ITALIAN LITERATURE FROM 13TH TO 15TH CENTURY

This class, among the "field modules" in the bachelor’s degree in Humanities (curriculum Science of the Literary Text and Communication, and Ancient Civilisations) is meant to furnish students not only with basic knowledge of the main trends of Italian literature, but moreover with the theoretical and methodological tools to face the specific problematics of the discipline.
The class thus has three main objectives: to trace the development of Italian literature of the early centuries, by way of specific examples; to foster the capacity of autonomous reflection on a literary text; to furnish the basic methodological tools of textual analysis. Particular attention is devoted to the centrality of the text, be it poetic or prose, as an indispensable starting point in any theoretical or critical discourse.

Knowledge and comprehension: Students should be able to trace the history of Italian literature in its first centuries; to know the major authors of the period and their works; to know and comprehend the forms of texts in prose and in verse; to know and comprehend Old Italian.
Ability to use said knowledge: Students should be able to employ their historico-critical knowledge in the study of Italian literary history; to use correctly the specific terminology of the discipline; to analyse a literary text in its various aspects.
Judgment: Students should be able to autonomously formulate and argue hypotheses, as well as critically evaluate alternative hypotheses.
Communication skills: Students should be able to express the specifics of critical discourse on literature with adequate terminology.
Learning skills: Students should be able to critically consult the assigned texts as well as the bibliography therein.

A good knowledge of the Italian language; standard reading abilities with texts in Italian; basic knowledge of the elements that characterize a literary text in prose and in verse, with particular reference to metrics and rhetoric.

The teacher's challenge is to combine a textual approach (supported by literary theory) with a historical perspective observing chronological references. So the purpose of this class is to furnish students with a panoramic view of Italian literary tradition and of the relevant themes and problematics. The main outlines of Italian literature, from the origins through the 15th century, with a focus on the main authors, will be explained in the introductory lectures in order to support the students' commitment to their own learning process. This module is meant to analyse a specific and well-developed narrative form belonging to the Italian literary tradition: the "novella". The lectures will outline a historical panorama of the genre, its origins and forms, focusing on the "Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio and seeing its fifteenth-century revival in Antonio Manetti's novella "Grasso legnaiuolo".

For the main outlines of Italian literature, from the origins to Tasso (not included): G. Alfano, P. Italia, E. Russo, F. Tomasi, “Profilo di letteratura italiana”, Milano, Mondadori, 2021 ( epoca I - epoca 5 ) or every reference school handbook (e.g. M. Santagata et alii, “Il filo rosso. Antologia e storia della letteratura italiana e europea”, Roma-Bari, Laterza; R. Luperini et alii, “Le parole le cose”, Palermo, Palumbo) as well as university textbook (G. Alfano, P. Italia, E. Russo, F. Tomasi, “Letteratura italiana. Dalle origini a metà Cinquecento. Manuale per studi universitari”, Milano, Mondadori, 2018; A. Battistini, “Storia della letteratura italiana”, Bologna, il Mulino, 2014; G. Ferroni, “Storia della letteratura italiana”, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2012; G. Tellini, “Letteratura italiana. Un metodo di studio. Seconda edizione”, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2014 and reprints; C. Vecce, “Piccola storia della letteratura italiana”, Napoli, Liguori, 2009; F. Brioschi, C. Di Girolamo, “Manuale di letteratura italiana. Storia per generi e problemi”, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1994-1997 and reprints) can be used.
Preparing for this exam entails also the study of a selection of texts by the most important authors. A list of texts has to be delivered in written form on the day of the exam (guidelines will be prepared at the beginning of the class and made available on the "Moodle" platform).

G. Boccaccio, "Decameron" (advisable editions by A. Quondam - M. Fiorilla - G. Alfano, Milan, Rizzoli, 2015 or by V. Branca, Turin, Einaudi, 2014 or by A. Quondam - M. Fiorilla - G. Alfano, Milan, Rizzoli, 2018).
A. Manetti, "La novella del Grasso legnaiuolo" ((advisable editions by S.S. Nigro, Milan, Rizzoli 2015, or by P. Procaccioli, Parma, Guanda, 1990).
Further instructions, as well as the specific bibliography concerning the novelle analyzed in class, will be given during the course.

Texts read and commented in class (except for "Decameron" and "Grasso") will also be available on the "Moodle" platform.

Oral test. The exam aims to test the student’s knowledge of the texts, of the problems involved in their interpretation, and of the problematics of their historico-literary context. Students will be judged by their historico-literary competence and ability to formulate, with an adequate use of language, critically valid connections between the various problematics at hand.

oral

In order to obtain a grade between 27 and 30 cum laude, students must be able to analyse the literary text in depth following the methodological indications acquired; possess and be able to communicate an organic vision of the themes addressed in class and/or studied in the manuals and critical texts in the bibliography; demonstrate excellent oral and written expression and argumentation skills; competently use the technical language of literary criticism.
An overall mark of between 23 and 26 will be awarded to those who demonstrate: a good knowledge of the syllabus; the ability to carry out an analysis of the texts that is on the whole correct, even if marked by some imperfections of method and content; a good property of language with some uncertainty in exposition and/or imprecision in the use of technical language.
An acceptable but sketchy knowledge of the syllabus, a superficial understanding of the texts, a limited ability to analyse and an expression that is not always appropriate will lead to barely sufficient marks (between 18 and 22).
Poor knowledge of critical and literary texts, inadequate ability to analyse; incorrect or inappropriate written and oral expression will result in a negative assessment.

Lessons combine lectures with active student participation. Didactic materials available on the e-learning platform moodle.unive.it.
These textual and critical materials offer cues for further study, with respect to the reference texts listed above.

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