American Literature 1
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course is a first formative step in the curriculum specializing in American Literature, which is organized by literary genres. The first year will be a survey of US poetic production and is addressed to 1st-year students. The course will provide the historical and cultural contextualization for the literary period considered - which extends from the colonial Puritan origins to Modernism - focusing on the genre of poetry. It will offer the tools necessary for a critical analysis of the poetic text, both in its contents and aesthetic forms. The course is divided into three didactic units, which will treat three specific literary periods: "The Puritans," "The Romantics," and "The Modernists."
Expected learning outcomes
Required knowledge: at the end of the course, students should be able to situate the primary texts included in the reading list in their historical, cultural and literary context. They should also be able to contextualize each author within the or literary period to which they belong. They should demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of all the literary works included in the reading list. Required linguistic skills: at the end of the course, students should demonstrate the ability to read the original versions of the literary works included in the reading list, and to translate them into Italian (or to paraphrase them in English, in the case of international students). Required literary skills: at the end of the course, students should be able to perform a critical and formal text analysis of the literary works included in the reading list, and an ability to make connections between the various authors and works they have been studying.
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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is titled "American Poetry" and consists of the following parts:
A: The Puritans
B: The Romantics
C: The Moderns
Students from Lingue must attend the whole course, which provides 9 credits. Therefore, they are required to complete the whole course syllabus.
The course is an introduction to US poetry, which follows its development through the main phases of its production, from colonial, Puritan New England through the literary flourishing of the American Renaissance, to the inventive fervor of the Modernist era.
The course syllabus is valid until September 2026.
A: The Puritans
B: The Romantics
C: The Moderns
Students from Lingue must attend the whole course, which provides 9 credits. Therefore, they are required to complete the whole course syllabus.
The course is an introduction to US poetry, which follows its development through the main phases of its production, from colonial, Puritan New England through the literary flourishing of the American Renaissance, to the inventive fervor of the Modernist era.
The course syllabus is valid until September 2026.
Prerequisites for admission
Students from Lingue must have taken and passed the English language test administered by the degree course.
The course is completely delivered in English. Lectures, materials and bibliography require a sound knowledge of the English language.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome as long as they own the required linguistic skills.
The course is completely delivered in English. Lectures, materials and bibliography require a sound knowledge of the English language.
International students and Erasmus students are welcome as long as they own the required linguistic skills.
Teaching methods
The course is mainly delivered as lectures, a large part of which will consist of the reading, analysis and interpretation of the poems listed in the syllabus.
Teaching Resources
Text analysis handbook:
· Mary Oliver, "A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry", Harcourt, 1994
Part A
From "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. A):
· BEGINNINGS TO 1820, Introduction
· Anne Bradstreet, introduction to the poet
· Anne Bradstreet, "To My Dear and Loving Husband", "In Memory of my Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet", "For Deliverance from a Fever"
· Edward Taylor, introduction to the poet
· Edward Taylor, "Huswifery"
Literary History readings:
· Luca Briasco, "Introduzione storica", "La letteratura americana dell'età coloniale", a cura di Paola Cabibbo, Roma, NIS, 1993, pages 15-25 (Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, on MyAriel)
· Alan Simpson, "Puritanism in Old and New England", Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press, 1955, chapt.1 (in Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, su MyAriel)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part B
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. B):
AMERICAN LITERATURE 1820-1865, Introduction
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, introduction to the essayist and poet
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, from "Nature": "Poetry" (ch. 3) and "Language" (chapt. 4)
· Edgar Allan Poe, introduction to the poet
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition"
· Walt Whitman, introduction to the poet
· Walt Whitman, from "Song of Myself": sections 1, 2, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 21, 24, 33 (lines 838-870), 38, 48-52
· Emily Dickinson, introduction to the poet
· Emily Dickinson, the poems included in the PPT slides
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 2)
· Paola Loreto, "La contemplazione dell'emblema: la poesia eretica di Emily Dickinson", Milano, Unicopli, 1999
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part C
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. D):
· AMERICAN LITERATURE BETWEEN THE WARS, Introduction
· Gertrude Stein, introduction to the writer
· Gertrude Stein, from "The Making of Americans": Introduction; from "Tender Buttons": "A Box"; from "Patriarchal Poetry" (on MyAriel)
· Robert Frost, introduction to the poet
· Robert Frost, "Home Burial", "Stopping by Woods", "Spring Pools" (on MyAriel)
· William Carlos Williams, introduction to the poet
· William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheelbarrow", "The Young Housewife", "A Sort of a Song", "This is Just to Say", "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus",
· Ezra Pound, "In a Station of the Metro"
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 7)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Text analysis handbook:
· Mary Oliver, "A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry", Harcourt, 1994
Part A
From "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. A):
· BEGINNINGS TO 1820, Introduction
· Anne Bradstreet, introduction to the poet
· Anne Bradstreet, "To My Dear and Loving Husband", "In Memory of my Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet", "For Deliverance from a Fever"
· Edward Taylor, introduction to the poet
· Edward Taylor, "Huswifery"
Literary History readings:
· Luca Briasco, "Introduzione storica", "La letteratura americana dell'età coloniale", a cura di Paola Cabibbo, Roma, NIS, 1993, pages 15-25 (Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, on MyAriel)
· Alan Simpson, "Puritanism in Old and New England", Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press, 1955, chapt.1 (in Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, su MyAriel)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part B
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. B):
AMERICAN LITERATURE 1820-1865, Introduction
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, introduction to the essayist and poet
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, from "Nature": "Poetry" (ch. 3) and "Language" (chapt. 4)
· Edgar Allan Poe, introduction to the poet
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition"
· Walt Whitman, introduction to the poet
· Walt Whitman, from "Song of Myself": sections 1, 2, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 21, 24, 33 (lines 838-870), 38, 48-52
· Emily Dickinson, introduction to the poet
· Emily Dickinson, the poems included in the PPT slides
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 2)
· Paola Loreto, "La contemplazione dell'emblema: la poesia eretica di Emily Dickinson", Milano, Unicopli, 1999
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part C
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. D):
· AMERICAN LITERATURE BETWEEN THE WARS, Introduction
· Gertrude Stein, introduction to the writer
· Gertrude Stein, from "The Making of Americans": Introduction; from "Tender Buttons": "A Box"; from "Patriarchal Poetry" (on MyAriel)
· Robert Frost, introduction to the poet
· Robert Frost, "Home Burial", "Stopping by Woods", "Spring Pools" (on MyAriel)
· William Carlos Williams, introduction to the poet
· William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheelbarrow", "The Young Housewife", "A Sort of a Song", "This is Just to Say", "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus",
· Ezra Pound, "In a Station of the Metro"
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 7)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
NB: The students who specialize in American Literature and have enrolled for a 3-year curriculum in American Literature are required to read, during the summer, "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne ("Norton Anthology"), and "The Great Gatsby" by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in order to prepare for their treatment in class during their second year.
Notice for non-attending students
The course syllabus is the same for attending and non-attending students. However, non-attending students are strongly encouraged to facilitate their study by reading the relevant materials included in the Dispensa in the Materiali folder on MyAriel.
· Mary Oliver, "A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry", Harcourt, 1994
Part A
From "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. A):
· BEGINNINGS TO 1820, Introduction
· Anne Bradstreet, introduction to the poet
· Anne Bradstreet, "To My Dear and Loving Husband", "In Memory of my Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet", "For Deliverance from a Fever"
· Edward Taylor, introduction to the poet
· Edward Taylor, "Huswifery"
Literary History readings:
· Luca Briasco, "Introduzione storica", "La letteratura americana dell'età coloniale", a cura di Paola Cabibbo, Roma, NIS, 1993, pages 15-25 (Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, on MyAriel)
· Alan Simpson, "Puritanism in Old and New England", Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press, 1955, chapt.1 (in Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, su MyAriel)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part B
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. B):
AMERICAN LITERATURE 1820-1865, Introduction
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, introduction to the essayist and poet
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, from "Nature": "Poetry" (ch. 3) and "Language" (chapt. 4)
· Edgar Allan Poe, introduction to the poet
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition"
· Walt Whitman, introduction to the poet
· Walt Whitman, from "Song of Myself": sections 1, 2, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 21, 24, 33 (lines 838-870), 38, 48-52
· Emily Dickinson, introduction to the poet
· Emily Dickinson, the poems included in the PPT slides
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 2)
· Paola Loreto, "La contemplazione dell'emblema: la poesia eretica di Emily Dickinson", Milano, Unicopli, 1999
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part C
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. D):
· AMERICAN LITERATURE BETWEEN THE WARS, Introduction
· Gertrude Stein, introduction to the writer
· Gertrude Stein, from "The Making of Americans": Introduction; from "Tender Buttons": "A Box"; from "Patriarchal Poetry" (on MyAriel)
· Robert Frost, introduction to the poet
· Robert Frost, "Home Burial", "Stopping by Woods", "Spring Pools" (on MyAriel)
· William Carlos Williams, introduction to the poet
· William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheelbarrow", "The Young Housewife", "A Sort of a Song", "This is Just to Say", "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus",
· Ezra Pound, "In a Station of the Metro"
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 7)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Text analysis handbook:
· Mary Oliver, "A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry", Harcourt, 1994
Part A
From "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. A):
· BEGINNINGS TO 1820, Introduction
· Anne Bradstreet, introduction to the poet
· Anne Bradstreet, "To My Dear and Loving Husband", "In Memory of my Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet", "For Deliverance from a Fever"
· Edward Taylor, introduction to the poet
· Edward Taylor, "Huswifery"
Literary History readings:
· Luca Briasco, "Introduzione storica", "La letteratura americana dell'età coloniale", a cura di Paola Cabibbo, Roma, NIS, 1993, pages 15-25 (Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, on MyAriel)
· Alan Simpson, "Puritanism in Old and New England", Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press, 1955, chapt.1 (in Dispensa Letteratura angloamericana 1, su MyAriel)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part B
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. B):
AMERICAN LITERATURE 1820-1865, Introduction
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, introduction to the essayist and poet
· Ralph Waldo Emerson, from "Nature": "Poetry" (ch. 3) and "Language" (chapt. 4)
· Edgar Allan Poe, introduction to the poet
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"
· Edgar Allan Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition"
· Walt Whitman, introduction to the poet
· Walt Whitman, from "Song of Myself": sections 1, 2, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 21, 24, 33 (lines 838-870), 38, 48-52
· Emily Dickinson, introduction to the poet
· Emily Dickinson, the poems included in the PPT slides
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 2)
· Paola Loreto, "La contemplazione dell'emblema: la poesia eretica di Emily Dickinson", Milano, Unicopli, 1999
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
Part C
da "The Norton Anthology of American Literature", 9th or 10th edition (Vol. D):
· AMERICAN LITERATURE BETWEEN THE WARS, Introduction
· Gertrude Stein, introduction to the writer
· Gertrude Stein, from "The Making of Americans": Introduction; from "Tender Buttons": "A Box"; from "Patriarchal Poetry" (on MyAriel)
· Robert Frost, introduction to the poet
· Robert Frost, "Home Burial", "Stopping by Woods", "Spring Pools" (on MyAriel)
· William Carlos Williams, introduction to the poet
· William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheelbarrow", "The Young Housewife", "A Sort of a Song", "This is Just to Say", "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus",
· Ezra Pound, "In a Station of the Metro"
Literary History readings:
· Cristina Iuli, Paola Loreto, "La Letteratura degli Stati Uniti dal Rinascimento americano ai nostri giorni", Carocci, 2017 (chapt. 7)
· Readings for the midterm tests (on MyAriel)
NB: The students who specialize in American Literature and have enrolled for a 3-year curriculum in American Literature are required to read, during the summer, "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne ("Norton Anthology"), and "The Great Gatsby" by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in order to prepare for their treatment in class during their second year.
Notice for non-attending students
The course syllabus is the same for attending and non-attending students. However, non-attending students are strongly encouraged to facilitate their study by reading the relevant materials included in the Dispensa in the Materiali folder on MyAriel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral: the exam is an interview, during which students will demonstrate their capacity to read and translate the literary texts listed in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase the same in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary context of both the texts and writers proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical abilities (i.e., their capacity to analyze the literary works, and to connect different authors, texts and literary trends).
Students from Lingue are encouraged to take their exam in English, but can choose between the English or the Italian language. They should be aware that the quality of their exposition will be part of the exam assessment.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
Attending students will be given two midterm written exams testing their individual study of the literary history part of the course program.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with any disabilities should contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
Students from Lingue are encouraged to take their exam in English, but can choose between the English or the Italian language. They should be aware that the quality of their exposition will be part of the exam assessment.
The final score is expressed in thirtieths, 18/30 being the pass score. Students may accept or reject the result (in which case the record will be "ritirato," and they will have to take the whole exam again in a future session).
Attending students will be given two midterm written exams testing their individual study of the literary history part of the course program.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with any disabilities should contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
It is mandatory to bring along an academic edition of all the literary texts listed in the syllabus.
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Loreto Paola Maria
Professor(s)
Reception:
In the Fall semester (teaching period) on Thursdays at 11:00; in the Spring Semester (teaching period) on Fridays at 10:00. Please write Prof. Loreto to fix an appointment..
Dept. of Lingue, Anglistica section, third Floor (Sottotetto), piazza Sant'Alessandro 1