18TH CENTURY STUDIES

The general aims of the module, with regard to the course of studies to which it belongs are:
1) to increase the knowledge and comprehension of English literature at higher (M.A.) level, through the study of its development in the eighteenth century;
2) to acquire a better command of theoretical approaches, hermeneutical tools for textual analysis and close reading; along with acquiring the competence to contextualise them in the historical and literary background;
3) to be able to comprehend English culture (specifically in the eighteenth century) through a better understanding of its relevant texts and documents. Students will learn the history of English literature both from a cultural and an aesthetic viewpoint, as well as in its relation with the political and social history of England and Great Britain. They will apply their hermeneutic abilities to the comprehension of complex literary texts, their relation with the cultural and socio-political background, their rhetorical strategies and aesthetic qualities. They will be able to produce a discussion of complex texts and connect them to the historical framework to which they belong.

The module will be taught entirely in English.

The module will provide the critical tools to be able, among other things,
1) to provide a detailed analysis of literary texts, and related texts;
2) to enter a dialogue with the critical state of art on texts and themes, and debate one's positions in public;
3) to work within various intercultural contexts;
4) to provide critical commentaries, and short essays in English, using the critical-hermeneutical knowledge acquired in the module, also through a personal reading of texts;
5) to conduct an autonomous bibliographic search in English.

In the Joint Degree / Double Degree course the acquired competence with be implemented in an interaction with the students, and in the contexts, of the universities participating in the consortium.

Good general knowledge of the cultural and literary history of English literature.
Students are expected to acquire a general knowledge of history and cultural history in the long eighteenth century, and read the novels in the programme ahead of classes.

A very good command of the English language (C1) will be needed in order to understand, and comment on, the texts.
All lessons will be delivered in English.

"Happiness and unhappiness in the sentimental fiction of the eighteenth century."
The course will provide an analysis on the treatment of happiness and unhappiness in the eighteenth century. The search for happiness was one of the most important issues and themes of eighteenth-century thought. Happiness ceased to be the mere object of theological or philosophical inquiry and became a central tenet in the practical life of all eighteenth-century people, from the humblest to the highest members of the social ranks. For instance, happiness became one of the keywords of the American Declaration of Independence, the first modern national constitution, which said that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". Writers too were concerned with the people's pursuit of happiness, and their characters became increasingly observed in their capacity (or inability) to obtain happiness on earth. Conversely, the century saw an increased interest in finding the reasons why man is unhappy. Writers and thinkers progressively shaped a culture of melancholy and dejection that would have its peak in the pre-Romantic and Romantic age. The course will see how writers treated the themes of the search for happiness and the difficulty of achieving it through the analysis of three novels dealing with "sentimental characters" in which the representation of emotions and feelings are heightened and become the focus of the narration.

Section A. Primary literature (the texts will be discussed in class)
All students are asked to read the following novels entire:
1. Charlotte Lennox, "Sophia" (ed. by Norbert Schürer, Broadview Press)
2. Henry Mackenzie, "The Man of Feeling" (ed. by Maureen Harkin, Broadview Press)
3. Sarah Fielding, "David Simple" (ed. by Malcom Kelsall, Oxford Classics), volumes I and II (if the Oxford edition isn't available, another edition will be suggested to the students)
4. Jane Austen, "Persuasion" (ed. by James Kinsley, Oxford Classics)

Other materials will be uploaded on the moodle page, especially for non attending students.

Section B. A general knowledge of the cultural history of the eighteenth century is required to understand the module's contents.
These are the background readings on the cultural context of the eighteenth century and of happiness (which students are requested to read on their own):
1. R. Porter, "Enlightenment: Britain and the Creation of the Modern World" (Penguin, 2000), chapter 11 ("Happiness"), pp. 258-75; BALI library EX4 POR.R/En
2. R. Robertson, "The Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Happiness 1680-1790" (Penguin 2022), chapter 1 ("Happiness, Reason, and Passion", pp. 1-41.
3. P. Goring, "Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture" (Continuum, 2008), BALI library EX4 Gor/Eig
(or another introductory text to eighteenth-century culture instead of B3, which can be agreed upon with the teacher)

A general knowledge of the cultural history of the eighteenth century is required to understand the module's contents.

Written exam.
The test will be made of questions with open answers and will be divided into three parts:
A. General themes and topics: history of 18th-century literature and culture, general aspects of the course taught in the module, general background as in the critical books (see "Texts" section B) (Aim 1)*
B. A short essay (one sheet long) based on one of the literary texts discussed in class (see "Texts" section A) (Aim 2)
C. Three questions (each with 8-10 lines answers) on the topics, contents, style, of the "Texts section A" (Aim 3)

Students will be allowed to use a monolingual English dictionary only. The use of smartphones, tablets and other devices is not allowed during the exam.
Time allowed: 2 hours

Students attending *at least 70% of classes* may take pre-assessment tests during the semester. These tests will partly substitute for the final exam. The format and timing of the pre-assessment tests will be agreed upon with the teacher during classes.


* Aims: see "Inquadramento dell'insegnamento" above.

Front lectures
Students are kindly requested to read the novels and poems in the programme ahead of the lectures. The teacher will discuss them in class with the students.

All lessons will be given in English

English

Non attending students will have to contact the teacher and check the moodle of the course for further readings.

701 students will find materials on the moodle of the module. They are asked to contact the teacher as early as possible.

written

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