The course aims at providing students with a firm understanding of the literary, religious and cultural scene of the mid-Victorian Period following the methodology of New Historicism. During the course students will acquire the necessary linguistic and critical tools to analyze works of literature, discuss literary works using the correct terminology, and be encouraged to make autonomous judgments. 

1. Introduction to Children’s Literature and fantasy

2. Charles Kingsley

-     Analysis of The Water-Babies

-     Social/cultural context

-    Biographical background

- Publishing history

- Scientific context

- Religious context

3. Nursery Rhymes and cautionary tales

4. Lewis Carroll

-    Analysis of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

-    Biographical background

-    Publishing history

- Scientific context

- Religious context

- Influence of Kingsley

5. Christina Rossetti

-    Analysis of 'Goblin Market'

-    Analysis of Speaking Likenesses

-    Biographical background

- influence of Carroll

6. George MacDonald

-    Analysis of The Princess and the Goblin

-    Biographical background

-    Scientific context

-    Religious context

- Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire a good understanding of the essential social-historical and social-cultural factors underpinning the period of study, and will be able to approach English literary studies with the appropriate critical instruments and methods.  

- Applying knowledge and understanding: students will have the linguistic, cultural and critical abilities to describe and analyse English Literature.

- Making judgements: students will acquire the critical ability to judge and evaluate literary texts and will be able to express autonomous opinions on social-literary subjects of different historical periods. 

- Communication skills: students will be trained to have an open and unprejudiced attitude to different realities and periods and express themselves in appropriate language.

- Learning skills: students will possess the necessary methodological skills, the critical abilities, bibliographical knowledge and research skills to continue their studies in the field. 

Il materiale didattico predisposto dalla/dal docente in aggiunta ai testi consigliati (come ad esempio diapositive, dispense, esercizi, bibliografia) e le comunicazioni della/del docente specifiche per l'insegnamento sono reperibili all'interno della piattaforma Moodle › blended.uniurb.it

Use of audiovisual aids is an integral part of the programme. The course will be held in English.  

Modalità didattiche

Lectures. During classes students will be asked to present their own reading of some passages.

Didattica innovativa

Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) 

Testi di studio

• Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies (Oxford, 2014 ISBN 978-0199685455)
• Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland  (Oxford 2009 ISBN 9780199558292)
• Christina Rossetti, 'Goblin Market' (https://archive.org/details/goblinmarketand00rossgoog)
• Christina Rossetti, Speaking Likenesses (https://archive.org/details/speakinglikeness00ross)
• George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin (reccommended edition: Broadview Press: ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1554810079)

Required reading of secondary and supplementary literature will be indicated on Moodle Blended Learning at the beginning of the course.

Modalità di
accertamento

Oral exam in English. Students are asked to comment on a series of passages taken from the works of Kingsley, Carroll, MacDonald, or Rossetti and should explain their importance in the authors' oeuvre and/or what they reveal about the mid-Victorian spirit of the age. Students may refer to movie interpretations or illustrations where possible, or compare the given texts with passages in the other novels or poems on the reading list. Further specific questions regarding tropes and author specific themes will also be asked.

The exam is conducted in English, and will be assessed on proper use of language, formal presentation of literary terminolog, adequate use of published criticism and research, and relevance and completeness of argument.

The final mark is made up of 10% for use of language, 10% for formal presentation, 20% for use of sources, and 60% for relevance and completeness of argument.

The programme above is valid only till January/February 2026.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Modalità didattiche

self study: non-attending students are expected to check out criticism and historical and cultural contexts on the internet. They are also invited to visit my page on Blended Learning Uniurb for further study materials.

Testi di studio

• Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies (Oxford, 2014 ISBN 978-0199685455)
• Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Oxford 2009 ISBN 9780199558292)
• Christina Rossetti, 'Goblin Market' (https://archive.org/details/goblinmarketand00rossgoog)
• Christina Rossetti, Speaking Likenesses (https://archive.org/details/speakinglikeness00ross)
• George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin (reccommended edition: Broadview Press: ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1554810079

Required reading of secondary and supplementary literature will be indicated on Moodle Blended Learning at the beginning of the course.

Modalità di
accertamento

Oral exam in English. Students are asked to comment on a series of passages taken from the works of Kingsley, Carroll, MacDonald, or Rossetti and should explain their importance in the authors' oeuvre and/or what they reveal about the mid-Victorian spirit of the age. Students may refer to movie interpretations or illustrations where possible, or compare the given texts with passages in the other novels or poems on the reading list. Further specific questions regarding tropes and author specific themes will also be asked.

The exam is conducted in English, and will be assessed on proper use of language, formal presentation of literary terminolog, adequate use of published criticism and research, and relevance and completeness of argument.

The final mark is made up of 10% for use of language, 10% for formal presentation, 20% for use of sources, and 60% for relevance and completeness of argument.

The programme above is valid only till January/February 2026.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Il corso sarà tenuto interamente in lingua inglese. The course will be taught entirely in English. The final exam and the bibliography are in English.