The course consists in the analysis of texts from the core canon of Italian literature, which are important in relation to the establishment of Italian national identity. Critical reading begins by assessing the philological and documentary features of the texts and develops through issues regarding their literary genre and the theoretical debates involved, while bringing out the rhetorical aspects and expressive language of these works.
Texts: Required reading includes the full text of the following three novels: Una vita (1892), Senilità (1898), and La coscienza di Zeno (1923). Any modern edition is acceptable (Garzanti, Mondadori, Newton Compton etc.).
Knowledge
This course aims to exemplify the new features of critical and introspective realism in early 20th-century Italian novels by examining Italo Svevo’s novel trilogy: Una vita (1892), Senilità (1898) and La coscienza di Zeno (1923).
Competence
The course involves a first look at scientific editions from Italian literary tradition as well as bibliographical sources; it will also prepare students to use text commentary tools properly; students will have a first experience with bibliographical research in the library; their public speaking skills will be put to the test.
Behaviour
The course strives to motivate students to take advantage of the university structure, the CdS (Degree course), student orientation and career management tools, as well as to encourage intellectual participation from students and a correct approach to the student-teacher relationship.
Prerequisites
An excellent knowledge of the Italian language is necessary, as are mastery of grammatical and syntactical structures of written Italian; students must be well able to read literary and critical texts and be skilled in using dictionaries and commentaries. Finally, an important prerequisite is a thorough knowledge of Italian national history, particularly with regard to events surrounding the Italian Risorgimento and the first decades following the unification of Italy.
Teaching Methods
Lectures. Students are encouraged to participate, ask questions and maintain a direct relationship with the professor, even during weekly receiving hours.
Further information
Students are expected to keep dutifully to attendance rules: with the exception of part-time students, the course is considered valid (and students are admitted to the examination) only if their attendance is recorded by signature for at least two thirds of the lessons. Every student must personally sign the attendance sheet at the beginning of each lesson.
Type of Assessment
All students (even those who do not attend lessons or are participating in exchange programs) must take a final oral exam, which assesses general knowledge of all the material covered in the course.
The oral examination is an interview aimed at assessing the following learning objectives: familiarity with the bibliography and materials discussed in lectures and made available on our e-learning platform; acquaintance with the distinctive features of Italian literature as pertaining to the specific focus of the course; skill in using the methodological and critical tools of the discipline; skill in reading, analysis and commenting on texts on the curriculum.
Students must demonstrate a sufficient grasp of the learning objectives for the course in order to pass the final examination.
The final mark is based on the mark obtained on the oral.
Course program
Course Title: Irony and self-awareness. The novel trilogy by Italo Svevo.
This course aims to provide a general introduction to the distinctive features of Italian literature, particularly focussing on the early 20th century through reading and commentary of renowned texts. More specifically, the course endeavours to illustrate the new features of critical and introspective realism that characterise early 20th-century Italian novels through Italo Svevo’s novel trilogy: Una vita (1892), Senilità (1898), La coscienza di Zeno (1923).