda, 1988); Hjalmar Söderberg: Historietter, 1897 (It. transl. by M.C. Lombardi, Il disegno a inchiostro e altri racconti, Lindau, 2015).
Saggi critici: Henning Sehmsdorf: Bjørnson's Trond and Popular Tradition in: "Scandinavian Studies" 41: 1, 1969, pp. 56-66; Merete Kjøller Ritzu: L'alchimia della parola. I racconti di J.P. Jacobsen, G' D'Anna, 1982, pp. 47-125; Torsten Hegerfors: Hjalmar Söderbergs Pälsen, in: Novellanalyser, red. V. Edström & P-E. Henricson, Prisma, 1970, pp. 49-54.
Unità C:
Karen Blixen: Aben (1935; La scimmia); ); Ringen (1950; L'anello); Den udødelige Historie (1953; La storia immortale). Cora Sandel: En gåte (1932; Un'enigma); Kunsten å myrde (1935; L'arte di uccidere); Den stillferdige gjesten (1949; L'ospite silenziosa); Torgny Lindgren: Merabs skönhet (1983; La bellezza di Merab).
Saggi critici: Marianne Stecher-Hansen: "Both Sacred and Secretly Gay: Isak Dinesen's 'The Blank Page.'" Pacific Coast Philology 29 (1): 3-13, 1994; Ellen Rees: "The Riddle Solved: Cora Sandel's En gåte", in: Studies in Short Fiction, 31:1, 1994, pp. 13-21; Ingela Pehrson Berger: "'Orden dem hava stormvindens kraft'. Språk och identitet I Torgny Lindgrens berättelser", in: Rötter och rutter, red. A. Öhman, Umeå universitet, pp. 68-79.
Unità A: TBD
Third year students may choose between reading the literary works in the original language or in Italian as long as the editions are unabridged. If present, the critical apparatus (introductions, forewords, afterwords, notes) is to be considered part of the reading.
STUDENTS UNABLE TO ATTEND LESSONS PLEASE ADD THE FOLLOWING READINGS TO THE ABOVE:
UNIT A: TBD
UNITS B and C: One of the following collections of short prose in its entirety: La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti di J.P. Jacobsen (Ed. Guanda); La bellezza di Merab di T. Lindgren (Iperborea); La bambina che amava le strade di Cora Sandel (ed. Giano)
Unit B:
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Faderen (1860; Il padre), Thrond (1860); Støv (1882; Polvere) in any unabridged edition in Norwegian or Italian; J.P. Jacobsen: Mogens og andre Noveller, ANNO (It. transl. by G. Gabetti, La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti, Guanda, 1988); Hjalmar Söderberg: Historietter, 1897 (It. transl. by M.C. Lombardi, Il disegno a inchiostro e altri racconti, Lindau, 2015).
Saggi critici: Henning Sehmsdorf: Bjørnson's Trond and Popular Tradition in: "Scandinavian Studies" 41: 1, 1969, pp. 56-66; Merete Kjøller Ritzu: L'alchimia della parola. I racconti di J.P. Jacobsen, G' D'Anna, 1982, pp. 47-125; Torsten Hegerfors: Hjalmar Söderbergs Pälsen, in: Novellanalyser, red. V. Edström & P-E. Henricson, Prisma, 1970, pp. 49-54.
Unità C:
Karen Blixen: Aben (1935; La scimmia); ); Ringen (1950; L'anello); Den udødelige Historie (1953; La storia immortale). Cora Sandel: En gåte (1932; Un'enigma); Kunsten å myrde (1935; L'arte di uccidere); Den stillferdige gjesten (1949; L'ospite silenziosa); Torgny Lindgren: Merabs skönhet (1983; La bellezza di Merab).
Saggi critici: Marianne Stecher-Hansen: "Both Sacred and Secretly Gay: Isak Dinesen's 'The Blank Page.'" Pacific Coast Philology 29 (1): 3-13, 1994; Ellen Rees: "The Riddle Solved: Cora Sandel's En gåte", in: Studies in Short Fiction, 31:1, 1994, pp. 13-21; Ingela Pehrson Berger: "'Orden dem hava stormvindens kraft'. Språk och identitet I Torgny Lindgrens berättelser", in: Rötter och rutter, red. A. Öhman, Umeå universitet, pp. 68-79.
Unità A: TBD
Third year students may choose between reading the literary works in the original language or in Italian as long as the editions are unabridged. If present, the critical apparatus (introductions, forewords, afterwords, notes) is to be considered part of the reading.
STUDENTS UNABLE TO ATTEND LESSONS PLEASE ADD THE FOLLOWING READINGS TO THE ABOVE:
UNIT A: TBD
UNITS B and C: One of the following collections of short prose in its entirety: La peste a Bergamo e altri racconti di J.P. Jacobsen (Ed. Guanda); La bellezza di Merab di T. Lindgren (Iperborea); La bambina che amava le strade di Cora Sandel (ed. Giano)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be assessed through an oral examination conducted by the instructor. Students are expected to be able to to answer questions concerning topics discussed in class; to provide analyses and comments to passages from texts on the reading list; to demonstrate the capacity to contextualize the literary works and analyze structural elements also with the help of the methodological tools provided in the theoretical texts present in the course syllabus.
Unit A: All students are required to write a short essay (min. 5000 characters, max. 8000 characters) on a topic of their choice discussed with the instructor. The essay must be handed in no less than 10 days before the exam session for which the student has registered.
Third year students can choose whether to take the exam in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. Grades are on a scale of 30, with a minimum of 18 (pass) and a maximum of 30+lode. Students have the right to reject the grade.
Unit A: All students are required to write a short essay (min. 5000 characters, max. 8000 characters) on a topic of their choice discussed with the instructor. The essay must be handed in no less than 10 days before the exam session for which the student has registered.
Third year students can choose whether to take the exam in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. Grades are on a scale of 30, with a minimum of 18 (pass) and a maximum of 30+lode. Students have the right to reject the grade.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Storskog Camilla Carita
Unita' didattica B+C
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Storskog Camilla Carita
Professor(s)