Teaching code

4S002911

Teacher

Carla Sassi

Coordinator

Carla Sassi

Credits

9

Language

English

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE

Period

I semestre (Lingue e letterature straniere) dal Sep 26, 2022 al Dec 23, 2022.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The aim of the course is to provide students with: - a basic knowledge of the history of the British Empire - a basic knowledge of postcolonial theories At the end of the course students will be able to: - discuss the selected literary texts through the critical theories introduced in the course - discuss in English, in a clear and consistent way, the topics dealt with in the course

Prerequisites and basic notions

English literature 1 and English language 1

Program

"Representing diasporas in Anglophone literatures"
The course will focus on three texts narrating diasporic experiences from different cultural and temporal contexts and on the problematic representation of the im/migrant as 'Other', through the lens of postcolonial and diaspora studies.
Bibliography:
John McLeod, Beginning Postcolonialism, Manchester University Press (pref. 2nd edition) [chap. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]
Bernardine Evaristo, Blonde Roots (2009)
Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007)
Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift (2019)
Further indications/materials will be provided in class.
The present syllabus is valid until the exam session of Winter 2025.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary texts
-B. Evaristo, Blonde Roots (qualsiasi edizione in inglese)
-M. Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (qualsiasi edizione in inglese)
-Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift (qualsiasi edizione in inglese)
Secondary texts
-J. McLeod, Beginning Postcolonialism, Manchester University Press (pref. 2^ edizione) [chaps. 1, 2, 3, 5,6,7]
- K. Burkitt, “Blonde Roots, black history: History and the form of the slave narrative in Bernardine Evaristo's Blonde Roots”, Journal of postcolonial writing, 2012, Vol.48 (4)
-P. Morey, "The rules of the game have changed": Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist and post-9/11 fiction”, Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 2011, Vol.47 (2),
-S. Goyal, “Playing with the Book: Namwali Serpell on the 'Great Zambian Novel” Wasafiri, 2020, Vol.35 (1), p.42-47.
Additional bibliography for non attending students
-J. McLeod, Beginning Postcolonialism, Manchester University Press (pref. 2^ edizione) [chaps. 4,8]
-J. Newman, “The Black Atlantic as Dystopia: Bernardine Evaristo’s Blonde Roots”, Comparative literature studies (Urbana), 2012, Vol.49 (2).
-M. Marais, “Hospitality, Reading, and the Aesthetic of Uncertainty: Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist”, Journal of narrative theory, 2021, Vol.51 (1)
-A. Monaco, “Narrative Form and Palimpsestic Memory in Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift” Simplegadi 2020, Vol.18 (20), p.92-106.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will be taught in the English language.
Students will have to register for the webclass on the e-Learning platform, and check it regularly for updates.

Learning assessment procedures

Oral exam, in the English language

Evaluation criteria

Students will have to demonstrate:
Their ability to express themselves with correct and appropriate language.
Their ability to comment / analyze, even in a simple way, the literary texts discussed in class.
Their ability to summarize, even in a simple way, the critical texts in the reading list.
Understanding and the core knowledge of the topics discussed in class.
Critical thinking and an ability to develop evidence-based arguments will be especially rewarded.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will be based equally on the above criteria. 30 e lode is reserved only for students who demonstrate critical processing skills and ability to develop evidence-based arguments.

Exam language

inglese