Women's Literature in Italy
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide tools and skills for understanding the works of female authors of Italian literature from the 16th to the 21st century, in interaction with the literary system and within the national, European or global socio-cultural context.
Expected learning outcomes
Awareness of the key issues relating to women's writing in Italian literature.
Ability to analyse literary texts written by women and to interpret them by placing them within their historical and cultural context and relating them to Italian literary and linguistic history, the publishing system and the public, both synchronically and diachronically.
Awareness of the main theoretical positions identified in studies on women's writing.
Ability to critically use bibliographic tools for text analysis and interpretation.
Ability to express reasoned critical judgements on literary texts by Italian female authors.
Ability to analyse literary texts written by women and to interpret them by placing them within their historical and cultural context and relating them to Italian literary and linguistic history, the publishing system and the public, both synchronically and diachronically.
Awareness of the main theoretical positions identified in studies on women's writing.
Ability to critically use bibliographic tools for text analysis and interpretation.
Ability to express reasoned critical judgements on literary texts by Italian female authors.
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
Women Writers. Telling War, Building Peace
Part A (20 hours, 3 ECTS credits): The Epic-Chivalric Poetry of Renaissance Women Writers
Part A focuses primarily on an example of the representation of war in the writings of female authors of the Renaissance: the heroic poem "L'Enrico, ovvero Bisanzio acquistato" by Lucrezia Marinelli. The women writings in the sixteenth century will also be examined, within the context of the querelle des femmes, with particular attention to the representation of conflict in other works by female authors of the period.
PART B (20 hours, 3 ECTS credits)
Women-authored historical-family novels between the second half of the twentieth century and the 2000s
Part B is devoted to the reading, analysis, and interpretation of two women-authored novels published between the second half of the twentieth century and the early 2000s: "Tutti i nostri Ieri" (1952) by Natalia Ginzburg, and "Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna" (2001) by Fabrizia Ramondino.
Part A (20 hours, 3 ECTS credits): The Epic-Chivalric Poetry of Renaissance Women Writers
Part A focuses primarily on an example of the representation of war in the writings of female authors of the Renaissance: the heroic poem "L'Enrico, ovvero Bisanzio acquistato" by Lucrezia Marinelli. The women writings in the sixteenth century will also be examined, within the context of the querelle des femmes, with particular attention to the representation of conflict in other works by female authors of the period.
PART B (20 hours, 3 ECTS credits)
Women-authored historical-family novels between the second half of the twentieth century and the 2000s
Part B is devoted to the reading, analysis, and interpretation of two women-authored novels published between the second half of the twentieth century and the early 2000s: "Tutti i nostri Ieri" (1952) by Natalia Ginzburg, and "Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna" (2001) by Fabrizia Ramondino.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no required prerequisites
Teaching methods
The course is taught through lectures and moments of interactive discussion. Attendance, although not compulsory, is strongly recommended.
During the classes, the works included in the syllabus will be read analytically, and the relevant critical interpretations will be discussed. Any materials shown during the classes will be made available on the MyAriel course website.
During the classes, the works included in the syllabus will be read analytically, and the relevant critical interpretations will be discussed. Any materials shown during the classes will be made available on the MyAriel course website.
Teaching Resources
PART A
Texts:
Lucrezia Marinella, "L'Enrico. Ovvero Bisanzio acquistato, poema eroico", by Maria Galli Stampino, Modena, Mucchi, 2011 (with the introductory essay "Poema eroico alla veneziana: il problema retorico e ideologico della Quarta Crociata e la soluzione marinelliana")
Sandra Carapezza, "Questione di genere/i", Federico II University Press, 2025, online http://www.fedoabooks.unina.it/index.php/fedoapress/catalog/book/637
Required critical essays
Laura Benedetti, "Un eroismo diverso. La rappresentazione delle guerriere nella Scanderbeide di Margherita Sarrocchi (1623) e ne L'Enrico di Lucrezia Marinella (1635)", in "The Italianist", 2019, 3, pp. 281-296 (available online in the University library catalogue "Minerva")
Sandra Plastina, "Nella milizia riuscir più d'una. Amazzoni e donne in armi da Boccaccio a Lucrezia Marinella", in "Bruniana e Campanelliana", 2017, 2, pp. 493-503 (available online in the University library catalogue "Minerva")
PART B
Texts:
Natalia Ginzburg, "Tutti i nostri ieri", Einaudi 2014; English translation "All Ours Yesterdays", Daunt Books, 2022
Fabrizia Ramondino, "Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna", Fazi 2022
Critical essays:
G. Ghersi, Voci, motivi, discorso in "Tutti i nostri ieri" di Natalia Ginzburg, in "Il romanzo. Teorie, forme, dispositivi", 1, 2025, https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/ilromanzo/article/view/12551
G. Carrara, La tentazione della fiaba. Su Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna, in G. Carrara, e. Gambaro (eds), Scrivere e altri naufragi. Rileggere Fabrizia Ramondino, Milano University Press 2027 (A pre-print copy of the essay will be made available on MyAriel)
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
In addition to the requirements for attending students, non attending students will have to study: "Le autrici della Letteratura italiana. Per una storia dal XIII al XXI secolo", a cura di Daniela De Liso, Napoli, Loffredo, 2023.
Texts:
Lucrezia Marinella, "L'Enrico. Ovvero Bisanzio acquistato, poema eroico", by Maria Galli Stampino, Modena, Mucchi, 2011 (with the introductory essay "Poema eroico alla veneziana: il problema retorico e ideologico della Quarta Crociata e la soluzione marinelliana")
Sandra Carapezza, "Questione di genere/i", Federico II University Press, 2025, online http://www.fedoabooks.unina.it/index.php/fedoapress/catalog/book/637
Required critical essays
Laura Benedetti, "Un eroismo diverso. La rappresentazione delle guerriere nella Scanderbeide di Margherita Sarrocchi (1623) e ne L'Enrico di Lucrezia Marinella (1635)", in "The Italianist", 2019, 3, pp. 281-296 (available online in the University library catalogue "Minerva")
Sandra Plastina, "Nella milizia riuscir più d'una. Amazzoni e donne in armi da Boccaccio a Lucrezia Marinella", in "Bruniana e Campanelliana", 2017, 2, pp. 493-503 (available online in the University library catalogue "Minerva")
PART B
Texts:
Natalia Ginzburg, "Tutti i nostri ieri", Einaudi 2014; English translation "All Ours Yesterdays", Daunt Books, 2022
Fabrizia Ramondino, "Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna", Fazi 2022
Critical essays:
G. Ghersi, Voci, motivi, discorso in "Tutti i nostri ieri" di Natalia Ginzburg, in "Il romanzo. Teorie, forme, dispositivi", 1, 2025, https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/ilromanzo/article/view/12551
G. Carrara, La tentazione della fiaba. Su Guerra d'infanzia e di Spagna, in G. Carrara, e. Gambaro (eds), Scrivere e altri naufragi. Rileggere Fabrizia Ramondino, Milano University Press 2027 (A pre-print copy of the essay will be made available on MyAriel)
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
In addition to the requirements for attending students, non attending students will have to study: "Le autrici della Letteratura italiana. Per una storia dal XIII al XXI secolo", a cura di Daniela De Liso, Napoli, Loffredo, 2023.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral test consists of an interview and discussion on fundamental topics of the work, writers and key issues dealt during the lessons or acquired through the study of the bibliography by non-attending students. The criteria used to assess students' performance are: ability to critically organise information from lessons and bibliography; competence to comprehensively and effectively expose problems and questions using proper technical language.
The final grade will be expressed in the 30 grade point system. The minimum grade is 18.
Non-attending students, International students and Erasmus students are invited to contact the professors via email for further information on the exam.
Examination methods for students with disabilities or SLD must be defined with the teachers in agreement with the University Disability and SLD Services.
The final grade will be expressed in the 30 grade point system. The minimum grade is 18.
Non-attending students, International students and Erasmus students are invited to contact the professors via email for further information on the exam.
Examination methods for students with disabilities or SLD must be defined with the teachers in agreement with the University Disability and SLD Services.
ITAL-01/A - Italian Literature - University credits: 3
LICO-01/A - Contemporary Italian Literature - University credits: 3
LICO-01/A - Contemporary Italian Literature - University credits: 3
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Carapezza Sandra, Gambaro Elisa Ludovica
Professor(s)
Reception:
Mondays, 11:00AM - 2:00 PM. Please contact me to schedule an appointment.