ANGLO-AMERICAN LITERATURE 3

The course is part of the bachelor’s degree program in Languages, Civilization and the Science of Language: the main goal of this course is provide students with a general knowledge of the American literary history from the Civil War to the Post World-War I period through textual and cultural analysis of a selection of works by American authors.
This course aims to develop critical thinking skills focusing on the evolution of the American language and literary genres; at the same time, students will be encouraged to develop skills related to the 'close reading' of literary works, especially in relation to the historical and cultural contexts within which literature is created.
After the successful completion of the course, students will be able to continue with the advanced study of American literature and to further their knowledge in the Master’s degree progra

This course aims to develop:
1. Knowledge of the basic notions related to North-American literary history
2. The ability to apply such knowledge in order to provide a critical analysis of cultural products (literary texts)
3. The ability to evaluate texts critically and appreciatively.
4. Communication skills and the ability to apply specific vocabulary.
5. The ability to effectively use the course textbook and additional secondary sources.

Good knowledge of written and spoken English (≥ B2)

The course will focus on the most relevant American authors and a selection of their literary works from the post–Civil War Reconstruction period to Modernism and the 1920s.

Required readings:

M. Twain, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1865), selections from The Innocents Abroad (1869)
H. James, Daisy Miller (1879)
K. Chopin, The Awakening (1899)
C. Chesnutt, selected stories
K. Chopin, The Awakening (1899)
S. Anderson, da Winesburg, Ohio (1919)
E. Hemingway, "Big Two-Hearted River" (1925)
W. Faulkner, As I Lay Dying (1930)

Richard Gray, A Brief History of American Literature Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Selected chapters.

Additional bibliographical material will be made available on Moodle.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19, STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED THROUGH AN ONLINE ORAL EXAM

WRITTEN EXAM (2 HOURS, 60%):
1) assessment of the acquisition of the basic concepts on American literary history as presented in the course textbook (short-answer test)
2) identification and analysis of a selection of extracts taken from the texts examined during the course to assess the acquisition of critical thinking skills and analytical skills in relation to cultural and historical contexts

ORAL EXAM (20 MINUTES max., 40%):
1) overview of the written exam
2) further questions to assess analytical skills applied to the literary texts examined in the course, in relation to their cultural context
3) questions on the additional critical materials (for those who have not attended the course/non-attending students)

in order to take the oral exam you MUST pass the written one first

Lectures and class discussion

English

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

written and oral