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 (late 19th and early 20th century). Students will improve their skills in analyzing prose 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.

The learning outcomes of the course are 1. development of knowledge and understanding of the key literary texts of late 19th- and early 20th-century US 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 representative of 19th and 20th century US literature
Mandatory and suggested critical material will be available on Moodle.

Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage (1895)
Charles Chesnutt, «The Web of Circumstance» (1899)
Frank Norris, «The Third Circle» and «Little Dramas of the Curbstone» (1909)
Jack London, Martin Eden (1909)
Edith Wharton, The Children (1928)

Other short texts and critical readings will be available on the course's Moodle

1. Participation (5% of the final grade)
2. Short test in which students will be asked to identify, analyze and contextual extracts from the texts on the syllabus in a critical and autonomous way (60% 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 (35% of the final grade)

Lectures, seminars, and class discussion

English

written and oral