ITALIAN LITERATURE OF THE HUMANISM AND THE RENAISSANCE

The course is inserted between the interdisciplinary disciplines of the MA programme in Italian Philology, Linguistics and Literature.
Its main objectives are: 1) to provide a thorough critical knowledge of the Italian literary tradition during the Humanism and the Renaissance, examining meaningful authors, works, and genres; 2) to strengthen and enhance the ability to employ an advanced methodology in the analysis of literary and dramatic texts; 3) to encourage the development of critical thinking in the study and interpretation of literary and dramatic texts, in prose and/or in verse.

1) Knowledge and comprehension
Students should be able to trace the history of Humanistic and Renaissance Italian literature; they should know the main authors of the period and their works, the theory and the evolution of genres during the Humanism and the Renaissance, with special attention to the comedy; they should know and understand both the language and the contents of the works mentioned in the Syllabus.

2) Employment of knowledge and comprehension skills
Students should be able to employ their knowledge in the study of Italian literature; they should be able to use in a proper way the specific vocabulary of the discipline; they should be able to analyse literary and dramatic texts both in prose and in verse.

3) Judgment
Students should be able to analyse in a personal and critical way works and issues connected to the Humanistic and Renaissance Italian tradition, combining their opinion with the employment of proper methodologies.

4) Communication skills
Students should be able to express their knowledge and ideas resorting to a proper vocabulary.

5) Learning skills
Students should be able to critically consult the assigned texts as well as the bibliography.

A good knowledge of Italian language; proper abilities to understand texts written in Italian; good knowledge of Italian literature.

LOVE, WOMEN AND TRICKS IN THE RENAISSANCE COMEDY
In the rich panorama the Humanistic and Renaissance genres, comedy plays a meaningful role. First, this class will examine the characteristics that it developed during the sixteenth century, also resorting to the Renaissance theory on the matter. Then, it will concentrate on the analysis of meaningful case studies, such as the "Calandria" by Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena, the "Mandragola" by Niccolò Machiavelli, the anonymous "Veniexiana", and the "Cortigiana" by Pietro Aretino. These dramas will be analysed according to the different comic tone they deliver and the specific portrayals of their characters, in particular female ones, paying special attention to structure of the trick, connected to peculiar love stories and ingenious exchanges of people. It will be shown that the process of lending new meanings and features to the previous models, from Plautus to the novella tradition, lead to the birth of a modern and successful genre.

Texts
- Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena, "La Calandra", a cura di G. Padoan, Padova, Antenore, 1985
- "La Veniexiana. Commedia di anonimo veneziano del Cinquecento", a cura di G. Padoan, Padova, Antenore, 1974
- Pietro Aretino, "La Cortigiana (1525 e 1534)", a cura di P. Trovato e F. Della Corte, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2010
- Niccolò Machiavelli, "La mandragola", in Id., "Teatro", a cura di P. Stoppelli, vol. 1, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2017

Studies
- M. Baratto, "La commedia del Cinquecento (aspetti e problemi)", Vicenza, Neri Pozza, 1977
- M. Pieri, "La nascita del teatro moderno in Italia tra XV e XVI secolo", Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1989, pp. 105-134
- S. Morando, "La letteratura teatrale italiana. Il testo drammatico e la sua storia dal Medioevo al Novecento", Roma, Carocci, 2023, pp. 57-176 (capp. 3-5)
- C. Dionisotti, "Appunti sulla Mandragola", «Belfagor», XXXIX, 6, 1984, pp. 621-644
- G. Padoan, "La Veniexiana: non fabula non comedia, ma vera historia”, «Lettere Italiane», XIX, 1, 1967, pp. 1-54
- A. Guidotti, "Il doppio gioco della Calandria", «MLN», CIV, 1, 1989, pp. 98-116
- M. C. Cabani, "Introduzione", in P. Aretino, "Il teatro comico. Cortigiana (1525 e 1534). Il marescalco", a cura di Luca D’Onghia, Milano-Parma, Fondazione Pietro Bembo-Guanda, 2014, pp. IX-LXII

Oral exam, which aims at testing students’ knowledge of the syllabus. Students will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of the themes and texts analysed in class, to detect connections between literature and contemporary historical and cultural contexts, and to analyse and comment literary texts in an accurate way. Students will be evaluated also according to their ability to employ a proper vocabulary.
Further details on the assessment criteria can be found in the following sections.

oral

A final mark between 18 and 22 will be given to students who will demonstrate a generic but acceptable knowledge of the contents of the course, a basic ability to understand and analyse literary texts, even if they make some mistakes, and basic but not always correct language skills.
A final mark between 23 and 26 will be obtained by students who will demonstrate a good knowledge of the contents of the course, an effective ability to understand and analyse literary texts, despite some slight inaccuracies, and suitable language skills, resorting adequately to the technical vocabulary of literary criticism.
A final mark between 27 and 30 will be awarded to students who will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the contents of the course, a remarkable ability to understand and analyse literary texts, and outstanding language skills, resorting to the technical vocabulary of literary criticism with proficiency. When all these parameters are excellent students get 30 cum laude.
Students will not pass the final exam if they show poor knowledge of the contents of the course, scarce ability to understand and analyse literary text, and inadequate language skills.

Lectures that combine a theoretical approach for the study of literary and dramatic genres with the textual analysis of meaningful Humanistic and Renaissance works. Students will be encouraged to participate actively in the discussion on the issues and the works mentioned in the Syllabus.
Texts and/or other didactic material, which must be studied for the final exam, will be made available on the e-learning platform (Moodle).

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development