MODERN EUROPEAN LITERATURE

The course "Modern European Literatures" is framed in the common curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree Programme "Humanities".
According to the aims of the Bachelor's Degree and to the areas of Literatures and Cultures, the course provides the ability to consolidate advanced critical and methodological instruments and a solid knowledge of European literary texts (19th and 20th cent.) and of their cultural and historical context.

The course is open to interested students attending other Degree Programmes.

Aims of this course are:

a) the ability to analyse critically some of the most significant literary and theoretical texts of the cultural debates subject of the course;
b) the comprehension of these debates in their cultural and historical context;
c) the ability to consolidate critical and methodological instruments;
d) the ability to comprehend and analyze texts and contexts in a competent and autonomous way;
e) the ability to perfectionate communication and production by an accurate reading of the texts, the discussion in class and and a detailed study of scientific writing;
f) the ability to discuss in seminars and workshops about the subjects of the course.

No precondition is required.

COURSE TITLE: The canon of European short prose literature: short story, novelette, anecdote, tale, parable (1800-1945).

A. Literary texts:

- English texts:
--- Charles Dickens, Canto di Natale, Rizzoli BUR, Milano 2022;
--- Herman Melville, Bartleby lo scrivano, a cura di Gianni Celati, Feltrinelli, Milano 2020 (or previous editions);
--- Joseph Conrad, Un avamposto del progresso, a cura di Matteo Codignola, Adelphi, Milano 2014;
--- James Joyce, I morti (testo a disposizione su Moodle).

- German texts:
--- Heinrich von Kleist, Michael Kohlhaas, in Id., La marchesa di O. e altri racconti, introduzione di Giuliano Baioni, traduzione di Andrea Casalegno, Garzanti, Milano 2017 (or previous editions);
--- Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Una lettera / Ein Brief, a cura di Marco Rispoli, Marsilio, Venezia 2018;
--- Thomas Mann, Tonio Kröger, a cura di Anna Maria Giachino, traduzione di Anita Rho, Einaudi, Torino 2016 (or previous editions);
--- Franz Kafka, Il verdetto, in: Franz Kafka, La metamorfosi e tutti i racconti pubblicati in vita, Feltrinelli, Milano 2024 (or previous editions).

- Russian texts:
--- Nikolaj V. Gogol', Il naso (Moodle);
--- Nikolaj V. Gogol', La mantella (Moodle);
--- Fëdor M. Dostoevskij, La mite, Adelphi, Milano 2018;
--- Lev N. Tolstoj, La sonata a Kreutzer, in Id., La sonata a Kreutzer e altri racconti, introduzione di Serena Vitale, Garzanti, Milano 2016.

- French texts:
--- Honoré de Balzac, Il capolavoro sconosciuto, a cura di Davide Monda, Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, Milano 2022 (or previous editions);
--- Gustave Flaubert, Un cuore semplice (available on the course moodle);
--- Guy de Maupassant, Boule de suif (available on the course moodle).

- Spanish texts:
--- Benito Pérez Galdós, Morte sul sagrato (Moodle);
--- Jorge Luis Borges, Funes, o della memoria, in Id., Finzioni, Einaudi, Torino 2014.

B. Historical and cultural context:
- available on the course moodle.

C. Literary criticism:
- available on the course moodle.

Oral exam (about 45 minutes) aiming to verify the abilities acquired by students, to check their knowledge of the whole programme and their ability to reflect critically on its topics.

Assessment outline:
- knowledge of the course topics and of the literary texts (see item A of the bibliography) = 0/30 to 12/30
- knowledge of the historical and cultural-literary context (see items B of the bibliography) = 0/30 to 8/30
- knowledge of literary criticism (see item C of the bibliography) = 0/30 to 10/30

Regular class sessions. Teaching materials will be provided in pdf format on the course Moodle.
Front lectures and seminars.

Italian

Students are kindly requested to check frequently the notices on the lecturer's CF-home page.

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