To foster students’ ability to analyze the similarities and peculiarities of the different cultures and Western literatures, from the second half of the 19th and early 20th century to the present time.

Dating back to the 19th century, crime fiction has quickly spread in the most important Western countries. It never fails to get huge commercial success and it is the most widely appreciated literary genre. Through the analysis of the most representative authors and works of this genre, the course will aim to study the different phases of what can probably be considered as the golden age for the crime fiction: the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.

The ability to adopt both a formal and a sociological approach to literary works.

Knowledge and understanding: students will demonstrate to possess the historical and cultural background, as well as the literary abilities, required for reading and interpreting course materials. Applying knowledge and understanding: students will exhibit the linguistic and literary skills that are necessary to read and analyse specific texts. Making judgements: students will show a capacity for independent thought and judgement in relation to individual works and authors and will be able to express opinions on social and cultural topics concerning the literary genre studied. Communication skills: students will demonstrate sensitivity and intellectual engagement towards different cultures and historical periods, as well as a command of subject-specific terminology. Learning skills: students will acquire the methodological tools and bibliographic knowledge that are necessary to further develop their skills and to achieve stated learning outcomes, in order to progress to the next level of academic studies.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

See Moodle Platform.

Teaching

The course will be based on frontal lessons. The teacher will provide students with theoretical foundations and will help them to develop subject-specific vocabulary. Based on learners’ interest, attitude and achievements, interactive lessons will be included in order to promote debate and critical thinking among students, using seminar-style teaching methods.

Attendance

Optional.

Course books

Edgar Allan Poe, L’uomo della folla, Gli assassinii della Rue Morgue, Il mistero di Marie Roget, La lettera rubata, in Opere scelte, a cura di Giorgio Manganelli, Mondadori, Milano 1971;

Arthur Conan Doyle, Uno studio in rosso, Mondadori, Milano 2004;

Gaston Leroux, Il mistero della camera gialla, Passigli, Bagno a Ripoli 2010;

Siegfried Kracauer, Il romanzo poliziesco, SE, Milano 2011;

Antonio Tricomi, Fotogrammi dal moderno. Glosse sul cinema e la letteratura, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino 2015, pp. 169-236;

Pero Boitani e Emilia Di Rocco, Guida allo studio delle letterature comparate, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2013.

Assessment

The evaluation of students’ achievements will be based on oral examinations. Learners’ knowledge of the subject and their ability to display critical thinking, using subject-specific language, will be assessed during the examination, through questions aimed at evaluating the acquisition of theoretical notions.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

See Moodle Platform.

Attendance

Optional.

Course books

Same as for students attending classes.

Assessment

The evaluation of students’ achievements will be based on oral examinations. Learners’ knowledge of the subject and their ability to display critical thinking, using subject-specific language, will be assessed during the examination, through questions aimed at evaluating the acquisition of theoretical notions.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Optional course materials (both attending and non-attending students can choose either to consult the following books or not):

Maurice Leblanc, Arsene Lupin contro Herlock Sholmes, Einaudi, Torino 2008;

Dashiell Hammett, Il falco maltese, Mondadori, Milano 2001;

Giorgio Scerbanenco, Il cane che parla, Sellerio, Palermo 2011;

Alberto Castoldi, Francesco Fiorentino e Giovanni Saverio Santangelo, Splendori e misteri del romanzo poliziesco, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2010.

[However, non-attending students are strongly advised to consult the above mentioned Splendori e misteri del romanzo poliziesco]