ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM THE ORIGINS TO 1700

The course aims: 1) to promote and/or to improve the study of English literature, also providing the basic tools for in-depth analysis of literary texts; 2) to provide a broad, general survey of the development of English literature from its origins until the end of the 18th century, with special emphasis on the main features of literary periods and movements and selected (major) authors; 3) to help undergraduates to acquire critical habits in reading literature and to develop an understanding of the importance of social and cultural issues in literary texts.

The course comprises two modules: 1) Foundations of English literature until the end of the 18th century (6 cfu); 2) Heroinism and experimentalism in Mary Wollstonecraft (3 cfu).

It aims: 1) to promote and/or to improve the study of English literature, also providing the basic tools for in-depth analysis of literary texts; 2) to provide a broad, general survey of the development of English literature from its origins until the end of the 18th century, with special emphasis on the main features of literary periods and movements and selected (major) authors; 3) to help undergraduates to acquire critical habits in reading literature and to develop an understanding of the importance of social and cultural issues in literary texts.

Module A) Defining features of Old- and Middle-English, Elizabethan, Restoration and Augustan literature; literary movements and selected authors; close reading of excerpts from major authors’ works.

Module B) In-depth analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft’s narrative works. This module will also investigate Mary Wollstonecraft’s role as an innovative writer and original thinker in the context of late 18th century literature and society. Special attention will be given to W. Godwin’s Memoirs of Mary Wollstonecraft.

Modulo A. Fondamenti (6 CFU)

P. Bertinetti ed., Storia della letteratura Inglese, Einaudi, Torino, 2000, in two volumes: I volume, Dalle origini al Settecento, pp. 3-383.

As an alternative, one of the following:

A. Cattaneo, Short History of English Literature. Vol. I: From the Middle Ages to the Romantics, Milano, Mondadori, 2011, pp. 3-225;

A. Sanders, The Short Oxford History of English Literature, London, O.U.P., 2004 (chapters 1-5), pp. 3-375.

Suggested reading:

L.M. Crisafulli – K. Elam (eds), Manuale di letteratura e di cultura inglese, Bononia University Press, Bologna, 2009, part I, pp. 1-180 e pp. 219-40.

Anthology: Selected literary texts and excerpts (available in the teacher’s office and at studium.unict.it).

Methodology and critical terms: J.A. Cuddon, The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, London, Penguin, last ed. (selected entries); or: R. Fowler, A dictionary of modern critical terms, London, Routledge, last ed. (selected entries).

Modulo B. Approfondimenti: “Eroinismo e sperimentalismo in Mary Wollstonecraft” (3 CFU)

G. Persico, Mary Wollstonecraft tra (auto)biografia e critica sociale. La sua narrativa e il “Ritratto” di William Godwin, Lugano, Lumières internationales, 2011, pp. 9-421;

C.L. Johnson ed., The Cambridge Companion to Mary Wollstonecraft, Cambridge U.P., 2002 (1 essay);

L. Crisafulli – M. Silvani eds., Mary versus Mary, Napoli, Liguori, 2002 (1 essay);

G. Kelly, “Introduction” to M. Wollstonecraft, Mary and The Wrongs of Woman, O.U.P., last ed., pp.vii-xxi;

V. Woolf, “Mary Wollstonecraft”, in Le donne e la scrittura, Milano, La Tartaruga, 1990, pp. 97-104.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the program can be consulted in the Library.