ANGLO-AMERICAN LITERATURE 2 MOD. 1

The course is part of the BA in Languages, Civilization and the Science of Language and aims at providing an introduction to the history of American literature through textual and cultural analysis. The course aims at stimulating students to reflect on the evolution of literary language, forms and genres and to provide them with methods for analyzing texts and contextualizing them from a cultural-historical viewpoint. This will prepare students for advanced studies in both the literary and the cultural fields.

The learning outcomes of these course entail developing:
1. Good knowledge of the history of American literature from the colonial era to the American Renaissance.
2. Ability to apply such knowledge to the textual and cultural analysis of a literary text.
3. Ability to formulate critical hypotheses and judgments.
4. Communication skills and appropriate terminology.
5. Autonomous reading of handbooks and suggested materials.

Good knowledge of written and spoken English (≥ B2)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to American literature and its key texts and authors, from colonial period to the beginning of the 19th century. The course specifically focuses on the idea of "America" as a geographical and rhetorical construction, from Columbus up till the 1820s. The course will deal with the "transnational" origin of the American nation, from Cabez ade Vaca to Equiano, with a specific reference to the relationship with Native Americans.

Mandatory readings (see Moodle page of the course):
- Christopher Columbus. A selection
- Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca. A selection
- John Smith, Extracts
- Terrence Malick. The New World. 2005.
- William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation. Extracts
- John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity. Extracts
- Mary Rowlandson, a selection
- Crevecoeur, “What Is an American?”, Letters from an American Farmer
- Phillis Wheatley, “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Norton Anthology, p. 798;
- Olaudah Equiano, a selection from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of …

Secondary sources
- Richard Ruland, Malcom Bradbury, From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature. Routledge, 2016 (Part I and II)
- Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors, eds. A New Literary History of America. A selection
- Leslie Fiedler, Il ritorno del pellerossa. Mito e letteratura in America. 1-73.
- Marcus Rediker, The Slave Ship, Chap. 4

Class participation (10%)
Written test (2h / 60%): Knowledge of notions of literary history +identification and analysis of excerpts from literary texts made to evaluate the ability of making critical judgments while analyzing and contextualizing a text.
Oral test (15' / 30%): further assessment of the students' knowledge of literary history and textual analysis.

Non-attending students will be asked to study the following further critical material (see Moodle page):
- Paola Cabibbo, “John Smith”, in La letteratura americana dell’età coloniale
- Massimo Rubboli, “La vicenda dei Padri Pellegrini come master narrative della storia americana” Ácoma 19 (2020): 148-163.
- Donatella Izzo. “Dalla storiografia al mito, dal mito alla storia: William Bradford e Of Plimmoth Plantation.” La letteratura americana dell’età coloniale, a cura di Paola Cabibbo.
- Heike Paul, Pocahontas

Beside lectures, the course welcomes class discussion. Students who cannot attend classes must contact the professor and agree an alternative program.

Italian

ATTENTION:
This course is assessed together with Prof. Francescato's part of American Literature 2. This module is part of the 12-credit course in Anglo-American Literature 2 and cannot be assessed separately. Students also need to take module 2 during the same exam session.

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