The modern and contemporary literature class for “laurea magistrale” (master degree) it is not just a repetition of what has already been exposed in the “laurea triennale” (bachelor degree). Furthermore, it is not a mere strengthening of its knowledge. Infact, it involve a larger temporal and geographical setting, since the foundation of the 'modern' in Europe. A foundation that started in the first years of the seventeenth century, when the founders of European literature (Cervantes and Shakespeare) were in full swing and Italy witnessed the rapid decline of Renaissance humanism, before the discovery of new planetary and cosmic frontiers.

In front of this scenario, and in the perspective of a both historical-philological  and comparative study, the student come to a deeper conception of the "modern" as it is realized in the last century, the so-called "short century". During this time Western civilization arrives at a crucial point which combines progress and colonialism, awareness of crisis and political utopias. The direct reading of Italian texts in the European context and the reflection on the methods used for their interpretation, will make the students able to achieve a capacity to integrate and reorganize their knowledge. The latter will be manage with rigor and passion, as it is required by a matter that it is not neutral, inert, opaque, but it is proposed, thanks to the cultural depth of his lyrics, as a dialectical articulation between memory and imaginary.

a) The birth of the 'modern'. A journey into the Italian literature through three major works.

1) the XVII century: Giambattista Basile, l racconto dei racconti (five choice novellas)

2) the XVIII century: Giacomo Casanova, Memorie scritte da lui medesimo (choice of pieces)

3) the XIX century: Ippolito Nievo, Le confessioni di un italiano (the first five chapters)

b) The critical method: historiographical interpretation of literature and literary canons

- Writing the modernity: from the 'novel' to the movies

- Is there a canon of XX century poetry?

- Dialectical criticism of historicist method: from De Sanctis to Gramsci to Lukacs

- Between modernism and postmodernism: from the Frankfurt School to Fredric Jameson

c) «Gozzano, the XX century and the new way to poetry».

- D'Annunzio, Pascoli and the Italian and European poetry from the late XIX and early XX century. From crepuscolarism to futurism. Campana, Sbarbaro, Saba, Rebora, Ungaretti.

- Guido Gozzano, biographical and work profile. Reading of selected passages from the work in verse and prose. Vocabulary, metrics and forms of his poetry. The "irony" in Dannunzio's work.

- After-Gozzano: which way to poetry? Inheritance in antiminimalistica parody of contemporary poetry.

It is required a good knowledge of modern and contemporary Italian literature: its periodization, major issues, forms and literary genres. This skills should be acquired in the bachelor course of modern and contemporary Italian literature.

At the end of the class the student will be able to: (a) Connect knowledges and manage the complexity of the issues both in the historical-cultural context and in the critical (European and Western) one; formulate personal opinions based on knowledges and critical methods developed during the twentieth century (from historicism to gender studies and intercultural approaches); reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities of the literary text. Then, (b) argue clearly the conclusions (if there is any) and the logic who support them both to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Finally, (c) use these critical skills to continue studying autonomously in view of further education or any professional application.

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

Dott. Emiliano Alessandroni and dott. Martina Daraio will hold supporting seminars on methods of literary criticism

Teaching

Lectures, seminars, use of audio-visual material, conferences, congresses.

Attendance

Student must attend at least 80% of lessons and all the seminars included in the course.

Course books

I. General section

a) From XVII century to XIX century:

Gian Battista Basile, Il racconto dei racconti; G. Casanova, Memorie scritte da lui medesimo; I. Nievo, Le confessioni di un italiano.

The indications of the most important parts will be given during the course.

b) XX century. A selection of seven books among the following ones:

1) Luigi Capuana, Il marchese di Roccaverdina – Gabriele D’Annunzio, Giovanni Episcopo – Antonio Fogazzaro, Malombra

2) Dino Campana, Canti orfici – Giuseppe Ungaretti, L’allegria - Eugenio Montale, La bufera

3) Goffredo Parise, Il prete bello - Ottiero Ottieri, Donnarumma all'assalto - Giorgio Bassani, Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini

4) Giorgio Caproni, Il terzo libro e altre poesie – Pier Paolo Pasolini, Le ceneri di Gramsci - Mario Luzi, L'alta, la cupa fiamma

5) Leonardo Sciascia, Una storia semplice - Aldo Busi, Seminario sulla gioventù - Sebastiano Vassalli, La chimera

6) Raffaello Baldini, Intercity – Alda Merini, Ballate non pagate – Andrea Zanzotto, Meteo

7) Pietro Grossi, Pugni - Alessio Torino, Urbino, Nebraska - Wu Ming 1, L'invisibile ovunque

II. Monographical section: «Gozzano, the XX century and the new way to poetry»

Bibliography: G. Gozzano, La via del rifugio. I colloqui, a cura e introduzione di G. Lauretano, Raffaelli Editore, Rimini, 2016, 2 voll.; Id., Verso la cuna del mondo. Lettere dall’India, a cura di R. Carnero, Bompiani, Milano, 2008; Id., Un Natale a Ceylon e altri racconti indiani, a cura di P. Cudini, intr. di G. Leonelli, Garzanti, Milano, 2005.

Methodological texts: E. Alessandroni, Ideologia e strutture letterarie, Aracne, 2014; A. Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015; A. Berardinelli, Discorso sul romanzo moderno. Da Cervantes al Novecento, Carocci, Roma, 2016.

Assessment

Oral examination.

The students will be equally judged according the following criteria: (1) Konowledge of the matter. (2) Capacity of reasoning adequately on the subject of the questions. (3) Capacity of exposing the matter with an appropriate use of the language.

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 the programs for attending students.

Attendance

See the programs for attending students.

Course books

See the programs for attending students.

Assessment

See the programs for attending students.

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.

See the programs for attending students.