Teaching code

4S000890

Teacher

Massimo Scotti

Coordinatore

Massimo Scotti

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-FIL-LET/14 - CRITICAL COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Period

1 A, 1 B

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars

Learning objectives

Teaching comparative literature aims at transmitting to the students crucial conceptual intruments and modes of thoughts concerning some important literary themes current in the Western World. By the end of the course the student will master notions and critical methodologies used by the professor in class.

Prerequisites and basic notions

No specific prerequisites are required, other than the passion for reading, the curiosity for world literatures and the will to critically address the historical value of the texts.

Program

Title: “A backward glance”

In this year's lessons we propose a look at the past, not with nostalgia but - if a neologism is allowed - with what could be called “Nostedonia”. It would therefore be the "pleasure of returning"": to our personal past, which includes readings for children, but also to a lost or forgotten contact. This is the return to a human, and humanistic dimension, which could lead to a renewed agreement with nature, the landscape, the environment, the space in which all living organisms are inseparably united

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students attending the lessons will be required to study the two critical texts (in the following list: 1 and 2), plus FOUR of the narrative texts of their choice, included in sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Therefore:

Critical texts

1) Giorgia GRILLI, “Libri nella giungla”, Roma, Carocci, 2012, 2018, ISBN 978-88-430-6340-6
2) Claude CALAME, “Avenire de la planète et urgence climatique: Au-delà de l’opposition nature/culture”, Paris, Ligne, 2015; ed. it. di Franco Giorgianni, “L’uomo e il suo ambiente: Al di là dell’opposizione natura/cultura”, Palermo, Sellerio, 2021, ISBN 978-88-389-4202-0

Narrative texts

The novels in this list are classics children's literature, published and republished in various series, especially economic ones, by many publishers; these bibliographic suggestions are therefore to be considered only indicative: they concern the most recent editions and do not exclude the choice of other versions, which must in any case be INTEGRAL and will therefore be evaluated with the teacher; For example, reduced or simplified translations, adaptations, summaries, etc. are not allowed. Whatever the edition chosen, the critical apparatus (introductions, prefaces, notes) must be read and studied carefully, if present in the volume.

3) FROM THE NEW WORLD
A) James Fenimore COOPER, “The Last of Mohicans” (1826); ed. it. a cura di Antonio Faeti, “L’ultimo dei Mohicani”, Milano, Rizzoli, 2017, ISBN 978-88-17-06494-1, or
B) Mark TWAIN, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876); trad. it. di Bruno Oddera, “Le avventure di Tom Sawyer”, con un saggio di E.L. Doctorow, Milano, Mondadori, “Oscar”, 2016, ISBN 978-88-04-67127-5

4) EXOTIC AND FANTASTIC ADVENTURES
A) Rudyard KIPLING, “The Jungle Books” (1894-1895); trad. it. di Gianni Padoan et al., “I libri della Giungla”, prefazione di Katherine Rundell, Milano, Mondadori, 2018, ISBN 978-88-04-70055-5, or
B) James Matthew BARRIE, “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens” (1906) e “Peter and Wendy” (1911); trad. it. di Pina Ballario e Alba Mantovani, “I romanzi di Peter Pan”, Milano, Mondadori, “Oscar”, 2018, ISBN 978-88-04-70501-7

5) OLD BRITANNIA
A) Kenneth GRAHAME, “The Golden Age” (1895), trad. it. di Adriana Motti, “L’età d’oro”, Milano, Adelphi, 1984 (prossima riedizione, 2022), ISBN 978-88-45-905-964, or
B) Kenneth GRAHAME, “The Wind in the Willows” (1908), trad. it. di Beppe Fenoglio, “Il vento nei salici”, Torino, Einaudi, 2007, ISBN 978-88-06-19076-7

6) NORTH WINDS
A) Selma LAGERLÖF, “Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige” (1906); trad. it di Laura Cangemi, “Il meraviglioso viaggio di Nils Holgersson”, Milano, Iperborea, 2017, ISBN 978-88-7091-232-6, or
B) Astrid LINDGREN, “Vi Pa Saltkrakan” (1964); trad. it. di Laura Draghi, “Vacanze all’Isola dei Gabbiani”, con illustrazioni di Grazia Nidasio, Firenze, Salani, 2018, ISBN 978-88-93816-82-3

7) NATURE AND CULTURE
A) Gerald DURRELL, “My Family and Others Animals” (1956); trad. it. di Adriana Motti, “La mia famiglia e altri animali”, Milano, Adelphi, 2019, ISBN 978-88-459-0733-3, or
B) Italo CALVINO, “Il barone rampante” (1957); edizione “Oscar Classici”, con uno scritto di Cesare Cases, Milano, Mondadori, 2017, ISBN 978-88-04-66819-0

As regards the program for NON ATTENDING STUDENTS (therefore those who have not attended classroom lessons), in addition to the integral study of volumes 1 and 2 (therefore Grilli and Calame), some additional readings are required, to be established together with the teacher (after sending an e-mail message).

GENERAL NOTES

The list of texts indicated in the bibliography may undergo variations; it will be necessary to check the complete and definitive version of the program at the end of the course. Students who do not attend the lessons are asked to send an electronic message to the teacher to arrange a possible interview, reasonably in advance of the exam. The lessons will be held in the manner established by the University, in accordance with the safety regulations, and at the moment they are still being defined (therefore further clarifications will be provided). The reception time will be set accordingly. The interviews will take place at studio 2.23, at Polo Zanotto, on the second floor. It is advisable to agree on the interview in advance, especially in the periods following the end of the course. The teacher's address is the institutional one: massimo.scotti@univr.it

The teacher answers from Monday to Friday morning, on non-holiday days, except for emergencies. The lessons will be frontal, in Italian; students will be encouraged to intervene with questions, requests for clarification and any type of comment that may serve to deepen and clarify the topics, individually and collectively.

METHOD OF THE EXAM

The exam will take place orally, in Italian. The texts to be studied are the following: the two critical essays (number 1, 2). At least FOUR novels to be chosen for each of the sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The candidate will be asked to compile a list of these texts, to be presented for the exam. During the exam (which gives the right to 6 credits) the knowledge of the topics and the analytical skills developed by the student will be ascertained. The interview that will form the core of the exam will be aimed at verifying:
- the depth and breadth of the acquired knowledge
- the language properties and the mastery of adequate technical terminology
- the ability to analytically compare styles, texts, themes, authors, periods, literary genres
- analytical and argumentative ability

In particular, the teacher will appreciate a critical, personal and possibly original analysis of the topics covered, not a tired repetition. Of the texts, for example, it will be more interesting to highlight the peculiarities and the literary value than the narrative of the plot, which will be taken for granted. The teacher will try to respond quickly to e-mail messages from Monday to Friday morning, on non-holiday days; the reception time will be fixed later, when the lesson times will be established; the studio is on the second floor of Polo Zanotto (room 2.23).

As for the program for NON ATTENDING STUDENTS (therefore those who have not attended classroom lessons), it will be established later.

Composition of the final grade

The grade will be established on the basis of the results of the interview, with a sufficient basis of 18/30, up to the excellent (30/30, with possible honors). The acquired knowledge will be taken into account in the score; attention in the readings; the style of expression; the correctness of the terms used; the critical ability demonstrated by the candidate.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lessons will be held in the manner established by the University, in accordance with safety regulations, and at the moment they are still being defined (there will therefore be further clarifications). The reception time will be set accordingly. The interviews will take place at studio 2.23, at Polo Zanotto, on the second floor. It is advisable to agree on the interview in advance, especially in the periods following the end of the course. The teacher's address is the institutional one: massimo.scotti@univr.it The teacher answers from Monday to Friday morning, on non-holiday days, except for emergencies. The lessons will be frontal, in Italian; students will be encouraged to intervene with questions, requests for clarification and any type of comment that may serve to deepen and clarify the topics, individually and collectively.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam will take place orally, in Italian. The texts to be studied are the following: the two critical essays (number 1, 2). At least FOUR novels to be chosen for each of the sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The candidate will be asked to compile a list of these texts, to be presented for the exam.

Evaluation criteria

The exam will take place orally, in Italian. The texts to be studied are the following: the two critical essays (number 1, 2). At least FOUR novels to be chosen for each of the sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The candidate will be asked to compile a list of these texts, to be presented for the exam.


During the exam (which gives the right to 6 credits) the knowledge of the topics and the analytical skills developed by the student will be ascertained.

The interview that will form the core of the exam will be aimed at verifying:
- the depth and breadth of the knowledge acquired
- the property of language and the mastery of adequate technical terminology
- the ability to analytically compare styles, texts, themes, authors, periods, literary genres
- analytical and argumentative ability

In particular, the teacher will appreciate a critical, personal and possibly original analysis of the topics covered, not a tired repetition.
Of the texts, for example, it will be more interesting to highlight the peculiarities and the literary value than the narration of the plot, which will be taken for granted.

The teacher will try to respond quickly to e-mail messages from Monday to Friday morning, on non-holiday days; the reception time will be fixed later, when the lesson times will be established; the studio is on the second floor of Polo Zanotto (room 2.23).

The program for NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (therefore those who have not attended classroom lessons) will be established later.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The grade will be established based on the results of the interview, with a sufficient basis of 18/30, up to the excellent (30/30, with possible honors).
The acquired knowledge will be taken into account in the score; attention in the readings; the style of expression; the correctness of the terms used; the critical ability demonstrated by the candidate.

Exam language

Italiano