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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "ITS 292"
COURSE NAME: "Contemporary Italian Narrative in Translation"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
James Schwarten
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above. *This class can substitute for one of the two EN LIT general distribution required courses. The other EN LIT course must have the EN prefix*
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this course is to study and gain an appreciation of five literary works of selected 20th-century Italian authors in English language translation. Students will have the opportunity to explore literary expression, as well as textual analysis and rhetorical strategies. Emphasis will be placed on the social, cultural and political milieu in which these authors produced their literary texts as a way of understanding the relationship between literature and the cultural-historical nexus that produced them. A variety of materials and techniques will be employed throughout the semester, including lectures, scholarly criticism, class discussions and debates. Students will also develop the ability to analyze literary texts according to language, style and content, and will be encouraged to participate actively in class discussions.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
1. Course Introduction
2. Italian culture and society in the 20th century
3. Development of the Italian novel
4. The narrative genre
5. Fascism and Neorealism
6. Italian Feminism
7. The Jewish Experience / Holocaust Literature
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, students will gain knowledge of:
critical and technical means of describing, analyzing and formulating arguments about literary texts; 20th-century Italian socio-political history within the scope of this course; 20th-century Italian society and culture within the scope of this course; the nexus between literary production and human experience as a creative process; how multiple interpretations of literary work reflect culture and society, and how they can change over time; how the formal qualities of literary production determine the nature of the experience offered and affect the response of the reader; the role of the intellectual in Italian society and intellectual debate in Italy in the 20th century; at least one feature-length Italian film of relevance to a specific artistic, societal or cultural trend referenced in this course.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Cosima | Grazia Deledda (trans. Martha King) | Italica Press | 978-0934977067 | | | | | |
| Conversations in Sicily | Elio Vittorini | New Directions | 978-0811214551 | | | | | |
| The Garden of the Finzi-Continis | Giorgio Bassani | Harcourt Brace Jovanovich | 978-0156345705 | | | | | |
| Pereira Declares | Antonio Tabucchi | New Directions | 0811213587 | | | | | |
| Survival in Auschwitz | Primo Levi | Touchstone | 978-0684826806 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Attendance | Missing more than 2 classes without valid justification will reduce the final grade by 5% for each absence. | 5 |
| In-class participation | In-class participation will be quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. | 10 |
| Essays (2) | Short essays based on literary works. | 40 |
| Midterm Exam | The midterm will be a take-home exam. | 20 |
| Final Exam | | 25 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AGrading Scale: 100—94 (A), 93—90 (A-), 89—88 (B+), 87—84 (B), 83—80 (B-), 79—78 (C+), 77—74 (C), 73—70 (C-), 69—68 (D+), 67—64 (D), 63—60 (D-), 59—0 (F)
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.
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:
Each unjustified absence beyond the second will incur a 5% penalty in the final-grade calculation. Travel plans, visiting friends or relatives, or other personal concerns are not considered valid grounds for justifying an absence.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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The following schedule is intended as indicative of the order in which novels will be read; more or less time than is indicated may be dedicated to individual works. Supplementary readings will be made available on paper or electronically.
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Week:
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Date:
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Topic / Assessment
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Readings:
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1
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Jan 14 / 16
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Introduction to course / 20th-century Italian societal trends and history, development of the Italian novel, the narrative genre
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Background on 20th-century Italian history (+ reading)
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2
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Jan 21 /23
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"Neorealist narrative: experience and experiment" (+ reading)
Conversations in Sicily
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3-4
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Jan 28 / 30
Feb 4 / 6
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Fascism
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Conversations in Sicily (+ reading)
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5
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Feb 11 / 13
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Pereira Declares (+ reading)
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FIRST ESSAY DUE
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6-7
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Feb 18 / 20
Feb 25 / 27
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Italian Nobel Prize winner, Grazia Deledda
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Pereira Declares;
"Post-war Italian Narrative: An Alternative Account";
Cosima
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Midterm Exam
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8-9
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Mar 4 / 6
Mar 11 / 13
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Cosima
Cosima
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10
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Mar 17-21 SPRING BREAK
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11
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Mar 25 / 27
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The Jewish experience
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The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
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12-13
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Apr 1 / 3
Apr 8 / 10
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SECOND ESSAY DUE
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The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (+ additional readings)
Survival in Auschwitz (+ additional readings);
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14-15
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Apr 15 / 17
Apr 22 / 24
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Survival in Auschwitz; film (TBA)
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