RUSSIAN LITERATURE 1

The title of the course is: "From Ancient Literature to Pushkin: An Introduction".

It is one of the basic teachings common to all the curricula of the Degree Course in Languages, Civilizations and Language Sciences and the Degree Course in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa for those who have chosen Russian as the language of study.

The aim is to provide a series of basic notions regarding the main aspects of East Slavic civilization, focusing primarily on that of the country, Russia, whose language the student intends to learn (in all degree courses and in all the areas that include the study of it). Through a periodization of the historical and cultural development of the territories that are now part of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, the fundamental stages will be retraced, from the formation of the first state entities to the early nineteenth century. Against this backdrop, the student will be guided to situate the most significant social, institutional, cultural, artistic, and literary phenomena that characterize the East Slavic (and Russian in particular) universe in its various phases. This will enable them to acquire a set of basic notions that, depending on the chosen curriculum, will be studied in greater depth in the following years.

1. Knowledge and understanding
• Knowledge of the historical-cultural development of Eastern Slavic and Russian from its origins to the beginning of the 19th century;
• Mastery of Russian literary peculiarities and thought from its origins to the beginning of the 19th century;
• Learning of Pushkin's biography.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
• Appropriately use critical terminology in reflecting on the historical, cultural and literary development of Russia in the period under consideration;
• Ability to correctly systematize from a chronological point of view the historical-cultural phenomena addressed.

3. Communication skills
• Knowing how to explain with appropriate terminology the specificities of the textual typologies addressed;
• Knowing how to interact with peers and with the teacher in a critical and respectful way.

4. Learning skills
• Knowing how to critically analyze the texts (primary and secondary) in the program.

No pre-requirement is required.

The course offers an overview of the development of East Slavic – especially Russian – literature and culture from its origins to the beginning of the 19th century. The main topics will be: the concept of "Slavia Orthodoxa"; the implications of Christianization in East Slavic lands; ancient literature (religious and secular) and folklore; the influence of the "Tatar yoke" on Russian culture; the figure of Peter the Great and the consequences of his reforms on Russian society; some aspects of eighteenth-century Russian literature; and the figure of Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837). Politically, the course will examine, among others, the state entities known as "Kyiv Rus'," the "Novgorod Republic," the "Principality of Galicia-Volhynia," the "Cossack Hetmanate," "Muscovy," and the "Russian Empire."

If you need a bibliography in English language, please contact the lecturer.

Oral exam.

The preparation must be conducted on ALL the COMPULSORY reference texts, to be read and studied in their entirety, as well as on the slides uploaded to Moodle. The teacher may begin the questioning by proposing an extract from one of the primary texts, asking the student to recognize it and comment on it based on the stylistic and thematic peculiarities that he/she identifies; after which other questions will be asked aimed at verifying the knowledge of the other COMPULSORY texts, as well as the historical data and cultural context on the Eastern Slavs and Russians from the origins to the beginning of the 19th century.
Each exam may last a maximum of 25 minutes.

N.B.: READING ONLY THE LITERARY TEXTS IS NOT ENOUGH TO PASS THE EXAM: IF STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW THE CRITICAL TEXTS, IT WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC FAILURE OF THE EXAM.

oral

A. scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- knowledge of the essential points of the plots of literary works and critical essays, although suggestions from the teacher are necessary;
- sufficient ability to orient oneself on the historical evolution of the Eastern Slavs and Russians;
- limited communication skills.
B. scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge of the plots of literary works and critical essays, with some occasional corrective intervention by the teacher;
- fair ability to orient oneself on the historical evolution of the Eastern Slavs and Russians;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of a language specific to literary criticism without falling into "technical jargon".
C. scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge of the program, ability to establish connections between the works and formulate independent judgments starting from one's own critical readings;
- good or very good ability to orient oneself on the historical evolution of the Eastern Slavs and Russians;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of a language specific to literary criticism without falling into "technical jargon".
D. honors (cum laude) will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program, judgment ability and communication skills.

Lectures given by the teacher of the course.

Three additional online meetings led by a tutor are also planned (days and times will be announced after the course begins via the Moodle page of the course), during which students will practice capturing the key points of Lotman-Uspenskij's essay, as well as summarizing Pushkin's two works for the exam.

Lecture attendance is strongly recommended in order to pass the exam in the best possible way. Students who cannot attend lectures and fall into the special categories indicated on the University website (https://www.unive.it/pag/42819/ ) will have access to ad hoc preparation material on the moodle platform of the course; in any case, it is strongly recommended to contact the professor to arrange an office hour appointment (or an online call) in order to better understand how to study at least two months before the exam session in which you intend to take the exam.

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