STYLISTICS AND PROSODY

The course is part of the related and supplementary activities of the Master’s degree program in Philology, Linguistics, and Italian Literature. It aims to provide advanced knowledge of the discipline, considered in its theoretical, historical, and applied dimensions, with particular attention to the tools of stylistic and metrical analysis.

Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Knowledge of the main formal and structural features of the *prosimetrum* as a mixed literary form, its origins, and its development within the Italian tradition;
1.2 Knowledge of the main theoretical issues related to the relationship between prose and poetry, between rhythm and meter, and to the status of style in literary texts;
1.3 Understanding of the formal (stylistic and metrical) specificities of the texts examined, with particular attention to the interactions between prose and verse;
1.4 Understanding of the main lines of theoretical reflection on style and of stylistic criticism from a historical perspective.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Ability to place the main texts analyzed within their historical context, recognizing their relationship with tradition and their transformations over time;
2.2 Ability to identify and describe the stylistic and metrical features of the texts examined, both in prose and in verse;
2.3 Ability to analyze and comment on prosimetric, poetic, and prose texts, grasping their distinctive features;
2.4 Ability to produce paraphrases and stylistic-metrical commentaries on the texts read and discussed in class.

Judgment skills
3.1 Ability to critically evaluate the models of stylistic and metrical analysis applied to texts, recognizing their strengths and limitations;
3.2 Ability to compare different critical interpretations and theoretical positions, and to argue one’s own views independently.

Communication skills
4.1 Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, the formal, stylistic, and metrical features of the texts examined, using appropriate technical language;
4.2 Ability to organize a coherent argumentative discourse on the theoretical and historical issues addressed.

Learning skills
5.1 Ability to study the reference texts independently and critically, establishing connections between historical data and theoretical categories;
5.2 Ability to apply the acquired skills to new texts or contexts.

None. Basic knowledge of stylistics, metrics, and Italian literature is recommended.

Course title: Between Prose and Poetry

The relationship between prose and poetry historically and theoretically defines the notion of style. At the center of the course is the *prosimetrum*, considered as a privileged vantage point for observing the dynamic tensions between different formal structures and for reflecting on the idea of style. After introducing the concepts of style, rhythm, and meter, as well as the main approaches of stylistic criticism, the course examines the emergence of the prosimetric form in its Medieval Latin premises and its development within the Italian tradition (with selected comparative insights from Romance and non-Romance perspectives). The course focuses in particular on the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (Dante, Boccaccio, Sannazaro), and then extends, through representative examples, to modernity, where the relationship between prose and poetry is reworked in new directions. Alongside strictly prosimetric texts, independent poetic and prose works will also be analyzed, in order to highlight continuities, divergences, and interferences among different forms. The course thus aims to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation on the notion of style and advanced competence in the formal analysis of texts.

Study materials, selected passages, and the specific bibliography will be provided during lectures and made available on the Moodle platform.

Recommended reference texts:

1. Pietro G. Beltrami, *La metrica italiana*, Bologna, Il Mulino (any edition).
2. Pier Vincenzo Mengaldo, *Prima lezione di stilistica*, Rome–Bari, Laterza, 2007. OR Luigi Matt, *Manuale di stilistica*, Florence, Vallecchi, 2024.
3. *La tradizione prosimetrica in volgare da Dante a Bembo. Atti del convegno internazionale di studi* (Venice, 26–27 June 2023), edited by Matteo Favaretto, Venice, Edizioni Ca’ Foscari, 2024.

A 30-minute oral examination will assess knowledge of the topics covered and of the reference texts, as well as the ability to apply stylistic and metrical analysis to the selected texts.

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. Marks in the range 18–22 will be awarded in the presence of:
acceptable but barely sufficient knowledge of the syllabus;
limited analytical ability and only minimally adequate communication and argumentative skills.
B. Marks in the range 23–26 will be awarded in the presence of:
fair knowledge of the syllabus;
adequate analytical and communication skills (with some imprecision in the use of disciplinary terminology).
C. Marks in the range 27–30 and honours will be awarded in the presence of:
good, very good, or excellent knowledge of the syllabus;
good to excellent analytical, communication, and argumentative skills, with full command of technical language and independent critical insight (honours).

The course consists of lectures and seminar activities, including guided textual analysis and group discussion.