Catalan Language and Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to offer an introductory approach to Catalan language, culture and literature. Basic grammar of Catalan language will be provided and basic skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension will be developed. As to the literary field, it will be given a general overview of Catalan literature, from its beginnings in the 13th century to the 20th century, paying particular attention to its most representative authors and its principal literary movements, focussing on some extremely significant works.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Students will achieve a basic knowledge of Catalan grammar and culture. As to the literary field, they will be conscious of the diachronic evolution of Catalan literature from the Middle Ages to Postmodernism, learning which are its main authors, works and movements, also understanding the tight relationships that artistic texts establish with history, society and, more generally, with the cultural environment in which they have been written. Applying knowledge and understanding: During the course, autonomous use of catalan language in speaking, writing, listening and reading will be constantly stimulated, particularly referring to some everyday life situations. In the literary field, students will learn to move autonomously through the history of Catalan literature, noticing links between social environment and artistic writing so that they will be able to establish connections on their own between cultural movements, authors, works, etc. and to contextualize them correctly.
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 divided into three parts, some of which (A and B, B and C) will be developed at the same time:
A: Basic elements of Catalan language
B: Catalan literature from Middle Ages to nowadays
C: In-depth analysis of some aspects of Catalan language, culture and literature
Students can apply for 6 CFU (in this case they are required to focus only on parts A and B, having to take an exam in Catalan language and another one in Catalan literature) or 9 CFU, focussing on the whole course (parts A, B and C).
In part A students will achieve a basic knowledge of Catalan grammar and culture, developing primary skills of Catalan language in speaking, writing, listening and reading, particularly referring to some everyday life situations. In part B it will be given a general overview of Catalan literature, from its beginnings in the 13th century to the 20th century, paying particular attention to its most representative authors and its principal literary movements, focussing on some extremely significant works. Finally, in part C students will have a closer look to some specific grammar aspects, fundamental writers and significant literary and cultural phenomena, having the opportunity to read in Catalan some short texts that will be commented and discussed.
The syllabus is valid until September 2026.
A: Basic elements of Catalan language
B: Catalan literature from Middle Ages to nowadays
C: In-depth analysis of some aspects of Catalan language, culture and literature
Students can apply for 6 CFU (in this case they are required to focus only on parts A and B, having to take an exam in Catalan language and another one in Catalan literature) or 9 CFU, focussing on the whole course (parts A, B and C).
In part A students will achieve a basic knowledge of Catalan grammar and culture, developing primary skills of Catalan language in speaking, writing, listening and reading, particularly referring to some everyday life situations. In part B it will be given a general overview of Catalan literature, from its beginnings in the 13th century to the 20th century, paying particular attention to its most representative authors and its principal literary movements, focussing on some extremely significant works. Finally, in part C students will have a closer look to some specific grammar aspects, fundamental writers and significant literary and cultural phenomena, having the opportunity to read in Catalan some short texts that will be commented and discussed.
The syllabus is valid until September 2026.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be held in Italian and Catalan (most of all, Catalan language will be used in reading some excerpts from original texts during the lessons). Materials and bibliography will require some knowledges about the history of literature, the use of a specific terminology and critical skills developed in the former courses.
Teaching methods
As for the part A the course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons, working groups and written papers.
For part B and C, dedicated primarily to catalan literature, the course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons, reading and commentary of excerpts from literary works or of some relevant cultural phenomena.
For part B and C, dedicated primarily to catalan literature, the course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons, reading and commentary of excerpts from literary works or of some relevant cultural phenomena.
Teaching Resources
Associated to the course there is also an online platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=1489) where students can find didactic materials related to themes explained during the lessons. For each part will be uploaded critical essays on writers, literary texts or general cultural phenomena.
Students who cannot attend the course
The syllabus for students that cannot attend the course is not the same as that of those who can attend classes. Considering that students who do not attend classes have to rely just on their own resources, we do reccomend them to spend a reasonable amount of time studying and processing the syllabus contents, also consulting reliable online sources and books related to the course other than those included in the bibliography. Students are invited to contact with the professors in case of any doubt or question inheret to the course.
As for the part A, students who cannot attend classes have to register themselves in the following website: http://www.parla.cat/pres_catalaenlinia/AppPHP/login/index.php. There, they have access to a free (lliure/libre) online course of Catalan language, having the possibility to choose the language used by the platform between Spanish, Catalan and English. There they will have to complete the following units: Bàsic 1, Bàsic 2 and Bàsic 3. On the website there is also a great amount of different useful materials such as dictionaries, grammars, literay works, videos, links to multimedia contents, etc. On MyAriel platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=1489) they will also find the grammar book Llengua Catalana. Nivell llindar 1 (Edicions L'Àlber, 2006) by Dolors Badia with grammar rules and exercises. Students will have to study units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Detailed syllabuses for parts B and C, with related reference materials, will be uploaded on the MyAriel course website by the lecturers.
Students who cannot attend the course
The syllabus for students that cannot attend the course is not the same as that of those who can attend classes. Considering that students who do not attend classes have to rely just on their own resources, we do reccomend them to spend a reasonable amount of time studying and processing the syllabus contents, also consulting reliable online sources and books related to the course other than those included in the bibliography. Students are invited to contact with the professors in case of any doubt or question inheret to the course.
As for the part A, students who cannot attend classes have to register themselves in the following website: http://www.parla.cat/pres_catalaenlinia/AppPHP/login/index.php. There, they have access to a free (lliure/libre) online course of Catalan language, having the possibility to choose the language used by the platform between Spanish, Catalan and English. There they will have to complete the following units: Bàsic 1, Bàsic 2 and Bàsic 3. On the website there is also a great amount of different useful materials such as dictionaries, grammars, literay works, videos, links to multimedia contents, etc. On MyAriel platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=1489) they will also find the grammar book Llengua Catalana. Nivell llindar 1 (Edicions L'Àlber, 2006) by Dolors Badia with grammar rules and exercises. Students will have to study units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Detailed syllabuses for parts B and C, with related reference materials, will be uploaded on the MyAriel course website by the lecturers.
Assessment methods and Criteria
On one hand, the exam of Catalan language, relating to part A, consists of a written test in which grammatical rules, reading comprehension and written skills will be tested. Students will have to complete a newspaper article in Catalan by filling in the blanks with the correct verbal forms. After that, reading comprehension will be verified with a True/False test and open-ended questions. Finally, students will be required to produce a short script in Catalan of at least 120 words choosing between two or three possible themes. The grade scale goes from 0 to 30 and it is calculated by summing the points obtained in each part of the exam (12 for the grammar part, 6 for the reading comprehension and 12 for the written production). It is necessary to reach at least 18 points to pass the exam. The total duration of the test is 2 hours and students are not allowed to use any kind of dictionary or device.
The exam for parts B and C, on the other hand, consists of an individual interview with questions asked by the professor, interaction between professor and students and the analysis and commentary of one or more passages taken from the literary works listed in the syllabus. The interview has a variable duration depending on the amount of credits requested by the student and is held in Italian or catalan, as agreed during the course. The interview also aims to verify the knowledge of the literary works read, the capability to contextualize authors and works, the accuracy in the use of specific terminology, critical skills and personal reflections on the themes studied. The final mark, again on a scale up to 30, is given by the average between the marks obtained in the Catalan language test and in the interview. The student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be recorded as "withdrawn"). International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact with the professor as soon as possible. The examination modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be discussed with the professor and in agreement with the competent Office.
The exam for parts B and C, on the other hand, consists of an individual interview with questions asked by the professor, interaction between professor and students and the analysis and commentary of one or more passages taken from the literary works listed in the syllabus. The interview has a variable duration depending on the amount of credits requested by the student and is held in Italian or catalan, as agreed during the course. The interview also aims to verify the knowledge of the literary works read, the capability to contextualize authors and works, the accuracy in the use of specific terminology, critical skills and personal reflections on the themes studied. The final mark, again on a scale up to 30, is given by the average between the marks obtained in the Catalan language test and in the interview. The student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be recorded as "withdrawn"). International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact with the professor as soon as possible. The examination modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be discussed with the professor and in agreement with the competent Office.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday: from 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Piazza S. Alessandro 1, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, 2nd floor. Because of the pandemic emergency it will also be possible to arrange a meeting on Microsoft Teams by sending a mail to the following address: [email protected]