Knowledge of the general principles of literary historiography useful for the study of Italian texts, and of the essential methodological elements for the analytical reading of the text. History profile of literary genres. Approach to thematic reading of literary work, periodization and literary geography. Development of the basic tools for commenting on the text. Specific notions related to narrative writing: short story, novel, treatise.

SYLLABUS.

The course is taken according to diversified methodological approaches, including general notions of literary chronology and geography, elements of the history of prose genres, elements of reading and analyzing texts. In particular, the following topics will be covered:

First Term. Distinctive elements of literary genres in the late Middle Ages. The medieval Romance and the affirmation of the ‘novella’ as an autonomous genre. Developments in vernacular prose. Analytical readings of the Decameron of G. Boccaccio. The treatise prose in the vernacular. Machiavelli as a treatise and short story wirter.

Second Term. Analytical reading of the Prince of N. Machiavelli. Birth and affirmation of the novel in the modern ages. The European models. The Italian novel between the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries. Guided reading and historical commentary of the Promessi sposi of A. Manzoni.

None

-) The student must demonstrate knowledge of the texts in the program and be able to illustrate them on a historical, analytical and linguistic level. General knowledge of the characteristic elements of the discipline will also be required.

-) The student must show understanding of the concepts and contents of the course. It will also have to provide examples of reading texts, showing adequate ability to connect specific analyzes to the general historical framework. Finally, he/she will have to show adequate competence in the specific language of literary studies, such as to allow reasoning according to the tools of the discipline.

-) The student must show an adequate aptitude to reason on the notions imparted during the course, with coherent and motivated evaluations and judgments.

-) The student must communicate clearly with the teacher, using a correct Italian language and a vocabulary appropriate to the discipline.

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 lectures held by the teacher, lectures by guest lecturers, in the historical-critical and literary fields, may be provided on subjects related to the course or parallel and complementary to the subject of the course.

Teaching

Frontal lessons - eventual seminar activities.

Attendance

In order to take the exam as an attending student, attendance at class must amount to at least 80% of the number of hours.

Course books

A handout of teaching materials (literary criticism and supporting materials) will be made available to attending students after the start of the course. The booklet includes texts related to the topics of the lessons, and is exam material for attending students. Other materials, critical texts and anthological selections will be provided to students via a blended learning platform.

In addition to the topics presented by the teacher, attending students will have to prepare the following texts (and also the ones included in the aforementioned handout):

- G. Boccaccio, Decameron, edited by V. Branca (economic ed.) – Giornate: I, IV, VIII, X

-) N. Machiavelli, The Prince, ed. G. Inglese, Turin, Einaudi

-) A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi, ed. Optional with a commentary.

For those who do not have previous knowledge of Italian Literature, is recommended the volume by G. Tellini, Letteratura Italiana. Un Metodo di studio (Mondadori Education – Le Monnier University – last ed.), chapters to be agreed with the teacher.

Assessment

1) ORAL EXAM. The aim is to enhance the oral argumentative skills of individual students in relation to a discipline that requires the possession of a specific vocabulary. The student is required to report, during the interview, on the topics covered by the textbooks, which he must demonstrate that he has read and understood every textual and critical aspect. Students will be evaluated through the following criteria: (1) knowledge of the subject. – (2) ability to reason appropriately on the subject matter of the question. – (3) ability to expose matter with properties of language. Those tests that demonstrate the student's possession of good critical and in-depth analysis skills will be evaluated as "excellent"; the ability to orient oneself with sure mastery of the subject within the main topics covered in class, also establishing connections, if necessary; the ability to use the technical vocabulary of the discipline in a safe and timely manner. Those tests that demonstrate the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents will be evaluated as "fair"; a minimum critical capacity and connection between the main themes with the use of the language and technical lexicon of the discipline. Those tests that demonstrate the achievement by the student of a minimum knowledge base regarding the foundations of the discipline, even in the presence of some training gaps, as well as the use of a language that is not entirely appropriate, will be evaluated as "sufficient". Those tests that highlight difficulties in orienting the student with respect to the topics covered in the exam texts, serious training gaps with respect to the founding principles of the discipline and the lack of use or improper use of the specific vocabulary will be evaluated negatively. TRY ON THE GO. An ongoing oral test is scheduled, on a voluntary basis - it consists of a question on the program carried out up to the date of the test - the teacher will take into account the answer for the purposes of evaluation and the final grade.

2) INTERMEDIATE TESTS. There will be two intermediate tests reserved for attending students and valid for the final exam mark, respectively at the end of December and at the end of April on the days specified by the School. The tests, on a voluntary basis, consist of a written text with open answers on the program carried out up to the date of the test. Estimated time: two hours. For the student who takes both tests, an average mark will be assigned which will be valid as the final exam mark.

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

Non-attending students must scrupulously follow the program indicated online, preparing all texts.

Attendance

Not requested

Course books

Some materials, critical texts and anthological selections will be provided to students via the blended learning platform. For the exam, non-attending students will have to prepare the following texts:

G. Boccaccio, Decameron, edited by V. Branca (economic ed.) - Giornate I, IV, VI, VIII, X – N. Machiavelli, Il Principe, ed. G. Inglese, Turin, Einaudi - N. Machiavelli, Novella di Belphegor, in Ed. Nazionale, vol. Scritti in poesia e in prosa, 2013 - A. Manzoni, I promessi sposi, ed. optional commentary.

For those who do not have previous knowledge of Italian Literature, we recommend the volume by G. Tellini, Italian Literature. A study method (Mondadori Education – Le Monnier University – latest ed.), chapters to be agreed with the teacher.

Assessment

Oral exam. The aim is to enhance the oral argumentative skills of individual students in relation to a discipline that requires the possession of a specific vocabulary. The student is required to report, during the interview, on the topics covered by the textbooks, which he must demonstrate that he has read and understood every textual and critical aspect. Students will be evaluated through the following criteria: (1) knowledge of the subject. – (2) ability to reason appropriately on the subject matter of the question. – (3) ability to expose matter with properties of language. Those tests that demonstrate the student's possession of good critical and in-depth analysis skills will be evaluated as "excellent"; the ability to orient oneself with sure mastery of the subject within the main topics covered in class, also establishing connections, if necessary; the ability to use the technical vocabulary of the discipline in a safe and timely manner. Those tests that demonstrate the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents will be evaluated as "fair"; a minimum critical capacity and connection between the main themes with the use of the language and technical lexicon of the discipline. Those tests that demonstrate the achievement by the student of a minimum knowledge base regarding the foundations of the discipline, even in the presence of some training gaps, as well as the use of a language that is not entirely appropriate, will be evaluated as "sufficient". Those tests that highlight difficulties in orienting the student with respect to the topics covered in the exam texts, serious training gaps with respect to the founding principles of the discipline and the lack of use or improper use of the specific vocabulary will be evaluated negatively. TRY ON THE GO. An ongoing oral test is scheduled, on a voluntary basis - it consists of a question on the program carried out up to the date of the test - the teacher will take into account the answer for the purposes of evaluation and the final grade.

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.