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.

The course will provide a general framework of the stagey Italian literature from 16th to 19th century, by illustrating the main phenomena, authors and the most representative works. The first part of the course will be devoted to the Renaissance periodo, with particular attention to Machiavelli and his masterpiece the Mandragola. The second part of the course will focus on the study of the tragic genre, together with the rediscovery of the Poetics of Aristotle during the Humanistic and Renaissance era thanks to translations both in Latin and in vernacular, and commentary. Then the tragic genre in the 18th century until the early 19th century will be analysed through some of the most representative texts of Alfieri and Foscolo, their cultural and political aspects at the tournant des lumières.

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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

In addition to the lessons held by the teacher, there will be lessons given by guest lecturers, in the historical-critical and literary field, around subjects related to the course or parallel to it. Depending on the health emergency, attending to live theatrical performances may be scheduled.

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: the whole text and commentary. Recommended editions: N. Machiavelli, Teatro, Introduzione e commento di D. Fachard, Roma, Carocci, 2013; or N. Machiavelli, Teatro: Andria, Mandragola, Clizia, a cura di P. Stoppelli, Roma, Salerno, 2017.

2. G. ALFANO, P. ITALIA, E. RUSSO, F. TOMASI, Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini al metà Cinquecento. Manuale per studi universitari,  Milano, Mondadori università, 2018, pp. 512-539 (Ludovico Ariosto); pp. 581-605 (Niccolò Machiavelli).

3. V. ALFIERI, Saul selected parts: dedicatory letter; Act II; Act IV, sc. 3; Act V. Recommended edition: V. ALFIERI, Saul, a cura di Ettore Mazzali, Milano, Mursia, 1971, pp. 25-28, 43-47, 67-84, 110-114, 130-137 [available at the University Library].

4. G. FENOCCHIO, Alfieri, Bologna Il Mulino, 2012, pp. 23-61 [available at the University Library].

5. U. FOSCOLO, Ajace selected parts: Act II, sc. 10-11; Act V, sc. 2-6. Recommended edition: U. FOSCOLO, Opere, edizione diretta da F. Gavazzeni, con la collaborazione di M.M. Lombardi e F. Longoni, 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi-Gallimard, 1994-1995, vol. I. Poesie e tragedie, pp. pp. 250-63, 291-301 [available at the University Library].

6. G. ALFANO, P. ITALIA, E. RUSSO, F. TOMASI, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento. Manuale per studi universitari,  Milano, Mondadori università, 2018, pp. 384-405 (Ugo Foscolo).

Assessment

Written and oral exam.

The written test will be focused on the themes of the program and it will consist in answering open questions of fixed lenght. The evaluation will be in a score of thirty.

The oral exam will consist in a detailed explanation and comment of the theatrical texts in the program.

The final grade is the average of the marks obtained in each test.

NB

If for technical or emergency reasons it is not possible to carry out the written test, the exam will take place only in oral form, subject to notification by the teacher.

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.

Course books

Students are required to study:

1. N. MACHIAVELLI, Mandragola: the whole text and commentary. Recommended editions: N. Machiavelli, Teatro, Introduzione e commento di D. Fachard, Roma, Carocci, 2013; or N. Machiavelli, Teatro: Andria, Mandragola, Clizia, a cura di P. Stoppelli, Roma, Salerno, 2017.

2. G. ALFANO, P. ITALIA, E. RUSSO, F. TOMASI, Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini al metà Cinquecento. Manuale per studi universitari,  Milano, Mondadori università, 2018, pp. 512-539 (Ludovico Ariosto); pp. 581-605 (Niccolò Machiavelli); pp. 635-648 (Il teatro del Cinquecento).

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

4. V. ALFIERI, Saul selected parts: dedicatory letter; Act II; Act IV, sc. 3; Act V. Recommended edition: V. ALFIERI, Saul, a cura di Ettore Mazzali, Milano, Mursia, 1971, pp. 25-28, 43-47, 67-84, 110-114, 130-137 [available at the University Library].

5. G. FENOCCHIO, Alfieri, Bologna Il Mulino, 2012, pp. 23-61.

6. G. ALFANO, P. ITALIA, E. RUSSO, F. TOMASI, Letteratura italiana. Da Tasso a fine Ottocento. Manuale per studi universitari,  Milano, Mondadori università, 2018, pp. 319-339 (Vittorio Alfieri); pp. 384-405 (Ugo Foscolo).

7. U. FOSCOLO, Ajace selected parts: Act II, sc. 10-11; Act V, sc. 2-6. Recommended edition: U. FOSCOLO, Opere, edizione diretta da F. Gavazzeni, con la collaborazione di M.M. Lombardi e F. Longoni, 2 voll., Torino, Einaudi-Gallimard, 1994-1995, vol. I. Poesie e tragedie, pp. 250-63, 291-301; introduction to the Ajace, pp. 788-796  [available at the University Library].

Assessment

Written and oral exam.

The written test will be focused on the themes of the program and it will consist in answering open questions of fixed lenght. The evaluation will be in a score of thirty.

The oral exam will consist in a detailed explanation and comment of the theatrical texts in the program.

The final grade is the average of the marks obtained in each test.

NB

If for technical or emergency reasons it is not possible to carry out the written test, the exam will take place only in oral form, subject to notification by the teacher.

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.