Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ITL3311

 
TITLE Letteratura italiana dall'Ottocento al Novecento

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Italian

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will focus initially on Positivism,highlighting the basic tenets of this system of philosophy and their implications in the writing of literary works. The transition from Romanticism to the Verism movement will be discussed in the light of European Naturalism, with references to the historical, social and cultural dimensions. The study-unit will offer a critical reading of Verga's, "I Malavoglia". In stark contrast to Naturalism, the literary theory propounded by the Decadent movement will then be examined, keeping in mind the fundamental aspects of a radically different cultural context. By way of exemplification the study-unit will move on to a critical reading of Pascoli, "Myricae" and Svevo", La coscienza di Zeno". Students will also be expected to read other texts recommended during the study-unit.

Study-unit Aims:

To help students understand the main Italian literary movements of the second half of the 19th century in a historical, social and cultural context. It will also give them the opportunity to critically delve into the most celebrated works of that period.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- define the essential characterizing elements of Italian culture during the second half of the 19th century;
- describe the structure, themes and style of a Veristic or Decadent literary work;
- identify the aesthetic values of poetic and narrative works of the second half of the 19th century;
- associate Verism and Decadentism with previous and successive literary movements.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- critically discuss, in an essay, a Veristic/Decadent poetic or narrative text, placing it in a proper cultural perspective;
- compare and contrast Veristic Decadent literary works and authors;
- summarise literary texts;
- analyse poetic and narrative techniques.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- De Caprio, V. (2003) "Progetto letteratura. L’età napoleonica e del Risorgimento", vol. 2b. Torino: Einaudi Scuola.
- De Caprio, V. (2003) "Progetto letteratura. L’età postunitaria", vol. 3°, Torino: Einaudi Scuola.
- Verga "I Malavoglia" (any edition).
- Pascoli, any good anthology containing "Myricae".
- Svevo "La coscienza di Zeno" (any edition).

Recommended reading: As advised during the study-unit.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS In TAKING THIS UNIT YOU CANNOT TAKE ITL3030 OR TAKE ITL3101

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit is taught and assessed in Italian.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (1 Hour) SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit