The English novel: types, texts, critical analysis

Through an in depth investigation of the elements of the novel and of some critical theories concerning this literary genre, the course means: 1) to improve the student’s capacity of personal reflection on the narrative text; 2) to guide him/her to the knowledge of the various types of novel, with special attention to the Victorian novel.

Moreover, through the close reading of emblematic sensation works, the course means: 3) to analyze the peculiarities of the sensation novel both in the context of the Victorian literary market and of the critical tradition.

Module A. “Studying the novel” (6 CFU): The course is grounded on the notions of English literary history already acquired by the students during their three years as undergraduates. It focuses on novel analysis and investigates the tradition of the English novel with regard to the definition and interaction of its various types in the Victorian age.

Module B. “The ‘sensation novel’ and the Victorian literary market” (3 CFU): Special attention is given to the role of the sensation novel in the Victorian literary market and to the approach of both 19th and 20th century critics to the issues it poses.

The course aims as well at giving and/or improving the methodological and critical instruments for individual research.

Module A. “Studying the novel”:

J. Hawthorn, Studying the novel, an introduction, London, Arnold, 1997. As an alternative: J. Peck, How to study a novel, London, Macmillan, 1995; or R. Gill, Mastering English Literature, Basingstoke & New York, Palgrave, last edition (part I, The novel);

 

One of the following:

P. Brantlinger & W.B. Thesing eds., A Companion to the Victorian Novel, Oxford, Blackwell, 2005 (part I, ch. 1; part II, chs. 13-21; part III, ch. 23);

D. David ed., The Cambridge Companion to The Victorian Novel, Cambridge, Cambridge U.P., 2002 (chs. 1-10).

 

Suggested readings:

L. Crisafulli - K. Elam eds., Manuale di cultura e letteratura inglese, Bononia U.P., 2008 (the chapters on the Victorian novel and the sensation novel);

F. Marucci, Storia della letteratura inglese, volume III, tomo II, Dal 1832 al 1870. Il romanzo, Firenze, Le Lettere, 2003 (the paragraphs on the authors and novels listed below).

 

At least one of the following novels must be read in full:

A. Brontë, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

C. Brontë, Shirley, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

E. Brontë, Wuthering Heights, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

J. Conrad, The Nigger of the Narcissus, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

C. Dickens, Hard Times, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

C. Dickens, David Copperfield, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

G. Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

E. Gaskell, Ruth, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

E. Gaskell, North and South, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

E. Gaskell, Wives and Daughters, London, Penguin, last ed.;

G. Gissing, The Odd Women, Virago, London, 1987;

R. Haggard, She, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

T. Hardy, The Mavor of Casterbridge, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

R. Kipling, Kim, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

G.A. Moore, Esther Waters, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

R. L. Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

W.M. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.;

O. Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Grey, Oxford, O.U.P., last ed.

 

Module B. “The ‘sensation novel’ and the Victorian literary market”:

G. Persico, Criminali, assassine, adultere, degenerate... folli? Rappresentazioni del femminile nel sensation novel: i testi e il contesto, Lugano, Lumieres internationales, 2008;

L. Pykett, The Sensation Novel from the The Woman in White to The Moonstone, Plymouth, Northcote House, 1994.