JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 335"
COURSE NAME: "Twentieth Century Italian Women Writers"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Mauceri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 302 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will deal with the writings of Italian women writers (Aleramo, Deledda, Morante, Ginzburg, Banti, etc) of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their contribution has been crucial in the shaping of a recognizable, but still not fully acknowledged, "tradition" of women writers in Italy. Through the particular perspectives of distinguished Italian women writers, the course will explore versions of “feminine writing” and will introduce gender- and genre-related issues. Class discussion and assignments will examine themes such as the construction of female identity and the role played by women’s writings in the context of social and political emancipation for women in Italy. All work will be in Italian.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will focus on contemporary novels and short stories, and will examine how these works address cultural, social, and political issues at crucial historical moments. Main topics include the relationship between women’s writing and the traditional literary canon; the literary representation of themes related to the construction of female identity over the last two centuries; violence against women and femicide; the image of women in contemporary society; and the language used to define them.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students will gain:

• Knowledge of the authors studied and their place within the literary canon
• An understanding of the themes explored and the styles used in their literary representation
• The ability to critically reflect on the literary representation of the stages of female emancipation and the current situation

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Una donna: romanzo	Sibilla Aleramo	Feltrinelli	9788807810367
Quaderno proibito	Alba de Cespedes	Net	9788851523114
L'Agnese va a morire	Renata Viganò	Einaudi	9788806222178
Donna in guerra	Dacia Maraini	Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli	9788817106184
Un giorno perfetto	Melania Mazzucco	Bur Extra Rizzoli	9788817022910
Ferite a morte	Serena Dandini	Rizzoli	9788817065610
Stai zitta!	Michela Murgia	Einaudi	9788806249182

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
A woman	Sibilla Aleramo, Erica Segre, Simon Carnell	London : Penguin Books, 2020	978-0241345726
Forbidden Notebook	Alba de Cespedes	Pushkin Press, 2024	978-1782278221
Woman at war	Dacia Maraini, Mara Benetti, Elspeth Spottiswood	Italica Press	9780934977128
Wounded to Death : Stories of Gender Violence	Serena Dandini	RCS Libri	9781480464070

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Attendance & Class Participation	Regular attendance is an essential component of the class. Students are expected to take an active part in discussions.	15%
Presentations and discussions of assigned chapters		15%
Midterm exam	In-class exam with close readings and questions on critical readings.	20%
Oral Presentation	15-minute presentation on a topic previously discussed with the instructor.	15%
Final paper	Around 2000 words on one of the books discussed in class, supported by at least three sources. Outline with bibliography due by week 13.	15%
Final Exam	A cumulative exam consisting of 3–4 general questions, 2 critical text analyses, and a short response paper	20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A(94-100 A, 90-93 A-) Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B(88-89 B+, 84-87 B, 80-83 B-) This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C(78-79 C+, 74-77 C, 70-73 C-) This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D(68-69 D+, 64-67 D, 60-63 D-) This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F(0-59) This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

Regular class attendance is mandatory. Students are allowed up to four absences. If you miss more than four classes—regardless of whether they are excused—your final grade will be lowered by two points for each additional absence. Missing eight or more classes may result in failing the course. Students who miss class are responsible for catching up on all missed material. Students must arrive on time, stay for the entire lesson, and refrain from using mobile phones and laptops without authorization.

The exam period lasts until December 12, 2025 — please do not plan travel before that date.

Make- up exams: If you miss an exam or assignment, the professor may choose to shift the weight of the missed work to another assessment or arrange a make-up if necessary.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION

Week 1 (September 1, 3)

Introduction to the course.

The place of Italian women writers in Italian society and the literary canon.

Case studies: Sibilla Aleramo and Alba de Cespedes.

Weeks 2 and 3 (September 8, 10 / September 15, 17)

Continuation: Aleramo and de Cespedes.

In class reading and analysis of selected excerpts from “Una donna” and “Quaderno proibito”.

Homework: Read the assigned chapters for discussion.

Weeks 4 and 5 (September 22, 24 / September 29, October 1)

Discussion of assigned readings.

Women’s roles during the First and Second World Wars.

Women and the Italian Resistance.

Renata Viganò, “L’Agnese va a morire”: inclass reading and analysis.

Week 6 (October 6, 8)

Continuation: Viganò, “L’Agnese va a morire”.

Homework: Read assigned chapters and prepare a short presentation.

Week 7 (October 13, 15)

Student presentations and discussion of readings.

The history of the Italian feminist movement.

Midterm Exam.

Week 8 (October 20, 22)

Dacia Maraini, “Donna in guerra”: inclass reading and analysis.

Homework: Read assigned chapters and prepare a short presentation.

Week 9 (October 27, 29)

Student presentations and discussion of readings.

Depictions of violence against women.

The new realism: Melania Mazzucco, “Un giorno perfetto”: inclass reading and analysis.

Week 10 (November 3, 5)

Continuation: Mazzucco, “Un giorno perfetto”.

Homework: Read assigned chapters and prepare a short presentation.

Week 11 (November 10, 12)

Student presentations and discussion of readings.

Defamiliarization (Straniamento) in Serena Dandini, “Ferite a morte”: inclass reading and analysis of two stories.

Homework: Read one story from the bookand prepare a short presentation.

Week 12 (November 17, 19)

Presentations and discussion of readings.

Michela Murgia, “Stai zitta!” — contemporary feminist perspectives: in class reading and analysis.

Homework: Read one chapter and prepare a short presentation.

Week 13 (November 24, 26)

Student presentations and discussions.

Oral presentations.

Week 14 (December 1, 3)

Oral presentations.

Final review.