Literary Theory and Criticism
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with a solid basic grounding in the fundamental topics of literary theory and the methodological issues concerning the study of literature, in particular by refining the techniques for analysing and interpreting literary texts and discussing the assumptions, methods and aims of literary criticism.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: students will learn the fundamental topics of theoretical, philosophical and methodological reflection on literature, such as interpretation and reception, the definition of literature and literary genres, narrative, poetry and versification, value and canon, and will gain a deeper knowledge of the possible perspectives of analysis in relation to these problems and a greater capacity for critical thinking and discussion.
Skills: students will become more competent at analysing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.
Skills: students will become more competent at analysing and interpreting literary texts from several perspectives and they will learn to take part in the discourse of literary criticism.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021-22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
Part A of the course aims to illustrate some problems of literary theory, and to reflect in particular on literary form and on the possible definition, nature and relational mode of literary texts.
Part B takes a critical look at the fictional character, both from a theoretical point of view and in terms of textual analysis. Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis will be discussed and analysed in class.
Part C intends to present and discuss the relationship between fact and fiction in literary narration, once again addressed both from a theoretical point of view and on the level of textual analysis. Primo Levi's The Periodic Table will be discussed and analysed in class.
Part B takes a critical look at the fictional character, both from a theoretical point of view and in terms of textual analysis. Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis will be discussed and analysed in class.
Part C intends to present and discuss the relationship between fact and fiction in literary narration, once again addressed both from a theoretical point of view and on the level of textual analysis. Primo Levi's The Periodic Table will be discussed and analysed in class.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to attend the course and take the exam in the second year, in order to have previously acquired basic knowledge in Italian Literature and Italian Linguistics.
Teaching methods
The course will be offered in a lecture format, but some time will be devoted to discussion with the teacher. This will help students delve into the issues under discussion, improve their analysis, reasoning, and interpretation skills, and learn more easily. To participate more actively, students will also be encouraged to read the works and essays in the course syllabus while attending classes. The Ariel website of the course will be used to share the teaching materials that might be proposed for discussion.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Regular class attendance is strongly advised.
Teaching Resources
PARTE A
Roland Barthes, Critica e verità, Torino, Einaudi 2002.
Roland Barthes, La morte dell'autore, in Id., Il brusio della lingua, Torino, Einaudi 1968.
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera e il Dialogo di Porfirio e di Plotino, in Id., La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2006, pp. 11-55 e pp. 177-188.
Stanley Fish, C'è un testo in questa classe? e Come riconoscere una poesia quando ne vedete una, in Id., C'è un testo in questa classe?, Torino, Einaudi 1980, pp. 143-178.
PARTE B
Enrico Testa, Eroi e figuranti. Il personaggio nel romanzo, Torino, Einaudi 2009.
Laura Neri, Identità e finzione. Per una teoria del personaggio, Milano Ledizioni 2012.
Franz Kafka, La metamorfosi, Milano, Rizzoli 1985, or any other edition.
PARTE C
Federico Bertoni, Il testo a quattro mani, limitatamente alla parte II, Le finzioni della teoria, Milano, Ledizioni, pp. 175- 321.
Primo Levi, Il sistema periodico, Torino, Einaudi 2014, or any other edition.
Fabio Magro, Mauro Sambi (a cura di), Lettura del Sistema periodico di Primo Levi, Padova, University Press (in press).
PROGRAMMA PER STUDENTI NON FREQUENTANTI
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
PARTE A
Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
PARTE B
Arrigo Stara, L'avventura del personaggio, Firenze, Le Monnier 2004.
PARTE C
Federico Bertoni, Il testo a quattro mani, Milano, Ledizioni 2011, integralmente.
ALTRE INFORMAZIONI PER GLI STUDENTI
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H).
Roland Barthes, Critica e verità, Torino, Einaudi 2002.
Roland Barthes, La morte dell'autore, in Id., Il brusio della lingua, Torino, Einaudi 1968.
Franco Brioschi, Il testo e l'opera e il Dialogo di Porfirio e di Plotino, in Id., La mappa dell'impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2006, pp. 11-55 e pp. 177-188.
Stanley Fish, C'è un testo in questa classe? e Come riconoscere una poesia quando ne vedete una, in Id., C'è un testo in questa classe?, Torino, Einaudi 1980, pp. 143-178.
PARTE B
Enrico Testa, Eroi e figuranti. Il personaggio nel romanzo, Torino, Einaudi 2009.
Laura Neri, Identità e finzione. Per una teoria del personaggio, Milano Ledizioni 2012.
Franz Kafka, La metamorfosi, Milano, Rizzoli 1985, or any other edition.
PARTE C
Federico Bertoni, Il testo a quattro mani, limitatamente alla parte II, Le finzioni della teoria, Milano, Ledizioni, pp. 175- 321.
Primo Levi, Il sistema periodico, Torino, Einaudi 2014, or any other edition.
Fabio Magro, Mauro Sambi (a cura di), Lettura del Sistema periodico di Primo Levi, Padova, University Press (in press).
PROGRAMMA PER STUDENTI NON FREQUENTANTI
Students who do not attend should supplement the texts indicated in the bibliography with the following readings:
PARTE A
Alberto Casadei, La critica letteraria contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2015.
PARTE B
Arrigo Stara, L'avventura del personaggio, Firenze, Le Monnier 2004.
PARTE C
Federico Bertoni, Il testo a quattro mani, Milano, Ledizioni 2011, integralmente.
ALTRE INFORMAZIONI PER GLI STUDENTI
Further information will be published on the online Ariel platform, on the website dedicated to Literary Theory and Criticism (A-H).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist of an oral exam about the topics of the course. In order to pass the exam, students will have to demonstrate at least sufficient knowledge of the topics of each part of the course ( A, B, and C, if they are to acquire 9 credits; A and B, if they are to acquire 6). Students will be asked to present the works comprised in the course syllabus and to critically discuss about the issues that will have been dealt. Language proficiency (this includes technical language proficiency) and the accuracy of historical and literary references will also contribute to the final score.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Lessons will be face-to-face, but they will also be streamed.
Course syllabus
The course will address the basic concepts of literary criticism and literary theory. In section A, we will introduce the basic concepts and theories of narratology (we will also analyze some short stories by Alice Munro). Then, in section B, we will discuss the fundamental concepts of critical discourse: theme, style, intertext, narrative, fiction, genre, poetry, literature. Finally, in section C, we will make some reflections on interpretation, on authors and readers in interpretation, and on the literary canon.
More information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website of the course.
More information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with SLD should also contact the teacher, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with SLD should also contact the teacher, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
Teaching methods
The course will comprise several forms of teaching and of study:
a) lectures by the teacher;
b) individual study of literary works and essays of literary criticism and literary theory;
c) group work on the texts comprised in the course syllabus: the teacher will organize this part of the work for students who will attend classes. Within their groups, students will read and discuss the texts in the syllabus. Students who do not attend classes will replace this with individual study;
d) group work with the teacher: groups will discuss their work with the teacher, who will give his feedback.
More information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website of the course.
a) lectures by the teacher;
b) individual study of literary works and essays of literary criticism and literary theory;
c) group work on the texts comprised in the course syllabus: the teacher will organize this part of the work for students who will attend classes. Within their groups, students will read and discuss the texts in the syllabus. Students who do not attend classes will replace this with individual study;
d) group work with the teacher: groups will discuss their work with the teacher, who will give his feedback.
More information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website of the course.
Teaching Resources
Part A
Students will study the teacher's lecture notes on narratology, which will be made available on the Ariel website of the course, and some short stories by Alice Munro, from her collections "The Love of a Good Woman," "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage," "Runaway," "The View from Castle Rock," "Too Much Happiness," and "Dear Life" (more information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website).
Part B
Students will study some lecture notes that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course and chapters 2, 4, 7, and 9 of Stefania Sini and Franca Sinopoli (eds), "Percorsi di teoria e comparatistica letteraria," Pearson, 2021.
Part C
Students will study some lecture notes that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course and chapters 3, 6, 10, and 18 of Stefania Sini and Franca Sinopoli (eds), "Percorsi di teoria e comparatistica letteraria," Pearson, 2021.
Students who are to acquire 9 ECTS will study the texts for parts A, B, and C. Students who are to acquire 6 ECTS will study the texts for parts A and B. More information (for students who do not attend classes and for students within different programs) will be given on the Ariel website of the course.
Students will study the teacher's lecture notes on narratology, which will be made available on the Ariel website of the course, and some short stories by Alice Munro, from her collections "The Love of a Good Woman," "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage," "Runaway," "The View from Castle Rock," "Too Much Happiness," and "Dear Life" (more information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website).
Part B
Students will study some lecture notes that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course and chapters 2, 4, 7, and 9 of Stefania Sini and Franca Sinopoli (eds), "Percorsi di teoria e comparatistica letteraria," Pearson, 2021.
Part C
Students will study some lecture notes that will be made available on the Ariel website of the course and chapters 3, 6, 10, and 18 of Stefania Sini and Franca Sinopoli (eds), "Percorsi di teoria e comparatistica letteraria," Pearson, 2021.
Students who are to acquire 9 ECTS will study the texts for parts A, B, and C. Students who are to acquire 6 ECTS will study the texts for parts A and B. More information (for students who do not attend classes and for students within different programs) will be given on the Ariel website of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be an oral exam. Students will be asked to critically discuss about the topics addressed by the course. The accuracy of references to literature will also contribute to the final score. For foreign students, the exam will be in English or Italian (student's choice). More information will be given during the course and on the Ariel website of the course.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Fridays, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, by appointment.
Dipartimento di Studi letterari, filologici e linguistici, Modern studies section, second floor