Italian Literature (advanced)
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at improving the students' acquaintance of Italian Modern Literature, as well as developing their critical awareness of the literary tradition: historical background, transmission of texts, thematic and stylistic aspects. In order to achieve these goals, the course focuses on some relevant authors and texts from the late XVIth to the XIXth century.
Furthermore, in its first part the course aims at making the students more familiar with Dante's Commedia, with the help of the main tools of analysis and through the discussion of critical approaches useful to interpret literary texts (theory of styles and genres).
Furthermore, in its first part the course aims at making the students more familiar with Dante's Commedia, with the help of the main tools of analysis and through the discussion of critical approaches useful to interpret literary texts (theory of styles and genres).
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge. At the end of the course, the students are expected to be well-informed about Italian Modern Literature, especially for ages and authors which are object of the lessons; and to have a fair knowledge of Dante's Commedia.
Skills. The students are expected to be aware of the most suitable tools for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts (thematical and formal aspects), and to be able to set the works in their historical context. They are also expected to be conscious of the different methodological perspectives and to recognize the problematic aspects of the topics studied; to demonstrate a correct use of a scientific bibliography and the ability to clearly argue and properly use the specific lexicon of the discipline.
Skills. The students are expected to be aware of the most suitable tools for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts (thematical and formal aspects), and to be able to set the works in their historical context. They are also expected to be conscious of the different methodological perspectives and to recognize the problematic aspects of the topics studied; to demonstrate a correct use of a scientific bibliography and the ability to clearly argue and properly use the specific lexicon of the discipline.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
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
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Part A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): A political itineraty in Dante's "Commedia"
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (1): the "Ortis," the "Poesie," and the "Chioma di Berenice"
Part C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (2): from "Sepolcri" to "Ajace"
The course, structured into three 20-hour modules, covers the following topics:
- Part A offers a journey through Dante's Commedia, with an introduction to the work and the reading and commentary of selected cantos, aimed at highlighting Dante's political reflections and the role attributed to politics in the sacred poem.
- Parts B and C focus on Foscolo in Milan, retracing his Milanese years through his political activity, civic and cultural engagement, and especially his literary experimentation. Specifically, Part B examines Foscolo's early years between Milan and Bologna, culminating in the publication of Ortis, the Poesie, and the Chioma di Berenice, works that shaped his public image.
Part C explores the turbulent years following Foscolo's military experience in Flanders up to his final exile in 1815, marked by controversy, unfinished projects (the Grazie), and a definitive break with the Kingdom of Italy—reflected in works such as Dei Sepolcri and the tragedy Ajace.
Students preparing for the 6-ECTS credit version of the course will be examined on Parts A and B.
The program is valid until July 2027.
Incoming international or Erasmus students are strongly advised to contact the course instructor as early as possible.
Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) should agree on exam arrangements with the instructor, in coordination with the appropriate university office.
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (1): the "Ortis," the "Poesie," and the "Chioma di Berenice"
Part C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (2): from "Sepolcri" to "Ajace"
The course, structured into three 20-hour modules, covers the following topics:
- Part A offers a journey through Dante's Commedia, with an introduction to the work and the reading and commentary of selected cantos, aimed at highlighting Dante's political reflections and the role attributed to politics in the sacred poem.
- Parts B and C focus on Foscolo in Milan, retracing his Milanese years through his political activity, civic and cultural engagement, and especially his literary experimentation. Specifically, Part B examines Foscolo's early years between Milan and Bologna, culminating in the publication of Ortis, the Poesie, and the Chioma di Berenice, works that shaped his public image.
Part C explores the turbulent years following Foscolo's military experience in Flanders up to his final exile in 1815, marked by controversy, unfinished projects (the Grazie), and a definitive break with the Kingdom of Italy—reflected in works such as Dei Sepolcri and the tragedy Ajace.
Students preparing for the 6-ECTS credit version of the course will be examined on Parts A and B.
The program is valid until July 2027.
Incoming international or Erasmus students are strongly advised to contact the course instructor as early as possible.
Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) should agree on exam arrangements with the instructor, in coordination with the appropriate university office.
Prerequisites for admission
To access the course, students must have passed the basic exam in Italian Literature. A general knowledge of key historical and cultural events between the 18th and 19th centuries is required
Teaching methods
The course will be taught through lectures, including an overview of the historical-literary context and close readings with commentary of selected passages from the required texts. Attendance is strongly recommended.
Course materials (texts, documentary and visual materials, bibliographic resources) will be uploaded to the MyAriel platform.
Lectures will be accompanied by discussions designed to develop students' critical thinking skills.
An optional lab titled "Scrivere la tesi: dall'idea iniziale alla discussione", taught by Dr. Maddalena La Rosa, will run parallel to the course. It is recommended for students seeking guidance on thesis development, especially in Italian literature.
Course materials (texts, documentary and visual materials, bibliographic resources) will be uploaded to the MyAriel platform.
Lectures will be accompanied by discussions designed to develop students' critical thinking skills.
An optional lab titled "Scrivere la tesi: dall'idea iniziale alla discussione", taught by Dr. Maddalena La Rosa, will run parallel to the course. It is recommended for students seeking guidance on thesis development, especially in Italian literature.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS
In addition to the bibliography listed below, all materials uploaded to the MyAriel platform are an integral part of the syllabus.
PART A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): A Political Itinerary in Dante's "Commedia"
Students must understand the "Commedia" in its chronological, structural, cultural, and stylistic dimensions.
The "political" journey includes guided readings of selected cantos. A list of cantos to be prepared for the exam (for which students must provide context and paraphrase) will be posted on MyAriel.
Recommended editions (any edition is acceptable, but these are preferred):
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, a cura di Umberto Bosco e Giovanni Reggio, Le Monnier / Mondadori.
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, commento di Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi, Mondadori.
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, a cura di Natalino Sapegno, La Nuova Italia.
Critical Bibliography:
- Giorgio Inglese, Dante: guida alla Divina Commedia, Nuova edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2012.
- Gianfranco Contini, Dante come personaggio poeta della "Commedia", in Id., Un'idea di Dante, Torino, Einaudi, 1976, pp. 335-361.
- Eric Auerbach, Figura, in Id., Studi su Dante, a cura di Dante Della Terza, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1981, pp. 176-226.
- Marco Berisso, Interpretazioni del Dante politico (e di Dante e la politica) nella "Commedia", in La Commedia. Filologia e interpretazione, Atti del Convegno (Milano, 20-21 maggio 2019), a cura di Maria Gabriella Riccobono, Milano, LED, 2020, pp. 91-102 [available online: https://www.ledonline.it/ledonline/930/Commedia-filologia_07.pdf]
PART B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (1): The "Ortis," the "Poesie," and the "Chioma di Berenice"
Students must reconstruct Foscolo's biography with a focus on his early Milanese years (up to 1803), and understand the content, composition, and publication history of his works in context.
Editions of reference:
- "Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis": Ugo Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis, Introduzione, testo e commento a cura di Maria Antonietta Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012.
- "Poesie": Ugo Foscolo, Poesie, a cura di Matteo Palumbo, Milano, BUR, 2010.
- "Chioma di Berenice": Ugo Foscolo, Scritti letterari e politici dal 1796 al 1808, a cura di Giovanni Gambarin, Firenze, Le Monnier, 1972, pp. 267-447 (PDF will be provided on MyAriel).
Critical Bibliography:
- Giuseppe Nicoletti, Foscolo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, Chapters I-V, pp. 15-150.
- Enzo Neppi, Le origini del romanzo "moderno" secondo Foscolo, in Foscolo critico, a cura di Claudia Berra, Paolo Borsa, Giulia Ravera, Milano, Università degli Studi, 2017, pp. 29-48 [online: https://riviste.unimi.it/quadernidigargnano/article/view/10970/pdf]
- Pierantonio Frare, Una lirica nuova, cioè antica, in Le forme della tradizione lirica, a cura di Guido Baldassarri, Patrizia Zambon, Padova, Il Poligrafo, 2012, pp. 159-177.
- Donatella Martinelli, Prospettive di ricerca sulla "Chioma di Berenice", in Foscolo critico, a cura di Claudia Berra, Paolo Borsa, Giulia Ravera, Milano, Università degli Studi, 2017, pp. 29-48 [online: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/quadernidigargnano/article/view/10974/pdf]
PART C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (2): From the "Sepolcri" to "Ajace"
Students must reconstruct the biographical, political, and literary events in Foscolo's life between his return from Flanders (1806) and his final exile (1815), and understand how the composition of "Dei Sepolcri" and "Ajace" relate to this period and to his other works.
Editions of reference:
- "Dei Sepolcri": see the "Poesie" edition listed in Part B
- "Ajace": Ugo Foscolo, Opere, Vol. I: Poesie e tragedie, edizione diretta da Franco Gavazzeni, con la collaborazione di Maria Maddalena Lombardi e Franco Longoni, Torino, Einaudi - Gallimard, 1994.
Critical Bibliography:
- Giuseppe Nicoletti, Foscolo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, Chapters VI-IX, pp. 151-268.
- Arnaldo Bruni, I "Sepolcri" e la tradizione dei classici, in Id., Foscolo traduttore e poeta da Omero ai "Sepolcri", Bologna, Clueb, 2007; also in «A egregie cose». Studi sui "Sepolcri" di Ugo Foscolo, a cura di Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, 19-30.
- Angelo Favaro, Per un'estetica teatrale di Ugo Foscolo, in «Misure critiche», 1-2 (2011), pp. 60-79.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
In addition to all the material required for attending students, non-attendees must also prepare:
PART A:
- Giuseppe Ledda, Dante, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008 (Chapters III-IX).
- Mirko Tavoni, Perché il poema di Dante è una commedia?, in Id., Qualche idea su Dante, Bologna, il Mulino, pp. 335-369.
PART B:
- Matteo Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010, Chapters I-IV, pp. 9-76.
PART C:
- Matteo Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010, Chapters V-VIII, pp. 78-156.
In addition to the bibliography listed below, all materials uploaded to the MyAriel platform are an integral part of the syllabus.
PART A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): A Political Itinerary in Dante's "Commedia"
Students must understand the "Commedia" in its chronological, structural, cultural, and stylistic dimensions.
The "political" journey includes guided readings of selected cantos. A list of cantos to be prepared for the exam (for which students must provide context and paraphrase) will be posted on MyAriel.
Recommended editions (any edition is acceptable, but these are preferred):
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, a cura di Umberto Bosco e Giovanni Reggio, Le Monnier / Mondadori.
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, commento di Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi, Mondadori.
- Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, a cura di Natalino Sapegno, La Nuova Italia.
Critical Bibliography:
- Giorgio Inglese, Dante: guida alla Divina Commedia, Nuova edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2012.
- Gianfranco Contini, Dante come personaggio poeta della "Commedia", in Id., Un'idea di Dante, Torino, Einaudi, 1976, pp. 335-361.
- Eric Auerbach, Figura, in Id., Studi su Dante, a cura di Dante Della Terza, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1981, pp. 176-226.
- Marco Berisso, Interpretazioni del Dante politico (e di Dante e la politica) nella "Commedia", in La Commedia. Filologia e interpretazione, Atti del Convegno (Milano, 20-21 maggio 2019), a cura di Maria Gabriella Riccobono, Milano, LED, 2020, pp. 91-102 [available online: https://www.ledonline.it/ledonline/930/Commedia-filologia_07.pdf]
PART B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (1): The "Ortis," the "Poesie," and the "Chioma di Berenice"
Students must reconstruct Foscolo's biography with a focus on his early Milanese years (up to 1803), and understand the content, composition, and publication history of his works in context.
Editions of reference:
- "Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis": Ugo Foscolo, Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis, Introduzione, testo e commento a cura di Maria Antonietta Terzoli, Roma, Carocci, 2012.
- "Poesie": Ugo Foscolo, Poesie, a cura di Matteo Palumbo, Milano, BUR, 2010.
- "Chioma di Berenice": Ugo Foscolo, Scritti letterari e politici dal 1796 al 1808, a cura di Giovanni Gambarin, Firenze, Le Monnier, 1972, pp. 267-447 (PDF will be provided on MyAriel).
Critical Bibliography:
- Giuseppe Nicoletti, Foscolo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, Chapters I-V, pp. 15-150.
- Enzo Neppi, Le origini del romanzo "moderno" secondo Foscolo, in Foscolo critico, a cura di Claudia Berra, Paolo Borsa, Giulia Ravera, Milano, Università degli Studi, 2017, pp. 29-48 [online: https://riviste.unimi.it/quadernidigargnano/article/view/10970/pdf]
- Pierantonio Frare, Una lirica nuova, cioè antica, in Le forme della tradizione lirica, a cura di Guido Baldassarri, Patrizia Zambon, Padova, Il Poligrafo, 2012, pp. 159-177.
- Donatella Martinelli, Prospettive di ricerca sulla "Chioma di Berenice", in Foscolo critico, a cura di Claudia Berra, Paolo Borsa, Giulia Ravera, Milano, Università degli Studi, 2017, pp. 29-48 [online: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/quadernidigargnano/article/view/10974/pdf]
PART C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Foscolo in Milan (2): From the "Sepolcri" to "Ajace"
Students must reconstruct the biographical, political, and literary events in Foscolo's life between his return from Flanders (1806) and his final exile (1815), and understand how the composition of "Dei Sepolcri" and "Ajace" relate to this period and to his other works.
Editions of reference:
- "Dei Sepolcri": see the "Poesie" edition listed in Part B
- "Ajace": Ugo Foscolo, Opere, Vol. I: Poesie e tragedie, edizione diretta da Franco Gavazzeni, con la collaborazione di Maria Maddalena Lombardi e Franco Longoni, Torino, Einaudi - Gallimard, 1994.
Critical Bibliography:
- Giuseppe Nicoletti, Foscolo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, Chapters VI-IX, pp. 151-268.
- Arnaldo Bruni, I "Sepolcri" e la tradizione dei classici, in Id., Foscolo traduttore e poeta da Omero ai "Sepolcri", Bologna, Clueb, 2007; also in «A egregie cose». Studi sui "Sepolcri" di Ugo Foscolo, a cura di Fabio Danelon, Venezia, Marsilio, 2008, 19-30.
- Angelo Favaro, Per un'estetica teatrale di Ugo Foscolo, in «Misure critiche», 1-2 (2011), pp. 60-79.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
In addition to all the material required for attending students, non-attendees must also prepare:
PART A:
- Giuseppe Ledda, Dante, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008 (Chapters III-IX).
- Mirko Tavoni, Perché il poema di Dante è una commedia?, in Id., Qualche idea su Dante, Bologna, il Mulino, pp. 335-369.
PART B:
- Matteo Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010, Chapters I-IV, pp. 9-76.
PART C:
- Matteo Palumbo, Foscolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010, Chapters V-VIII, pp. 78-156.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning results are assessed by an individual oral exam with the aim to test acquired knowledge. Assessment criteria include the ability to organise speech and present topics and problems with the appropriate expression. Marks are out of 30. The result is communicated to the student at the end of the exam.
Maximum grade: 30/30. Minimum passing grade: 18/30.
Maximum grade: 30/30. Minimum passing grade: 18/30.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The programme is divided into three teaching units. The first will focus on Dante's "Comedy" (Ironia e sorriso nella "Commedia" dantesca); the second on Giuseppe Parini's "Giorno"; the third on Giuseppe Parini's "Odi".
The programme is valid until September 2027.
The programme is valid until September 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
The prerequisite course is Italian Literature.
Teaching methods
The course will be based on formal lectures. Class attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.
Additional texts and documents will be uploaded on the e-learning platform MyAriel.
A workshop focusing on "critical writing", addressed to majoring students, will be held beside the course. This workshop is not compulsory.
Additional texts and documents will be uploaded on the e-learning platform MyAriel.
A workshop focusing on "critical writing", addressed to majoring students, will be held beside the course. This workshop is not compulsory.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS
Part A
D. Alighieri, "Commedia". Editions commented by Sapegno (La Nuova Italia), Bosco-Reggio (Le Monnier), Pasquini-Quaglio (Garzanti); Chiavacci Leonardi (Mondadori); Inglese (Carocci) are recommended.
Part B
G. Parini, "Il Giorno, le Odi", a cura di G. Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli.
Part C
G. Parini, "Il Giorno, le Odi", a cura di G. Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non attending students will also read G. Ledda, "Dante", Bologna, il Mulino (chapters III-IX).
Part A
D. Alighieri, "Commedia". Editions commented by Sapegno (La Nuova Italia), Bosco-Reggio (Le Monnier), Pasquini-Quaglio (Garzanti); Chiavacci Leonardi (Mondadori); Inglese (Carocci) are recommended.
Part B
G. Parini, "Il Giorno, le Odi", a cura di G. Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli.
Part C
G. Parini, "Il Giorno, le Odi", a cura di G. Nicoletti, Milano, Rizzoli.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non attending students will also read G. Ledda, "Dante", Bologna, il Mulino (chapters III-IX).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam, based on the topics described in the course programme and directed to check the expected learning outcomes (in particular, students are expected to be well-prepared on the subject; to have achieved critical and analytical abilities with literary texts; to argue clearly and properly).
Assessments are marked out of thirty (18/30 > 30/30 cum laude). Students are allowed to choose between earning 6 credits (parts A+B or A+C) and earning 9 credits (3 parts).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Likewise, students with any disabilities are kindly asked to contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
Assessments are marked out of thirty (18/30 > 30/30 cum laude). Students are allowed to choose between earning 6 credits (parts A+B or A+C) and earning 9 credits (3 parts).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Likewise, students with any disabilities are kindly asked to contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/10 - ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
wednesady 15:00-18:00, by appointment by e-mail
First floor of Dipartimento di Studi letterari, filologici e linguistici (via Festa del Perdono, 7)