SERBIAN AND CROATIAN LITERATURE 2 MOD.1

The course is part of the common curriculum of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Languages, Civilisations and Language Sciences and is addressed to students interested in the study of the literatures and cultures of the South Slavic area. It offers a specific focus on the ways in which narrative texts are constructed and organised.

At the end of the course the student will know how to:
- correctly use the philological and historical-cultural terminology in the main areas in which the teaching is organized;
- orientate oneself in the critical debate on studied topics, in order then to formulate hypotheses on various issues of the discipline;
- communicate the contents of the course in a clear and technically adequate manner, using the register relevant to the communicative situation;

Basic knowledge of European history of the 20th century.

The course explores the complexity of narrative structures in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian literature by comparing a selection of classical and contemporary works. Through the reading of Ivo Andrić’s "The Devil’s Yard" (La corte del diavolo), Aleksandar Tišma’s "The Use of Man" (L’uso dell’uomo), and two contemporary works, Stevo Grabovac’s "Poslije zabave" (Dopo la festa) and Amir Alagić’s "Ogledalo za krletku", students will examine different forms of narrative plot construction, the organisation of time, narrative perspectives and levels of narration.

The course is supported by the theoretical framework of Gérard Genette’s narratology theory, with particular reference to "Narrative Discourse" (Figure III. Discorso del racconto) and "Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation" (Soglie. I dintorni del testo). These works provide students with methodological tools for analysing narrative structures and the ways in which literary texts are constructed. By comparing works belonging to different periods and literary traditions, the course will investigate continuities, transformations and new possibilities in the art of storytelling within the South Slavic literary space.

The course therefore contributes to the development of students’ skills in critical reading and textual analysis, combining the study of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian literatures with the tools of literary theory and narratology. In this perspective, it promotes a comparative approach to literary texts and a deeper understanding of the relationship between narrative form, memory, history and literary representation.

Required readings:

I. Andrić, La corte del diavolo, traduzione di Lionello Costantini, Milano, Adelphi, 1992.
A. Tišma, L’uso dell’uomo, traduzione di Lionello Costantini, Milano, Jaca Book, 1988 [nuova edizione: 2017].
S. Grabovac, Dopo la festa, traduzione di Marija Bradaš e Marijana Puljić, Venezia, Marsilio, 2025.
A. Alagić, Ogledalo za krletku, Zagabria, Durieux, 2022.

Theoretical references:
G. Genette, Figure III. Discorso del racconto, traduzione italiana di Lina Zecchi, Torino, Einaudi, 1976.
G. Genette, Soglie. I dintorni del testo, a cura di Camilla Maria Cederna, Torino, Einaudi, 1989.

The learning assessment takes place through an oral test that lasts 20-30 minutes. During the test the student must demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered during the course and know how to present them in a formal way. The constant and active participation in the lessons is positively evaluated.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

The grading of the exam is determined by: 1. knowledge of the topics covered during the course (up to 10 points); 2. ability to deepen the topic requested by the instructor (up to 5 points); 3. detailed and precise knowledge (up to 5 points); 4. confidence in the presentation (up to 5 points); 5. ability to independently structure the discourse (up to 5 points).

Lectures and seminars with guest lecturers.