COMPARATIVE LITERATURE A - L

The Course aims to transfer to new students – as clearly as possible - the main Concepts of the Literary Debate, through different and culturally basic samples of Literary Criticism and Literary Texts. The whole Course is a reading and writing Lab; the Students will work individually and in groups. At the end of any part of the Course the student who has attended the majority of classes (attendance is highly recommended), will be able to analyze complex literary texts, will practice textual analysis (schematic diagram, summary, and so on), and will write short original literary essays.

The whole Course is a reading and writing Lab; it is divided in four modules (18 hours each) in order to help the freshmen. Students will work either individually and in group.

The Course is divided in four Parts, The first Part focuses on the great issues of contemporary literary debate. The second Part focuses on social and psychological relevance of narration. The third Part faces the Literary Realism in Modern and Contemporary Literature with a special focus on Contamination’s Theme. The fourth Part faces the theme of Travel in Modern and Contemporary Literature and Cinema.

Modulo A: The Keywords of Literary Theory (3 CFU).

Texts: F. Brioschi, C. Di Girolamo, M. Fusillo, Introduzione alla letteratura, Carocci, Roma, pp. 13-272 ; U. Eco, “Su alcune funzioni della letteratura” in Sulla letteratura, Bompiani, Milano, 2003, pp. 7-22; G. Steiner, «Che cosa è la letteratura comparata?» in Nessuna passione spenta. Saggi 1978- 1996, Garzanti, Milano 1996, pp. 86-103; I. Calvino, «Perché leggere i classici» (pp. 1816-24, vol. II), «Tradurre è il vero modo di leggere un testo» (pp. 1825-31, vol. II), L’italiano, una lingua tra le altre lingue» (pp. 146-153, vol. I) e «L’antilingua» (pp. 154-159, vol. I) in Saggi, Mondadori, Milano 1995; P. Levi, “Dello scrivere oscuro” e “Tradurre ed essere tradotti”, in L’altrui mestiere, Opere, Einaudi, Torino, pp. 676-681, e 730-34; M. Bachtin, «Epos e romanzo» in Estetica e romanzo, Einaudi, Torino 1997, pp. 445-482.

Modulo B: Literature as a Social Institution (3 CFU).

Texts: P. Jedlowski, Storie comuni. La narrazione nella vita quotidiana, Bruno Mondadori, pp. 1-224.

Modulo C: Realism and Contamination (3 CFU)

Textes: A. Camus, La peste, Bompiani; D. DeLillo, Rumore bianco, Einaudi. Film: F. Schepisi, Sei gradi di separazione, 1993. Critical essay: F. Amigoni, Il modo mimetico-realistico, Laterza.

Modulo D: Travel in Literature and Film: Under Conrad’s Eyes – 3 CFU - (reading of the novel and the vision of the movie are required)

Texts: J. Conrad, Cuore di tenebra, Mondadori; Film: F.F. Coppola, Apocalypse Now. Critical essay: P. Fasano, Letteratura e viaggio, Roma-Bari, Laterza.

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 programs can be consulted in the Library.