SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE

Locating the subject within the study plan of the BA-programme

The course Scandinavian Literature 1 (6 ects) is offered at the first year of the MA-programme in European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literature (LLEAP), and is addressed to students who choose Scandinavian Studies, with Swedish as a language of specialisation. As Scandinavian Literature 2 (6 ects) the same course is offered to students at their second year at the LLEAP-programme. And with the name “Scandinavian Literature” (6 ects), the same course is offered to students who choose Swedish as their language of specialisation at the MA-programme in Language Sciences. Students of Scandinavian studies at both MA-programmes, at their first or second year, form a common class.
The course proposes an in-depth study of common themes in Scandinavian literature from the 19th century to present time. As to the forms, each year the course will focus on different genres and media: novel and narrative; poetry; drama; literature and film.

Expected results

The course “Contemporary Scandinavian theatre in Lars Norén’s and Jon Fosse’s works” focuses on the plays written by the two major contemporary Scandinavian playwrights, translated and staged in Scandinavia and worldwide. Even poems and prose texts by the two writers will be examined (diaries in Norén’s case and essays in Fosse’s), to better understand their authorial profile.
The objectives of the course – currently under preparation – are an in-depth knowledge of the primary sources in their original languages, Swedish and Norwegian (Nynorsk); learning to contextualise the studied works in terms of biography, and literary and cultural history; and learning to critically analyse their contents and forms. The investigation intends to grasp the ways in which Norén and Fosse stage the condition of contemporary men and women in their intimate sphere, their love relationships, and their relationships within the family and in society.

Prerequisites

The course is addressed to former students of Scandinavian studies at BA-level and is held in Swedish for the most part. To give Scandinavian literature 2, students must have passed Scandinavian literature 1. Texts will be examined in the original language, but translations will help. The professor will assist students when reading texts in Norwegian and Danish.

Contents

“Contemporary Scandinavian theatre in Lars Norén’s and Jon Fosse’s works”

The course is currently under preparation. Plays, poems, diaries and essays will be drawn from the volumes as indicated below.

References

Literary works

Lars Norén, Tre pjäser, Bonniers 2024 (Natten är dagens mor; Kaos är granne med Gud; Stillheten)

Lars Norén, Teatro, trad. Vanda Monaco Westerståhl, CUE Press 2024 (Autunno e inverno, Bobby Fischer vive a Pasadena, Estate, Sezione 3.1)

Lars Norén, Tre quartetti, Ubulibri 1995 (La notte è madre del giorno; Nostre ombre quotidiane; Autunno e inverno)

Lars Norén, En dramatikers dagbok 2000-2002, Bonniers 2009

Lars Norén, En dramatikers dagbok 2002-2005, Bonniers 2009

Lars Norén, Diario di un autore drammatico, trad. Giovanni Za, CUE Press 2025

Jon Fosse, Teaterstykke, 1-5, Samlaget, 1999-2017

Jon Fosse, Teatro, Editoria & Spettacolo 2006 (Sogno d’autunno, La notte canta, Il Nome, Qualcuno verrà, Inverno, La ragazza sul divano)

Jon Fosse, Caldo, trad. Franco Perrelli, CUE Press 2019

Jon Fosse, Ascolterò gli angeli arrivare, trad. Andrea Romanzi, Crocetti 2024

Jon Fosse, Saggi gnostici, a cura di Franco Perrelli, CUE Press 2018

Critical and theoretical references

Elisabeth Åsbrink, Smärtpunkten: Lars Norén, pjäsen Sju tre och morden i Malexander, Polaris 2024

Sven Åke Heed, Teaterns tecken, Studentlitteratur 2002

Assessment

The examination is oral, it lasts about 45 minutes, and it is in Swedish (unless otherwise agreed upon, according to the needs). Some of the texts dealt with in the course are analysed and discussed from the point of view of forms and contents, and they are referred to their significant biographical, authorial, historical, cultural and literary contexts. One question may include reading and translating a passage from one of the works in the syllabus from Swedish / Scandinavian.

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.

Grading scales

28-30 cum laude: the student masters the topics presented in the course and in the assigned readings and is capable of ordering information and making use of a convenient terminology;
26-27: the student has a good knowledge of the topics presented in the course and - to a lesser extent - in the assigned readings; he/she generally succeeds in ordering information and is familiar with terminology;
24-25: the student does not fully master the topics presented in the course and in the assigned readings; his/her oral presentation is clear, although concepts are not always expressed through a convenient terminology;
22-23: the student has a rather superficial knowledge of the topics presented in the course and in the assigned readings; his/her oral presentation is not always clear and generally lacks terminology;
18-21: the student has a superficial knowledge of the topics presented in the course and in the assigned readings; his/her oral presentation is confused and does not resort to terminology.

The correspondence with the European grading scales (from A to F) is the following: less than 18 = F; 18-21 = E; 22-25 = D; 26-28 = C; 29-30 = B; 30 cum laude = A.

The course offers mainly frontal lectures, but with moments of participatory learning, as students may, on a voluntary basis, present and discuss in class and in Swedish one of the works included in the syllabus (as a literary work; as a film; both things). If students present a book / a film in class, they will not have to prepare it again for the examination.

More information

For questions and explanations about the course please write to massimo.ciaravolo@unive.it and agree upon a meeting at office hours.

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