ITALIAN LITERATURE 1 MOD I

The course is inserted between the basic disciplines of the degree programme in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management and aims to provide an adequate critical knowledge of Italian literature from its origins to the sixteenth century and the fundamental tools for textual interpretation in their connection with the events of history. The teaching activity aims to start a critically and philologically aware analysis of the literary texts, founded on the mastery of the technical language.
Its main objectives are: 1) to trace the development of Italian literature, resorting to a historical and critical approach that combines theory with the analysis of meaningful texts, both in prose and in verse; 2) to encourage the development of critical thinking in the study of literary texts; 3) to offer the basic methodology that should be employed in the analysis of literary texts.

1) Knowledge and comprehension
Students should be able to trace the history of Italian literature from its origins to the sixteenth century; they should know the main authors of the period and their works; they should know and understand both the language and the contents of literary texts of the period, written in prose and in verse.

2) Employment of knowledge and comprehension skills
Students should be able to employ their knowledge in the study of Italian literature, highlighting the connections between literature and art; they should be able to use in a proper way the specific vocabulary of the discipline; they should be able to analyse literary texts both in prose and in verse.

3) Judgment
Students should be able to analyse in a personal and critical way literary texts and issues.

4) Communication skills
Students should be able to express their knowledge and ideas resorting to a proper vocabulary.

5) Learning skills
Students should be able to critically consult the assigned texts as well as the bibliography.

A good knowledge of Italian language; standard abilities to understand texts written in Italian; basic knowledge of Italian literature.

This class will be devoted to the development of Italian literature, from its origins to the sixteenth century. Highlighting the connections between art and literary production, it will focus on the main authors of the period, analysing their poetics, works and connections with contemporary historical and cultural contexts. Meaningful literary texts, written both in prose and in verse, will be examined.
The following main topics will be analysed:
- The origins of Italian literature
- Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio
- The age of Humanism between Latin and the vernacular
- The sixteenth century from the Renaissance to Mannerism.

For the history of Italian literature from its origins to the sixteenth century, see G. Alfano, P. Italia, E. Russo, F. Tomasi, “Profilo di letteratura italiana”, Milano, Mondadori, 2021 (from part 1 to part 6 included. A detailed list of the chapters which must be studied for the final exam will be uploaded to the Moodle). Alternatively, other complete handbooks devoted to this period can be used.
A dossier containing the texts, both in prose and in verse, that students must study for the final exam together with the handbook, will be uploaded to the Moodle at the beginning of the course.

Oral exam, which aims at testing students’ knowledge of the syllabus. Students will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of the themes and texts analysed in class, to detect connections between literature and contemporary historical and cultural contexts, and to analyse and comment literary texts in an accurate way. Students will be evaluated also according to their ability to employ a proper vocabulary.
Further details on the assessment criteria can be found in the following sections.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

A final mark between 18 and 22 will be given to students who will demonstrate a generic but acceptable knowledge of the contents of the course, a basic ability to understand and analyse literary texts, even if they make some mistakes, and basic but not always correct language skills.
A final mark between 23 and 26 will be obtained by students who will demonstrate a good knowledge of the contents of the course, an effective ability to understand and analyse literary texts, despite some slight inaccuracies, and suitable language skills, resorting adequately to the technical vocabulary of literary criticism.
A final mark between 27 and 30 will be awarded to students who will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the contents of the course, a remarkable ability to understand and analyse literary texts, and outstanding language skills, resorting to the technical vocabulary of literary criticism with proficiency. When all these parameters are excellent students get 30 cum laude.
Students will not pass the final exam if they show poor knowledge of the contents of the course, scarce ability to understand and analyse literary text, and inadequate language skills.

Lectures with active student participation. Discussion of historical-literary and theoretical issues and analysis of texts subject to study. Literary texts and other didactic material, which have to be studied for the final exam, will be made available on the e-learning platform (Moodle).

The Italian literature course is formed by two modules and will give one comprehensive mark. Students can take a single oral exam, that include the programme of both the first and second module, starting from the 2026 summer session.
They can also choose to take an intermediary oral exam, focused on the programme of the first module. This can be done after the end of the third period. In this case, the final mark will be recorded once students have also taken the exam devoted the second module, i.e. starting from the 2026 summer session.
Each student can choose either to take a single oral exam or to split the exam into two parts. In the latter case, students must pass the exam devoted the first module before they take the exam focused on the second module.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development