ANGLO-AMERICAN LITERATURE 2 MOD. 1

The course is part of the Languages, Civilizations and Language Sciences Degree Program and aims to provide students with an introduction to the history of American literature from its origins to the early 19th century through textual and cultural analysis. It is intended to develop skills in reflecting on the evolution of a sense of American identity, American language and its literary forms and genres, and to provide methodological tools for textual analysis, with a focus on historical and cultural context. The achievement of these objectives will facilitate the student in pursuing the advanced study of American literature and prepare him or her for subsequent in-depth studies related to the cultural literary curriculum.

The learning outcomes of these course entail developing:
1. good knowledge of the history of American literature from the so-called "discovery" to the early 19th century;
2. the ability to apply such knowledge to the textual and cultural analysis of a literary text;
3. the ability to formulate critical hypotheses and judgments;
4. communication skills and appropriate terminology;
5. autonomous reading of handbooks and critical essays.

Good knowledge of written and spoken English (≥ B2)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to American literature and its key texts and authors, from the so-called "discovery" through the colonial period till the beginning of the 19th century. The course specifically focuses on the idea of "America" as a geographical and rhetorical construction, from Columbus up till the 1820s. The course will deal with the "transnational" origin of the American nation, from the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia, to the slave narrative of Olaudah Equiano and James Fenimore Cooper's novels, with a specific reference to the relationship with Native Americans.

Mandatory readings (see Moodle page of the course):
- Christopher Columbus. A selection
- John Smith, Extracts
- Terrence Malick. The New World. 2005.
- William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation. Extracts
- John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity. Extracts
- Mary Rowlandson, a selection
- Crevecoeur, “What Is an American?”, Letters from an American Farmer
- Olaudah Equiano, a selection from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of …
- James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans. Extract from The Norton Anthology
- The Last of the Mohicans (film by Michael Mann)

Secondary sources
- Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors, eds. A New Literary History of America. A selection
- VINCENT CARRETTA, “Olaudah Equiano: African British abolitionist and founder of the African American slave narrative”
- Cabibbo, "Indian captivity narrative" and “John Smith”, in La letteratura americana dell’età coloniale
- Heike Paul, chapter on Pocahontas
- Tzvetan Todorov. La conquista dell’America. Parte prima fino a Colombo. (in biblioteca)
- Donatella Izzo. “Dalla storiografia al mito, dal mito alla storia: William Bradford e Of Plimmoth Plantation.” La letteratura americana dell’età coloniale, a cura di Paola Cabibbo.

The oral examination, lasting about 30 minutes, will assess the student's historical-literary knowledge (drawn from textbooks and critical readings), textual analysis and critical judgment abilities, capacity to formulate critical hypotheses, and command of appropriate terminology during their presentation.

oral

The minimum grade is 18, the maximum grade is 30 cum laude. Grades correspond to:
A. range 18-22: sufficient content knowledge; limited ability to discuss independently, limited knowledge of theoretical tools, limited knowledge of cultural-historical context and debates.
B. range 23-26: fair content knowledge; fair independent discussion skills, fair knowledge of theoretical tools, fair knowledge of cultural-historical context and debates.
C. range 27-29: good content knowledge; good independent discussion skills, good knowledge of theoretical tools, good knowledge of historical-cultural context and debates.
D. 30: very good content knowledge, independent discussion skills and very good knowledge of the theoretical tools; very good knowledge of the historical-cultural context and debates.
D. Honors/cum laude: awarded in case the knowledge of contents, the independent discussion skills, the knowledge of theoretical tools, of the cultural-historical context and of the debates are excellent and the student expands what is required by the course syllabus.

Beside lectures, the course welcomes class discussion.

ATTENTION:
This course is assessed together with Prof. Francescato's part of American Literature 2. This module is part of the 12-credit course in Anglo-American Literature 2 and cannot be assessed separately. Students also need to take module 2 during the same exam session.