AMERICAN LITERATURE 1 MOD. 2

The course is part of the Master’s Degree programs in European, American and Postcolonial Language and Literature and in Language Sciences and aims at providing students with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of American literature (20th and 21st centuries). Students will improve their skills in analyzing prose and poetic texts and in relating such texts to their historical and cultural contexts. The analytical skills students have learnt during the BA course will be further verified and developed, to include more specialized knowledge of literary history, critical theory and methodology. In addition, they will broaden their experience in working autonomously and in presenting the results of their own research.
This course is linked to the Department's Excellence Project.

The learning outcomes of the course are 1. development of knowledge and understanding of the key literary texts of 20th- and 21st century migration literature; 2. the skill to apply this knowledge and understanding to other texts; 3. the development of advanced communication skills in English; 4. autonomous formulation of judgements in analyzing primary and secondary texts; 5. ability to work synergically with other students.

Advanced knowledge of oral and written English (≥ C1). Good knowledge of the history of American literature and of the key concepts of literary theory previously learned during the BA course in Languages, Civilisation and the Science of Language and/or through the reference books indicated below.

The course will examine key authors and texts which exemplify the varieties of American literature about migration.

Primary texts:
Anzia Yezierska, “America and I” (1923)
John Fante, “The Odyssey of a Wop”; Ask the Dust (1939)
Rudolfo Corky Gonzalez, “I Am Joaquin” (pdf online)
Gloria Anzaldúa, “To Live in the Borderlands Means”
Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street (1984)
NoViolet Bulawayo, We Need New Names (2013)

Secondary sources:
Werner Sollors, “Introduction: The Invention of Ethnicity”
Gregory Jay, “The End of ‘American’ Literature: Toward a Multicultural Practice”
Paul Heike, “E Pluribus Unum? The Myth of the Melting Pot”, in The Myths that Made America: An Introduction to American Studies
Neil Campbell and Alasdair Kean, “Ethnicity and Immigration: Between Many Worlds”, in American Cultural Studies: An Introduction to American Culture
More material will be posted on the Moodle page of the course

1. Class presentation (20 minutes max.) on a text in the syllabus made in order to evaluate the ability to work synergically with other students (20% of the final grade).
2. Short paper (3000 words max) in which students are required to show their skills in analyzing and contextualizing the texts in the syllabus in a critical and autonomous way. To be handed in at least two weeks before the exam (50% of the final grade).
3. Oral exam (30 minutes max.) in which students will be evaluated in their ability to analyze and contextualize literary texts in a critical and autonomous way. The level of English and communication skills will also be evaluated (30% of the final grade for attending students; 50% for non attending students).

Lectures, seminars, and class discussion

English

Students are invited to attend the lectures and conferences organized by the American studies section.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development