English Literature 3
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course concludes the three-year undergraduate course in English Literature and is aimed at third-year students. It provides historical and literary knowledge of the period under consideration (Early Modern Period and Restoration, 1530 to 1700) and teaches students to analyse complex literary texts and position them in their cultural context. The syllabus deals with the reading, analysis and contextualisation of Early Modern and Restoration poetry, prose and drama.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge required: at the end of the course, students are expected to be able to place the literary texts in the syllabus in the historical, cultural and literary context of reference; to situate each author precisely in the period in which he/she lived; to have a good knowledge of all the works in the reading list. Required language skills: at the end of the course, students will be able to read and translate the literary texts (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase the same in English), as well as to discuss in English the topics covered during the course. Required literary skills: to be able to carry out a critical analysis of the texts in the reading list and to make connections between different authors, texts, and literary trends.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is addressed to all students of Lingue e Letterature Straniere. The course bears 9 credits.
The course syllabus is valid until February 2027.
The course is entitled "Between Heaven and Earth: Early Modern English Literature (1530-1700)".
We will study the various forms that English verse inherited from the classical and Renaissance European tradition, as well as some of the period's most relevant and original poetic proposals. We will do the same with some narrative and/or essayistic prose works. Finally, we will focus on a full-length play, investigating all aspects involved in the work's production, performance, and contextualisation.
Attendance at the course is highly recommended, as in-class work, conducted through constant student involvement, is of great help when studying for the exam.
The course syllabus is valid until February 2027.
The course is entitled "Between Heaven and Earth: Early Modern English Literature (1530-1700)".
We will study the various forms that English verse inherited from the classical and Renaissance European tradition, as well as some of the period's most relevant and original poetic proposals. We will do the same with some narrative and/or essayistic prose works. Finally, we will focus on a full-length play, investigating all aspects involved in the work's production, performance, and contextualisation.
Attendance at the course is highly recommended, as in-class work, conducted through constant student involvement, is of great help when studying for the exam.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is taught in English. To attend the course successfully, a good knowledge of the previous literary periods and good critical skills are required (both should have been acquired during the first and second-year literature courses). To sit the third-year exam, students must have passed the first and second-year English language and the first and second-year English literature exams.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures with close reading, analysis, and contextualisation of the works in the reading list; whenever possible, both videos and poetry reading/singing will be used in class. Students will be constantly involved in the analytical and critical learning process by giving voluntary presentations on some of the texts in the syllabus.
Teaching Resources
ATTENTION PLEASE: This is the general syllabus for the course. To obtain the materials and study for the exam, it is essential to consult the 'Detailed Syllabus' uploaded on Ariel and Teams.
1) INTRODUCTIONS, historical and cultural context: The Norton Anthology of English Literature. On Teams, folder: 'Norton Introductions'. In particular:
- The Sixteenth Century (1485-1603): Introduction and Timeline
- The Early Seventeenth Century (1603-1660): Introduction and Timeline
- The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century (1660-1785): Introduction and Timeline (until 1700).
2) VERSIFICATION: During the course, we will investigate several poetic texts. Students must be able to recognise and analyse poetry techniques: structure, metre, foot, rhyme pattern, and figures of speech. References:
- Norton Anthology, Appendix, the essay "Poetic Forms and Literary Terminology" (available on the course Team).
- The Cambridge Guide to Reading Poetry, by Andrew Hodgson, 2021 (Unimi Database).
- Textbooks used in previous university courses, if well done and helpful.
3) BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS: Database Unimi LION (Literature Online): https://www.sba.unimi.it/ > Literature Online > Reference > name of author > ProQuest Biography, and/or Norton Anthology, introduction to authors.
4) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
5) LITERARY CRITICISM: see the reading list below.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: In addition to all materials listed here, please consult the detailed syllabus uploaded on Ariel and Teams and find the compulsory additional readings.
LITERARY TEXTS AND LITERARY CRITICISM
PROSE
- James I, Preface to "Daemonologie" (on Teams).
- John Bunyan, from "The Pilgrim's Progress", "Christian sets out for the Celestial City" and "Vanity Fair" (Norton and on Teams).
POETRY
THE BALLAD:
- "Riddles Wisely Expounded" (Child Ballad 1A); study both the text and the introduction to the ballad.
- "Lord Randall" (Child Ballad 12A); study both the text and the introduction to the ballad.
THE SONNET:
- William Shakespeare, Sonnet 73, "That time of year thou mayst in me behold".
- John Donne, from Holy Sonnets: Holy Sonnet 14, "Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you".
- John Milton, "When I consider how my light is spent".
SONGS, ELEGIES, HYMNS:
- John Donne, from Songs and Sonnets: "The Good Morrow"; "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning".
- John Donne, from Holy Sonnets: "A Hymn to God the Father".
- John Donne, Elegy 19: "To his Mistress Going to Bed".
THE EPIC POEM:
- John Milton, from "Paradise Lost": Book 1, vv. 1-75; Book IV, 1-113 and 288-324.
DRAMA
- William Shakespeare, "Macbeth". Compulsory and very cheap PAPER edition: The New Oxford Shakespeare Macbeth, (Emma Smith and John Jowett), Oxford World's Classics, 2024.
- "MACBETH" in Emma Smith, "The Cambridge Shakespeare Guide", 2012. UNIMI DATABASE
- PODCAST "Macbeth", Emma Smith, Series: Approaching Shakespeare. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/macbeth/id399194760?i=1000410372220
- GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS: Emma Smith, "The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare", 2007, UNIMI DATABASE. Compulsory for non-attending students (useful for everybody).
1) INTRODUCTIONS, historical and cultural context: The Norton Anthology of English Literature. On Teams, folder: 'Norton Introductions'. In particular:
- The Sixteenth Century (1485-1603): Introduction and Timeline
- The Early Seventeenth Century (1603-1660): Introduction and Timeline
- The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century (1660-1785): Introduction and Timeline (until 1700).
2) VERSIFICATION: During the course, we will investigate several poetic texts. Students must be able to recognise and analyse poetry techniques: structure, metre, foot, rhyme pattern, and figures of speech. References:
- Norton Anthology, Appendix, the essay "Poetic Forms and Literary Terminology" (available on the course Team).
- The Cambridge Guide to Reading Poetry, by Andrew Hodgson, 2021 (Unimi Database).
- Textbooks used in previous university courses, if well done and helpful.
3) BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS: Database Unimi LION (Literature Online): https://www.sba.unimi.it/ > Literature Online > Reference > name of author > ProQuest Biography, and/or Norton Anthology, introduction to authors.
4) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
5) LITERARY CRITICISM: see the reading list below.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: In addition to all materials listed here, please consult the detailed syllabus uploaded on Ariel and Teams and find the compulsory additional readings.
LITERARY TEXTS AND LITERARY CRITICISM
PROSE
- James I, Preface to "Daemonologie" (on Teams).
- John Bunyan, from "The Pilgrim's Progress", "Christian sets out for the Celestial City" and "Vanity Fair" (Norton and on Teams).
POETRY
THE BALLAD:
- "Riddles Wisely Expounded" (Child Ballad 1A); study both the text and the introduction to the ballad.
- "Lord Randall" (Child Ballad 12A); study both the text and the introduction to the ballad.
THE SONNET:
- William Shakespeare, Sonnet 73, "That time of year thou mayst in me behold".
- John Donne, from Holy Sonnets: Holy Sonnet 14, "Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you".
- John Milton, "When I consider how my light is spent".
SONGS, ELEGIES, HYMNS:
- John Donne, from Songs and Sonnets: "The Good Morrow"; "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning".
- John Donne, from Holy Sonnets: "A Hymn to God the Father".
- John Donne, Elegy 19: "To his Mistress Going to Bed".
THE EPIC POEM:
- John Milton, from "Paradise Lost": Book 1, vv. 1-75; Book IV, 1-113 and 288-324.
DRAMA
- William Shakespeare, "Macbeth". Compulsory and very cheap PAPER edition: The New Oxford Shakespeare Macbeth, (Emma Smith and John Jowett), Oxford World's Classics, 2024.
- "MACBETH" in Emma Smith, "The Cambridge Shakespeare Guide", 2012. UNIMI DATABASE
- PODCAST "Macbeth", Emma Smith, Series: Approaching Shakespeare. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/macbeth/id399194760?i=1000410372220
- GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS: Emma Smith, "The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare", 2007, UNIMI DATABASE. Compulsory for non-attending students (useful for everybody).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examination: this consists of an oral interview marked in thirtieths; 18/30 is the pass mark.
The interview will test the students' ability to read and translate the literary texts included in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase them in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural and literary context of the texts and authors proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical ability (ability to analyse literary works and to link different authors, texts and literary movements). It is compulsory to bring all the literary texts listed in this syllabus to the examination.
The exam can be taken in English or Italian (in the latter case, at least one or two answers must be in English).
The final mark will be expressed in thirtieths; students can accept or reject the mark (in the latter case, the record will be "ritirato" and they will have to repeat the whole exam in a future session).
International or Erasmus students are asked to contact the teacher. Students with disabilities should also contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the relevant office.
The interview will test the students' ability to read and translate the literary texts included in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase them in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural and literary context of the texts and authors proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical ability (ability to analyse literary works and to link different authors, texts and literary movements). It is compulsory to bring all the literary texts listed in this syllabus to the examination.
The exam can be taken in English or Italian (in the latter case, at least one or two answers must be in English).
The final mark will be expressed in thirtieths; students can accept or reject the mark (in the latter case, the record will be "ritirato" and they will have to repeat the whole exam in a future session).
International or Erasmus students are asked to contact the teacher. Students with disabilities should also contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the relevant office.
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Iannaccaro Giuliana
Professor(s)
Reception:
Three hours a week. Please send me a mail in advance to make an appointment.
Piazza S. Alessandro 1, Anglistica; or Microsoft Teams Platform