Thematic Surveys of Italian Literature : from the 19th century to the Present [ LROM1542 ]

LFLTR 1750 (Basic Modern Italian I), LROM 1751 (Basic Modern Italian II) et LROM1753 (Linguistic and literary analysis of Italian texts) or equivalents.

This course focusses upon one particular literary theme, 'the limits of knowledge'.
The course identifies the various links between texts from different periods (eighteenth and nineteenth centuries mostly) and genres that, beyond their external discursive elements, conceal similar preoccupations and anxieties.

- Recognise some typical trends in Italian literature from these periods;
- Be aware of the most significant writers and issues from these periods;
- Be aware of the most important biographical and bibliographical data concerning the authors studied during the course;
- Know how to write an essay on one of the themes covered;
- Know how to locate a text within its period.

Continuous assessment:
-    two written literary analysis assignments on themes linked to the subjects covered in the course with the option to discuss work in progress, prior to the final edit.
-    an oral exam during which the student will orally defend the second written assignment and respond to specific questions on the subjects covered in the course and in exercise sessions.
These questions will relate to the work done by students independently:
-   they are expected to know how to summarise texts from the syllabus
-   they are expected to know the most important bio-bibliographical details about the authors covered in the course.
A detailed programme together with the methods of assessment are available on iCampus (http://www.icampus.ucl.ac.be).

The course is in the form of lectures: this is a deliberate choice to give students experience of a form of teaching they will encounter in Italy on an Erasmus exchange.

The practical sessions deal with the preparation of a choice of texts from a linguistic point of view. These texts will be covered in class and will require students to make active use of analytical procedures introduced in LROM1753.

The course covers the topic of the limits of knowledge in Italian literary works from the 19^th century to the present day. The course is not chronological but adopts an argumentative and thematic approach.

A negative vision of knowledge is a common thread in Italian literature. Scepticism is focused on the ability to transmit real values, on the very concepts of value and knowledge and also on the usefulness of knowledge for the human condition. There is criticism of the progressive vision which is often linked to the concept of knowledge.

Even authors linked with Marxism and Catholicism cannot escape from this impasse.

Prescribed authors : Pietro Metastasio, Alessandro Manzoni, Giacomo Leopardi, Luigi Pirandello, Alberto Moravia, Edoardo Sanguineti, Antonio Tabucchi

In addition to the collection of texts, students should buy a good edition of Agostino by Alberto Moravia.
Students are encouraged to use the histories of Italian literature and other reference works which are in the library and online (Jstor, etc.).
Recommended history of Italian literature :
Giulio FERRONI, Profilo storico della letteratura italiana, Einaudi Scuola, Torino, 1991, 2 vol.

Giulio FERRONI, Storia della letteratura italiana, Mondadori Università, Milano, 2012, 4 vol.

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