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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 321"
COURSE NAME: "Critical Study of Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement above IT 302 through the JCU placement test, or IT 302, or permission of the instructor.
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to provide a critical understanding of the main trends in modern and contemporary Italian literature. Topics include, but are not limited to, cultural and ideological implications of the Italian literary canon; the long-lasting elitist conception of literature descended from the linguistic and literary history of Italy; the long exclusion of women writers from anthologies and literary histories; the demise of the twentieth-century figure of the writer as intellectual and the rise of a more pop-culture-open notion of literary writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course aims at a critical understanding of the main trends of Italian literature from early 20th century to today. Critical issues, such as cultural implications of modern Italian literary canon; coexistence of national and regional cultures in Italian literary tradition; the historical marginalization of Italian women writers until recent years; relationships between literature, society, and national history, as well as the impact of global studies on the current interpretation of the Italian literary tradition will be discussed by combining close readings of the most paradigmatic works and authors with secondary sources both in Italian and in English.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

--To master the traditionally defined Italian literary canon.

--To learn concepts and theories in the subject of Italian Literary Studies.
 --To develop skills in the interpretation and analysis of Italian literature, as well as to develop the critical-thinking skills necessary to provide a creative interpretation of the text.
--To improve reading and writing skills in Italian.
 --To master bibliographical research skills.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Perché la letteratura. Modernità e contemporaneità. Volume 6 (dal 1925 ai giorni nostri)R.Luperini, P.Cataldi, L.Marchiani, F.MarchesePalumbo9788868891916    Feltrinelli- Largo Argentinahttps://www.palumboeditore.it/schedaopera/itemId/2408
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm ExamIn class-exam with questions on the material studied in the first half of the semester.20%
Final Paper2000 words (approximately) on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor. At least 3 additional peer-reviewd sources along with the readings required for the course. 20%
Final ExamIn class CUMULATIVE final exam. Structure: 2/3 text identifications followed by a brief critical explanation + a short essay on a given topic.20 %
Attendance and Class participationStudents are expected to come to class prepared on readings and to actively partecipate to class discussions. PLEASE NOTE THAT I-PHONE AND COMPUTERS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS. STUDENTS WHO WILL DISREGARD THIS RULE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. You are allowed 2 excused absences, after which this portion of the grade will result in a 0. Please do not send me medical certificates as they do not affect my attendance policy. Should you have serious reasons to miss additional classes, please refer to the official Request for an exemption from the instructors’ attendance policy on JCU website.10
Oral Presentation15 minutes oral presentation on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor.15%
Home assignmentsThere will be weekly written assignments on your readings. More than 3 assignments missed will result in 0 for this portion of your grade.15%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork 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 cours
BThis 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.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis 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.
FThis 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:
Students are allowed 2 absences. More than 2 absences will lower your grade (1 pts for each additional absence)
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 INSTRUCTOR CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULE

IMPORTANT DATES:

 February 6 (Fri) Make-up day for Monday, April 6

March 9-13 (Mon-Fri) Spring Break

March 23 (Mon) Last day to withdraw from a class

April 6 (Mon) Holiday (Make-up day: Friday, February 6)

**********************************************************

SCHEDULE:

Week 1

Introduction to the course.

Readings: Perché la letteratura?, pp. 3-7; 12-17, 39-41

Lecture and Discussion: Italian literature during fascism

 

Week 2

Readings: Perché la letteratura?, pp. 59-64; 74; pp. 78-84; 90-92;

Lecture and Discussion: Giuseppe Ungaretti, L’allegria.

Readings: Perché la letteratura?, pp. 98-103; 108-111, 116-117

Lecture and Discussion: from L’allegria to Il sentimento del tempo.

Written Assignments: Pag. 92; 1,2,3; p. 101: 1,2,3,4; p. 103: 1; p. 111: 1,2.

 

Week 3

Readings: pp. 123-133; 135-141

Lecture and Discussion: Umberto Saba’s Il canzoniere

Readings: pp.162-163; 146-150, 175-177; 179.

Lecture and Discussion: Il canzoniere. Continue

Written Assignments: Pag. 139: 1,2,4; p. 163: 1,4.

 

Week 4

Readings: pp. 184-192; 199-202

Lecture and Discussion: Eugenio Montale’s Ossi di seppia

Readings: pp. 196-198; 203-204; 209-213; 223-226

Lecture and Discussion: from Ossi di seppia to Le occasioni

Written Assignments: p. 202: 1, 2,3,4,5

 

Week 5

Readings: pp. 296-299; 303-308; 312-317

Lecture and class discussion: Italian poetry in the thirties: Salvatore Quasimodo, Sandro Penna, Attilio Bertolucci.

Readings: pp. 320-321; 324-325; 326-329

Lecture and discussion: Ermetismo: Mario Luzi and Vittorio Sereni

Written Assignments: p. 299: 1,2; p. 308: 2, p. 317: 1,2,4.

 

Week 6

Readings: pp. 329-333; 338-339

Lecture and Discussion: The crisis of poetry and the raise of Italian narrative: Franco Fortini’s poems. 

Readings: p. 35 (not a mistake: we go back to Neorealism); 372-377; 381-384

Lecture and Discussion: Elio Vittorini and Cesare Pavese’s narratives.

Written Assignments: p. 334: 1, 2, 3, 5; pp. 341-342: 1,2,3, 7, 10

 

Week 7

Review for Midterm

MIDTERM EXAM

 

Week 8

Readings: pp. 387-393; pp. 396-401; pp. 419-422; 424

Lecture and Discussion: Narrating the crisis of the bourgeoisie -Alberto Moravia’s novels.

Readings: pp. 464-473; 482.483

Lecture and Discussion: Primo Levi’s Se questo è un uomo

 

Week 9

Readings: pp. 426-441

Lecture and Discussion: Carlo Emilio Gadda’s La cognizione del dolore

Readings: pp. 446-451; pp. 458-462

Lecture and Discussion: Carlo Emilio Gadda’s Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana

Written assignments: p. 440: 1,3; p. 452: 1,2,3

 

Week 10

ORAL PRESENTATION TOPIC DUE

Readings: pp. 520-524; 529-540; 555- 559

Lecture and Discussion: from Modernism to Postmodernism

Readings: pp. 572-578: pp. 614-618

Lecture and Discussion: Amelia Rosselli’s poetry

Written Assignments: p. 618: 1,2

 

Week 11

FINAL PAPER OUTLINE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE

Readings: pp. 726-734; 744- 751; 756-758

Lecture and Discussion: Italo Calvino’s narrative

Readings: pp. 770-776

Lecture and Discussion: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s poetry

Written Assignments: p. 751:1; p. 758: 1,3

 

Week 12

Readings: pp. 777-794

Lecture and Discussion: Pasolini’s novels, cinema, and essays

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Week 13

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Lecture: Contemporary Italian Literature. An Introduction

 

Week 14

Lecture and Discussion: Controcanone. La letteratura delle donne.

Conclusions and Review for Final