The course aims to provide the fundamental historical-critical and methodological tools for the knowledge of Italian stagey literature, i.e. mastery of the essential concepts that can guide the student to the study of dramaturgical phenomena through the reading and, if appropriate, viewing some of the major works.

In the first part of the course a general framework of the Renaissance stagey literature will be provided, by illustrating the main phenomena, authors and the most representative works. The second part of the course will be devoted to the reading and commentary of Machiavelli's Mandragola, with a focus on linguistic aspects, and issues about chronology of the composition. Then the work will be analyzed in relation to the other theatrical pieces of the author and put in the context of the sixteenth century theatrical production. Finally, some of the main critical interpretations of the Mandragola will be discussed.

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Students will acquire fundamental knowledge of the Italian stagey literature of the Renaissance period and the main works. They will be able to understand, analyze and interpret a text; they will develop explanatory and argumentative skills, study methodology, ability to formulate their own judgments.

At the end of the course, students are expected to have acquired:

Knowledge and understanding

- knowledge of the topics discussed during the course;

- knowledge of the birth and development of the theatrical production of the XVth-XVIth centuries, with special attention to the main authors, the different genres, and finally to the main classical and vulgar sources;

- ability to orient themselves critically in the study of theatrical literature from synchronic and diachronic point of view.

Applied knowledge and understanding

- knowledge and understanding of the specific characteristics of major works and issues relating to stagey literature;

- ability to understand texts through in-depth and timely textual analysis (paraphrase, linguistic commentary, stylistic and possibly metric).

Autonomy of judgment

- ability to acquire skills in theatrical literature that enable the development of independent judgments.

Communication skills

- ability to communicate clearly and comprehensively the skills acquired in the field of Italian stagey literature;

- ability to argue issues and problems in this specific area of study by using appropriate language.

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

Handouts, slides, videos and other teaching materials will be made available by the teacher at the end of the course in paper format or on the Moodle platform.

Teaching

Classes, seminars. Students may be required to read during the course in order to attend some lessons with proper preparation.

Attendance

Compulsory attendance for the 80% of the classes hours amount.

Course books

In addition to the materials used during the classes, students are required to study:

1. N. MACHIAVELLI, Mandragola e Clizia: the whole texts and commentaries. Recommended editions: N. Machiavelli, Teatro, Introduzione e commento di D. Fachard, Roma, Carocci, 2013; or N. Machiavelli, Opere letterarie, a cura di L. Blasucci, Milano, Adelphi, 1964; or N. Machiavelli, Teatro: Andria, Mandragola, Clizia, a cura di P. Stoppelli, Roma, Salerno, 2017.

2. G. FERRONI, I generi teatrali e La commedia in Id., Storia delle letteratura italiana. Dal Cinquecento al Settecento, Torino, Einaudi, 1991, vol. II, pp. 110-115; and with specific attention to the sections devoted to the works of Machiavelli (ivi, pp. 31-59); and Ludovico Ariosto (ivi, pp. 61-90).

3. F. BAUSI, Machiavelli commediografo e narratore, in Id., Machiavelli, Roma, Salerno, 2005, pp. 270-301 [available at the University Library].

4. D. PEROCCO, voce Clizia, in Enciclopedia Machiavelliana, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 2014, pp. 324-331 [available online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/clizia_%28Enciclopedia-machiavelliana%29/].

5. P. STOPPELLI, voce Mandragola, ivi, pp. 118-131 [available online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/mandragola_%28Enciclopedia-machiavelliana%29/].

6. P. STOPPELLI, voce Andria, ivi, pp. 55-58 [available online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/andria_%28Enciclopedia-machiavelliana%29/].

Assessment

Oral examination. This choice was made in order to enhance the oral argumentative skills of individual students in relation to a highly technical discipline and which requires the possession of a specific lexicon.

"Excellent" mark: the student must show possession of good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to orient with sure mastery of the subject within the main themes covered during the lesson, also establishing, if necessary, links between different fields and themes of the discipline; outstanding ability to use the technical lexicon of discipline.

"Good" mark: the student must demonstrate possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the main contents of the discipline; minimal critical and linking capacity between the main themes of the discipline with the use of the appropriate lexicon.

"Sufficient" mark: the student must demonstrate minimal knowledge of the fundamentals of the discipline, even if there are some educational gaps, as well as the use of language that is not entirely appropriate.

"Negative" mark: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language and/or the inability to use the technical lexicon of the discipline.

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

Self-directed learning.

Attendance

Students are required to contact the professor to receive general information and to agree on the program.

Course books

In addition to the programm for attending students, it is required to study:

- R. Alonge, La riscoperta rinascimentale del teatro, in Storia del teatro moderno e contemporaneo diretta da R. Alonge e G. Davico Bonino. Volume primo. La nascita del teatro moderno. Cinquecento-Seicento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000, pp. 5-27, 68-78 [available on Moodle].

- F. Bausi, Machiavelli e la commedia fiorentina del primo Cinquecento, in Il teatro di Machiavelli. Gargnano del Garda (30 settembre-2 ottobre 2004), a cura di G. Barbarisi e A.M. Cabrini, Milano, Cisalpino, 2005, pp. 1-20 [available on Moodle].

- G. Inglese, "Le stesse cose ritornano". Considerazioni intorno alla Clizia, in  l teatro di Machiavelli. Gargnano del Garda (30 settembre-2 ottobre 2004), a cura di G. Barbarisi e A.M. Cabrini, Milano, Cisalpino, 2005, pp. 489-99 [available on Moodle].

Assessment

Oral examination. This choice was made in order to enhance the oral argumentative skills of individual students in relation to a highly technical discipline and which requires the possession of a specific lexicon.

"Excellent" mark: the student must show possession of good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to orient with sure mastery of the subject within the main themes covered during the lesson, also establishing, if necessary, links between different fields and themes of the discipline; outstanding ability to use the technical lexicon of discipline.

"Good" mark: the student must demonstrate possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the main contents of the discipline; minimal critical and linking capacity between the main themes of the discipline with the use of the appropriate lexicon.

"Sufficient" mark: the student must demonstrate minimal knowledge of the fundamentals of the discipline, even if there are some educational gaps, as well as the use of language that is not entirely appropriate.

"Negative" mark: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language and/or the inability to use the technical lexicon of the discipline.

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.