THEORY OF LITERATURE

The course is part of LLEAP degree course of study.
Aim of the course is to provide the fundamental critical tools for a theoretical and methodological reading of literary texts; to provide a comparative knowledge of these tools referred to their specific historical contexts and to the general context of the history of humanistic scholarship; to reflect on the creative quality of critical writing.

Knowledge.
Knowledge of the fundamental critical tools for a theoretical and methodological reading of literary texts; knowledge of the literary traditions of the countries in which the studied languages are spoken.
Competence.
The acquired theoretical knowledge is essential to develop the following competences: appropriate application of the theoretical tools for the analysis of the literary texts; to methodically develop an interdisciplinary approach to the subjects of study; to develop theoretical attention to the problem of the linguistic and cultural transfert of literay texts; to formulate, organise and develop autonomous research activities connected to the subject of study; to organise a scientific bibliography pertinently connected to a specific topic of study.
To develop a personal critical perspective on a specif subject of study and to debate it publicly.
Abilities.
To improve one’s abilities in scholarly oral and written expression.

The course has non specific pre-requisites.

TITLE OF THE COURSE: SEMIOLOGY AND STRUCTURALISM: ROLAND BARTHES
DESCRIPTION Roland Barthes is one of the most significant, incisive, influencial and multifaceted voices which marked the theoretical debate on literature during the second half of 20th century. His heretical practice of structuralism and structural semiology as well as structural psychoanalysis pioneered new ways of approaching textuality which still deserve attention and retain all their original disruptive energy. During the course, we will reflect on barthesian methodology paying particular attention to some specific notions such as “Fragment”, “Sign”, “Text”, “Duscourse”, “Writing”, “Structure”, “Language-Style”.

- Le Degré zéro de l'écriture (1953 et 1965) suivi de Nouveaux essais critiques, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1972; engl. tr. Writing Degree Zero, trans. by Annette Lavers and Colin Smith, London: Jonathan Cape, 1967
- Éléments de sémiologie, Denoël/Gonthier, Paris, 1965; engl. tr. Elements of
Semiology, trans. by Annette Lavers and Colin Smith, New York: Hill and Wang,1973
- Critique et Vérité, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1966; engl. tr. S/Z, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1974
- Le Plaisir du texte, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1973; engl. tr. The Pleasure of the
Text, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1975
- S/Z. Analyse de Sarrasine de H. de Balzac, Paris, Seuil, 1970; engl. tr. S/Z, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1974
- Fragments d’un discours amoureux, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 1977, engl. tr. A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments, trans. by Richard Howard, New York: Hill and Wang, 1978)
- Le bruissement de la langue, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1984; engl. tr. The Rustle of Language, trans. by Richard Howard, Oxford, Blackwell, 1986
- L'Aventure sémiologique, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1985; engl. tr. The Semiotic Challenge, trans. by Richard Howard, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press,1994
- Le Neutre : cours et séminaires au Collège de France 1977–1978, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 2002, engl tr.The Neutral: Lecture Course at the Collège de France (1977- 1978), trans. by Rosalind E. Krauss and Denis Hollier, New York: Columbia University Press, 2005)
Marcel Proust, Éditions du Seuil, 2020
Further bibliography (both secondary and primary) will be supplied during the course.

- Le Degré zéro de l'écriture (1953 et 1965) suivi de Nouveaux essais critiques, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1972; engl. tr. Writing Degree Zero, trans. by Annette Lavers and Colin Smith, London: Jonathan Cape, 1967
- Éléments de sémiologie, Denoël/Gonthier, Paris, 1965; engl. tr. Elements of
Semiology, trans. by Annette Lavers and Colin Smith, New York: Hill and Wang,1973
- Critique et Vérité, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1966; engl. tr. S/Z, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1974
- Le Plaisir du texte, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1973; engl. tr. The Pleasure of the
Text, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1975
- S/Z. Analyse de Sarrasine de H. de Balzac, Paris, Seuil, 1970; engl. tr. S/Z, trans. by Richard Miller, New York: Hill and Wang, 1974
- Fragments d’un discours amoureux, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 1977, engl. tr. A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments, trans. by Richard Howard, New York: Hill and Wang, 1978)
- Le bruissement de la langue, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1984; engl. tr. The Rustle of Language, trans. by Richard Howard, Oxford, Blackwell, 1986
- L'Aventure sémiologique, Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1985; engl. tr. The Semiotic Challenge, trans. by Richard Howard, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press,1994
- Le Neutre : cours et séminaires au Collège de France 1977–1978, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 2002, engl tr.The Neutral: Lecture Course at the Collège de France (1977- 1978), trans. by Rosalind E. Krauss and Denis Hollier, New York: Columbia University Press, 2005)
Marcel Proust, Éditions du Seuil, 2020
Further bibliography (both secondary and primary) will be supplied during the course.

The learning will be verified by means of an oral examination, which will focus on the themes, the problems and the texts explored and read in class.

Front lectures. Programmed students’ presentations.

Italian

The students unable to attend classes should refer to the lecturer for additional readings.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development