CZECH LITERATURE 1

The course is part of the curriculum and aims at understanding the history of Czech literature and culture, the theory of literary history and the analysis of literary text.

The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge of cultural and literary production in the Czech language as well as of a literary and cultural investigation. The analysis of the text is inserted in the historical - cultural discourse both in a diachronic sense, that is as a history of literature, and synchronically, as a specific phenomenon within a pulsating cultural system. The achievement of these objectives allows the student to enrich his literary and cultural education both in analytical and synthetic terms.

1. Knowledge and understanding
● Know the basic linguistic terminology and understand the texts that make it
use.
● To know literary production and its interaction with the different spheres of culture.
● To know the theory of analysis of the literary text in its linguistic, literary and cultural components.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● (Know the basic linguistic terminology and understand the texts that make it
use.) Knowing how to properly use linguistic terminology in all processes
application and communication of acquired knowledge.
● (Knowing the literary production and its interaction with the different spheres of culture.) Knowing how to relate the analysis of the specific text with contemporary and coherent critical production in addition to the mechanisms for using the text
● (To know the tools of analysis of the literary text in its linguistic, literary, cultural components.) To be able to apply the analysis tools and the literary production as a whole to the single specific text.

4. Communication skills
● Know how to communicate the specificities of literary reflection, using one
appropriate terminology.
● Knowing how to interact with peers and with the tutor, in a critical and respectful manner, in the presence and
on the virtual classroom forum.
5. Learning skills
.
● Knowing how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography in them
contained.

Knowledge of the Czech language is not required.

May 1st is Love Day in the Czech Republic. Couples gather under a blossoming tree to exchange a kiss. This tradition stems from the opening lines (“It is late in the evening – the first of May – / a May evening – a time for love”) of what is recognized as the quintessential Czech romantic poem: ‘Máj’ (“May,” 1836) by Karel Hynek Mácha (1810-1836). “May” is Mácha's most famous work, and through its analysis, the course aims to explore the peculiarities of romanticism in Czech culture.
Mácha's poem differs profoundly and radically from the work of his contemporaries. Policies of national awakening characterised the Czech literary context, the search for a poetic language and a body of work “worthy of the nation,” and the view of literature as a tool for educating the people. In addition to a specific analysis of the different levels of the text—compositional, narrative, figurative, and philosophical—the course will also investigate the reception of the text in the Czech Republic up to the present day: from the rejection that greeted May when it was first published, considered “too Byronic,” to its celebration as a “love poem,” to its identification as the greatest Czech poem and its author as the “Poet of the Nation.” To better understand the Romantic period, the course will address a second text, Kytice z pověstí národních (A Bouquet of Folk Legends) by Karel Jaromír Erben. Erben worked on the collection for many years, publishing some ballads in magazines in previous years. His thematic and compositional inspiration came from popular songs and ballads, many of which were collected and published by Erben himself starting in 1842 with Písně národní v Čechách (National Songs of Bohemia). The first edition of Kytice, dating from 1853, included twelve texts from different periods of composition. Kytice is one of the texts that best represents Czech literary production during the encounter between Romanticism and Biedermeier, alongside Babička (Grandmother) by Božena Němcová. Since the 1820s, we have seen a communication strategy in Czech literature that combines elements of Romanticism and Biedermeier within a single text and uses romantic characters, plot elements, narrative techniques, and, finally, linguistic style in general to
express the fundamental norms and values of Biedermeier in a very fascinating but consistently negative, ‘reversed’ way. Kytice is in fact a collection that revolves around
social and cultural values, whose universe is governed by the female subject, which in turn is governed by it.

Literature.
The knowledge of all the materials indicated here will be subject to verification during the exam.

- KAREL HYNEK MÁCHA, Maggio, a cura di Annalisa Cosentino, traduzione di Alessandra Mura, Venezia, Marsilio, 2013.
- KAREL JAROMÍR ERBEN, Un mazzetto di leggende, a cura di Paolo Statuti, GSE, 2021


Berkes T., “The Ideal of Folk Culture in the Literature of the Czech National Rebirth” in Edited by Marcel Cornis-Pope and John Neubauer, History of the Literary Cultures of East-Central Europe: Junctures and disjunctures in the 19th and 20th centuries. Volume III: The making and remaking of literary institutions;
-Cosentino A., "Un nuovo 'Maggio", in KAREL HYNEK MÁCHA, Maggio, a cura di Annalisa Cosentino, traduzione di Alessandra Mura, Venezia, Marsilio, 2013, pp. 9-24.
-David, Z., "KAREL H. MÁCHATS PHILOSOPHICAL CHALLENGE TO THE CATHOLIC ENLIGHTENMENT IN BOHEMIA." Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae, Series C-Historia Litterarum 56 (2011).
- Nemoianu, V. , "Romanticism and Biedermeier in East-Central European Literatures." În: Hungarian Studies 5.1 (1989): 21-38.

Additional materials analyzed in class will be uploaded to the course Moodle page, including materials related to the languages studied by the students participating in the lessons.

The final exam consists of an oral interview ( 30 minuts) based on the contents of the module and the material in moodle.
Working students unable to attend are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible for the assignment of the specific topic to be presented during the exam.
In general, in case of problems related to attendance, it is highly recommended to contact the teacher as soon as possible to evaluate any possible solutions.

oral

The grade will be determined by: 1. knowledge of the topics covered during the course (up to 10 points); 2. ability to explore the topic in depth (up to 5 points); 3. detailed and accurate knowledge (up to 5 points); 4. confidence in presentation (up to 5 points); 5. ability to argue (up to 5 points).

Lectures. The reading of some parts of the main literary text will be required. A discussion will follow in the classroom.

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