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 overview of the Renaissance theater will be provided, illustrating the main phenomena, authors and the most representative works. The second part of the course will be dedicated to the reading and commentary of some of the most significant texts of the comedy genre, such as the Mandragola and the Clizia by Niccolò Machiavelli and the Calandria by Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena, with particular attention to linguistic aspects as well as the process of composition. The works will be also analyzed in relation to the staging and the cultural context where they were be performed. 

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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 might 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: text and commentary. Suggested 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. N. MACHIAVELLI, Clizia: text and commentary of prolog, act I and II. Suggested 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.

3. B. DOVIZI, La Calandria: ltext and commentary of prolog, act I and II. Suggested editions: Il teatro italiano. II. La commedia del Cinquecento, tomo primo, a cura di G. Davico Bonino, Torino, Einaudi, 1977; or La Calandria, a cura di Paolo Fossati, Torino, Einaudi, 1967 [both available at the University libraries].

4. 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) [available at the University libraries]. 

5. P. STOPPELLI, Andria, in Enciclopedia Machiavelliana, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 2014, pp. 55-58 [available online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/andria_%28Enciclopedia-machiavelliana%29/].

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

Course books

Students are required to study:

1. N. MACHIAVELLI, Mandragola: text and commentary. Suggested 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. N. MACHIAVELLI, Clizia: text and commentary of prolog, act I and II. Suggested 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.

3. B. DOVIZI, La Calandria: ltext and commentary of prolog, act I and II. Suggested editions: Il teatro italiano. II. La commedia del Cinquecento, tomo primo, a cura di G. Davico Bonino, Torino, Einaudi, 1977; or La Calandria, a cura di Paolo Fossati, Torino, Einaudi, 1967 [both available at the University libraries]

4. P. STOPPELLI, Andria, in Enciclopedia Machiavelliana, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 2014, pp. 55-58 [available online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/andria_%28Enciclopedia-machiavelliana%29/].

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

6. 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).

7. F. BAUSI, Machiavelli commediografo e narratore, in ID., Machiavelli, Roma, Salerno, 2005, pp. 270-301 [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.