ANGLO-AMERICAN LITERATURE 2

The course is part of the BA in Languages, Civilization and the Science of Language and aims at providing an introduction to the history of American literature through textual and cultural analysis.
The course aims at stimulating student to reflect on the evolution of literary language, forms and genres and to provide them with methods for analyzing texts and contextualizing them from a cultural-historical viewpoint. This will prepare students for advanced studies in both the literary and the cultural fields.

The learning outcomes of these course entail developing:
1. Good knowledge of the history of American literature from the colonial era to the American Renaissance;
2. Ability to apply such knowledge to the textual and cultural analysis of a literary text;
3. Ability to formulate critical hypotheses and judgments;
4. Communication skills and appropriate terminology;
5. Autonomous reading of handbooks and suggested materials.

Good knowledge of written and spoken English (≥ B2)

American literature from the colonial period to the American Renaissance.

Mandatory readings:
Selected readings available on moodle:

J. Smith, from The General History of Virginia
W. Bradford, from Of Plymouth Plantation
J. Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”
A. Bradstreet, selections
M. Rowlandson, from A Narrative
C. Mather, from Magnalia Christi Americana
J. Edwards, "Personal Narrative"
B. Franklin, from The Autobiography
J. Hector St. John De Crèvecoeur, Letters from an American Farmer (III)
T. Jefferson, from The Autobiography
P. Wheatley, selected poems
W. C. Bryant, selected poems
R. W. Emerson, Nature, "The American Scholar"
M. Fuller, from At Home and Abroad
H.D. Thoreau, "Walking"
N. Hawthorne, "The Birth-mark", The Scarlet Letter*
H. Melville, Benito Cereno
W. Whitman, selections
E. Dickinson, selections

As for The Scarlet Letter we recommend the Norton Critical edition (1988 or later)

Fink, Guido et al. Storia della letteratura americana. Firenze: Sansoni, 1996 (CAPITOLI I-II)

Suggested readings:
Franco Brioschi, Girolamo C. Di, e Massimo Fusillo, a cura di, Introduzione alla letteratura. Roma: Carocci, 2013.
Paola Cabibbo, a cura di, La letteratura americana dell'età coloniale. Roma: Nuova Italia scientifica, 1993.
Alessandro Portelli e Annalucia Accardo, a cura di, La formazione della cultura nazionale: la letteratura degli Stati Uniti dall'indipendenza all'età di Jackson, 1776-1850. Roma: Carocci, 1999.
Richard Gray. A Brief History of American Literature, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, pagg. 1-158.

Non attending students are required to contact the professor at least 2 months before the exam session for instructions on additional required readings.

WRITTEN EXAM (2 hours, 60% of the final grade):
1) 30-minute close-question test made to evaluate the knowledge of notions of literary history (handbook).
2) identification and analysis of excerpts from literary texts (1h30’) made to evaluate the ability of making critical judgments while analyzing and contextualizing a text.

ORAL EXAM (30 minutes max., 40% of the final grade):
1) discussion about the written exam
2) further questions made to evaluate the ability of making critical judgments while analyzing and contextualizing a text.
3) questions on further required readings for non attending students.

Lectures and class discussion

Italian

Students are invited to attend the lectures and conferences organized by the American studies section.

written and oral