B026262 - ENGLISH LITERATURE 2 (12 CFU)

Italian and English

The course is designed to offer a deep understanding of major authors, periods and genres in English literary culture in their historical contexts. Main issues in literary theory are considered and analytical and interpretive strategies are introduced to enhance critical reading and evaluation.

Course A (Prof. Pallotti)

READING LIST

A) Key Texts:

John Donne, *Poesie*, bilingual edition, ed. A. Serpieri, S. Bigliazzi., Milano, Rizzoli, 2009

B. JONSON, [Conversations on Donne] (1618-19), from Ben Jonson’s Conversations with Drummond of Hawthornden (1833).
J. DRYDEN, [Donne “Affects the Metaphysics”], from A Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire (1693).
S. JOHNSON, [“The Metaphysical Poets”], from Lives of the Poets (1779-81).
T.S. ELIOT, “The Metaphysical Poets”, review of H.J.C. Grierson ed., Metaphysical Lyrics and Poems in the Seventeenth Century”, Times Literary Supplement, 1031 (20 October 1921), pp. 669-70.


COURSE B (Prof. Fantaccini)

W. Shakespeare, “Macbeth”, ed. Nicholas Brooke, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Rebecca Lemon, "Sovereignty and Treason in Macbeth", in “Macbeth. New Critical Essays”, ed. by Nick Moschovakis, New York, Routledge, 2008, pp. 73-87; Jonathan Baldo, “'A rooted sorrow'. Scotland’s unusable past", ivi, pp. 88-103; Abraham Stoll, "Macbeth’s equivocal conscience", ivi, pp. 104-150, Lynne Dickson Bruckner, “'Let grief convert to anger' Authority and affect in Macbeth", ivi, pp. 192-208.

Course A (Prof. Pallotti)

The course (36 hours) will focus on the study of John Donne's poetry.
Aims of the course:
a. to expand students' knowledge of early modern poetry;
b. to give students an in-depth knowledge of the cultural milieu as well as of the critical instruments required for the analysis of complex poetic texts;
c. to enable students to consolidate a critical consciousness and an awareness of critical and culture theory

Course B (Prof. Fantaccini)

The course (36 hours) will focus on a critical reading of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth".
Aims of the course:
a. to expand students' knowledge of early modern drama;
b. to give students an in-depth knowledge of the cultural milieu as well as of the critical instruments required for the analysis of complex dramatic texts;
c. to enable students to consolidate a critical consciousness and an awareness of critical and culture theory through a reading of a Shakespearean text.

The prerequisites for the admission to the course are those established by the Corso di Laurea.

Lectures and seminars.

The course (12 cfu) is divided into two parts: Module A (6 cfu)is taught by prof. Pallotti; Module B (6 cfu) is taught by prof. Fantaccini.

The course is taught in the first semester.

Further information will be given at the beginning of the course

The exam will be oral. The three exam questions will deal with the following:
1. The History of Early Modern literature and culture;
2. Specific themes and issues in Early Modern literature and culture;
3. The key texts included in the syllabus.
Students will have to demonstrate their ability to analyze and critically evaluate the primary texts included in the reading list, and to place them within their contexts of production and reception.

The test will be considered passed if the candidates demonstrate adequate knowledge in 1,2,3.
The exam aims to assess:
- The knowledge of the basic concepts in Early Modern English Literature;
- The ability to describe and place literary phenomena within their contexts of production and reception;
- The ability to read and comment upon all the texts included in the reading list with a thorough command of methodological and theoretical tools;
- The ability to properly use formal and critical terminology.

Course A (Prof. Pallotti)

'The Sense of Passion': The Poetry of John Donne.

John Donne is thought of as one of the most original and innovative poets in English literary history. His writing bears the marks of the profound changes that were taking place in the early modern era, in such areas as science, astronomy, geography, religion, theatre and art. Through a close and critical reading of a wide range of texts, the course aims to make students obtain a sophisticated appreciation of Donne’s writing, seen in relation to the vibrant historical and cultural context of early modern England. The course will also allow to cast a glance at the influence that Metaphysical Poetry exerted on twentieth-century poetics.

READING LIST
A) Key Texts:
(including prefaces, introductions, afterwords, and notes)

J. DONNE, *Poesie*, Bilingual edition, ed. by A. Serpieri e S. Bigliazzi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2009
(the volume is available at Libreria Feltrinelli International, Via Cavour - Firenze - Tel. 055/2381693)

Students should read and discuss the following poems:

from *Songs and Sonets*

‘The Flea’, p. 108
‘The Good-Morrow’, p. 114
‘Song. Goe and Catche’, p. 120
‘The Sunne Rising’, p. 138
‘The Indifferent’, p. 144
‘The Canonization’, p. 156
‘Lovers Infiniteness’, p. 170
‘Song. Sweetest Love’, p.176
‘Breake of Day’, p. 201
‘The Anniversarie’, p. 204
‘Communitie’, p. 239
‘The Dreame’, p. 266
‘Loves Alchymie’, p. 279
‘A Nocturnall Upon S. Lucies Day, Being the Shortest Day’, p. 296
‘The Apparition’, p. 317
‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning’, p. 328
‘The Extasie’, p. 336
‘Loves Diet’, p. 355
‘The Funerall’, p. 369
‘The Blossome’, p. 377
‘The Relique’, p. 388
‘The Dissolution’, p. 403
‘A Lecture Upon the Shadow’, p. 444

from *Elegies*

XVI. ‘On his Mistress’, p. 556
XVIII. ‘Loves Progress’, p. 572
XIX. ‘To his Mistress Going to Bed’, p. 584

from *Holy Sonnets*

‘Thou hast made me’, p. 868
‘As due by many titles’, p. 876
‘I am a little World’, p. 888
‘At the round earths imagin’d corners’, p. 900
‘If poisonous mineralls’, p. 912
‘Death, be not proud’, p. 918
‘Batter my heart’, p. 938
‘Since she whom I lov’d’, p. 556
‘Show me deare Christ’, p. 964
‘Oh, to vex me’, p. 970.

Other key texts:
B. JONSON, [Conversations on Donne] (1618-19), from Ben Jonson’s Conversations with Drummond of Hawthornden (1833).
J. DRYDEN, [Donne “Affects the Metaphysics”], from A Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire (1693).
S. JOHNSON, [“The Metaphysical Poets”], from Lives of the Poets (1779- 81).
T.S. ELIOT, “The Metaphysical Poets”, review of H.J.C. Grierson ed., Metaphysical Lyrics and Poems in the Seventeenth Century”, Times Literary Supplement, 1031 (20 October 1921), pp. 669-70.

B) Background Reading:
R. CESERANI, *Il testo poetico*, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005, pp. 9-13; 71-100.
H. DUBROW, “Lyric Forms”, in *The Cambridge Companion to English Literature 1500-1600*, ed. by A.F. Kinney, Cambridge, Cambridge, University Press, 2000, pp. 178-199.
A. GUIBBORY, ed., *The Cambridge Companion to John Donne*, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2006:
J.F. POST, “Donne’s Life: A Sketch”, pp. 1-22.
T.L. PEBWORTH, “ The Text of Donne’s Writing”, pp. 23-34.
A.F. MAROTTI, “The Social Context and Nature of Donne’s Writing: Occasional Verse and Letters”, pp. 35-48.
A. HADFIELD, “Literary Contexts: Predecessors and Contemporaries”, pp. 49-64.
A. SHELL, A. HUNT, “ Donne’s Religious World”, pp. 65-82.
T. CAIN, “Donne’s Political World”, pp. 83-100.
J.S. HERZ, “ Reading and Rereading Donne’s Poetry”, pp. 101-116.
A. PATTERSON, “Satirical Writing: Donne in Shadow”, pp. 117-132.
A. GUIBBORY, “Erotic Poetry”, pp. 133-148.
H. WILCOX, “Devotional Writing”, pp. 149- 166.
L. MAGNUSSON, “ Donne’s Language: The Conditions of Communication”, pp. 183- 200.
I. BELL, “ Gender Matters: The Women in Donne’s Poems”, pp. 201- 216.
R. TARGOFF, “Facing Death”, pp. 217- 232.

Modulo B (Prof. Fantaccini)

"Per una lettura del 'Macbeth'".

W. Shakespeare, "Macbeth", ed. Nicholas Brooke, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Rebecca Lemon, "Sovereignty and Treason in Macbeth", in “Macbeth. New Critical Essays”, ed. by Nick Moschovakis, New York, Routledge, 2008, pp. 73-87; Jonathan Baldo, “'A rooted sorrow'. Scotland’s unusable past", ivi, pp. 88-103; Abraham Stoll, "Macbeth’s equivocal conscience", ivi, pp. 104-150, Lynne Dickson Bruckner, “'Let grief convert to anger' Authority and affect in Macbeth", ivi, pp. 192-208.