Corso di laurea in Culture e letterature
del mondo moderno

The course contributes to the development of an articulate and systematic knowledge of the modern world in its multiple cultural expressions, in particular by developing historical-literary skills.
The consolidation of the basic knowledge of Italian literary culture, one of the specific educational objectives of the degree course in Cultures and Literatures of the Modern World, will be achieved through a historical-institutional course and an in-depth study of a specific issue (characteristics and transformations of chivalric characters), with the aim of perfecting the mastery of the theoretical and critical tools necessary for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts.

In accordance with the objectives of the degree course, at the end of the teaching students should be able to
1) Briefly present the main features of Italian literary history from the origins to the sixteenth century;
2) present the main points of the theoretical discourse on character in literary works;
3) discuss characteristics and transformations of chivalric characters;
4) interpreting and commenting on passages from the works in the programme;
5) autonomously interpret other similar texts.

The course takes place in the classroom, with both lectures and seminars involving the active participation of students, and does not include the recording of lectures.

Learning will be tested through oral examinations, with marks expressed in thirtieths. Each examination includes at least one question on the first part and one on the second part. The questions are of two main types: 1) general, to assess the student's ability to elaborate personally, to identify and organise the main issues and to explain the arguments clearly and appropriately, using the specific language of literary studies; 2) reading and commenting on a passage, to assess competence in understanding and interpreting literary texts.
There will be in itinere tests, which replace, for those who attend, part of the oral examination.

The course is divided into two parts. The first has a historical-institutional approach, the second is dedicated to a journey through chivalric characters, from ancient theory to twentieth-century transformations.

Part 1 Italian literature from the origins to the sixteenth century

The history of Italian literature up to the sixteenth century will be explored through problematic and methodological discussions. In particular, the following topics will be dealt with:
Periodization and historiographic categories;
the role of manuscripts and printing;
literary genres;
texts and macrotexts;
narrative structures;
metrical analyses;
intertextuality;
tradition, interpretation, fortune.

Part 2 Chivalric Characters
After a presentation of the critical theories on the role of the character in narration, a textual verification will be proposed through a historical and analytical path focused on chivalric characters, with a main focus on two moments and forms: the fifteenth-sixteenth-century chivalric poem and the novel of the second half of the twentieth century.
In particular, the following topics will be covered
1) theories of character from Plato and Aristotle to the twentieth century;
2) the birth of knights: the origins of chivalric characters in Italian literature;
3) chivalric characters in the works of Boiardo and Ariosto;
4) metamorphosis of knights: examples of "chivalric" presences among the characters of the Italian novel of the second half of the twentieth century, in particular in the works of Italo Calvino and Elsa Morante.

Part 1
The reference text is:
Giancarlo Alfano - Paola Italia - Emilio Russo - Franco Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Dalle Origini a metà Cinquecento. Manuale per studi universitari, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2018.
For non-attenders: to be prepared in full.
For students: the following parts must be prepared: Epoca 1. Le origini, pp. 3-7, 15-60. Epoca 2. Le Tre Corone e la cultura del Trecento, pp. 95-300. Epoca 3. La stagione dell'Umanesimo, pp. 331-347. Epoca 4. La cultura delle corti, pp. 393-397, 405-458. Epoca 5. Il Rinascimento, pp. 479-566, 581-649.

Part 2

1) Dossier of critical texts on the character, present in the teaching material
2) Matteo Maria Boiardo, L'inamoramento de Orlando, 5 canti
3) Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando furioso, 5 cantos
4) Italo Calvino, Il cavaliere inesistente
5) Elsa Morante, L'isola di Arturo

It is recommended that you register within the first week of classes and consult the notices on the teaching page for any changes and updates related to any new restrictions.

Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher before starting to prepare for the examination.