Teaching code

4S002927

Teacher

Emanuel Stelzer

Coordinator

Emanuel Stelzer

Credits

9

Language

English

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE

Period

I semestre (Area Lingue e letterature straniere) dal Sep 21, 2026 al Dec 23, 2026.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The module, taught in English, is meant to guide the students through a critical approach to the English Literature of the period going from the Restoration to late Romanticism, especially in relation to a representative range of texts of the canon. Besides, it aims at getting the students familiar with fundamental tools necessary for text analysis and genre criticism. Its overall goal is to provide the students with a good knowledge of the British literature of the set literary period (its historical context, its texts, genres, movements/authors) and of helping them develop skills for analysis, argumentation and exposition in English, in relation to various typologies of literary texts in their historical-cultural context. At the end of the module, students will be able to: -analyze the literary texts set in the syllabus in their historical-cultural contexts; -argumentatively discuss them by taking into account literary conventions and by applying an informed critical approach that is aware of the literary nature of the text; -demonstrate the acquired knowledge and skills, in English and in a clear and consistent way.

Prerequisites and basic notions

The English Literature 2 (L23) exam can be taken only after having passed the first year’s exams of English Language and Literature.

Program

Reinventing the Epic: Milton, Pope, and Keats: Heroes, Gods, and Lost Worlds
This course introduces students to literary texts from the late Interregnum to Romanticism, with particular attention to the transformations of the epic genre in John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667), Alexander Pope's brilliant mock-heroic poem, The Rape of the Lock (1717), and John Keats's fragments, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion: A Dream (1818–19). The historical contexts of these works will be examined as well as the metamorphosis of the epic between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and Romanticism. Furthermore, attention will be paid to the modes of circulation and publication, both in print and digital, of these texts and their adaptations. The program does not differentiate between attending and non-attending students. All texts listed in the syllabus are mandatory, except where 'optional reading' is indicated in brackets. In those cases, this is intended to deepen or facilitate study, but is not mandatory. Additional teaching materials will be made available on the Moodle platform.
• The use of editions other than those listed in the syllabus is not permitted. The texts are to be read in their entirety. In the case of articles or essays, please refer to the indicated pages. The primary texts (works by the authors listed in the syllabus) must be read in their original language.
Primary texts:
- John Milton, Paradise Lost. Edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2004 (or later editions) – mandatory books: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12
- Alexander Pope, Il riccio rapito. A cura di Viola Papetti. Milan: BUR, 2016 (or later editions);
- John Keats, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion: a Dream – the reference editions will be uploaded to Moodle.
Secondary texts:
- Noam Reisner, John Milton's Paradise Lost: A Reading Guide. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011).
- Barbara Kiefer Lewalski, “The Genres of Paradise Lost.” In The Cambridge Companion to Milton, edited by Daniel Danielson (Cambridge University Press, 2004), 113-29 (optional reading).
- Kent Beyette, “Milton and Pope's The Rape of the Lock.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 (1976), 16 (3): 421-36. - Sophie Gee, “Pope's Milton”. In Milton in the Long Restoration, edited by Ann Baynes Coiro and Blair Hoxby (Oxford University Press, 2016), 242-62 (optional reading).
- Stuart M. Sperry, Jr, “Milton, Keats and The Fall of Hyperion.” PMLA (1962) 77 (1): 77-84.
- Paul Sherwin, “Dying into Life: Keats's Struggle with Milton in Hyperion.” PMLA (1978) 93 (3): 383-95 (optional reading).
History of literature: Ronald Carter and John McRae, The Routledge History of Literature in English. Routledge, 2021: chapters “RESTORATION TO ROMANTICISM: 1660-1789” & “THE ROMANTIC PERIOD: 1789-1832”.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will consist of a series of lectures which foresee the active involvement of the students. Lectures will be held in English.

Learning assessment procedures

Knowledge acquisition will be evaluated through an oral exam, which will consist in a discussion of the topics dealt with during the course. There will not be differences between the exam of attending students and the one of non-attending students.

Evaluation criteria

Knowledge acquisition will be proved assessing the student’s:
1) knowledge of the history of English literature of the period indicated in the syllabus;
2) understanding of the primary texts in the syllabus, setting them in their historical and cultural context;
3) acquisition of a suitable critical methodology for the analysis of texts and contexts;
4) skills in analysing texts and ability to discuss and argue one’s thesis in English.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final mark will result from the average of the grades assigned according to the four criteria described above.

Exam language

English