The course provides tools for teaching Italian literature by connecting different levels of analysis, interweaving textual study (i.e., technical, rhetorical, and formal skills) with complementary competencies. These include authorial biography, history and geography, science and law, visual arts and cinema, cultural context and the physicality of place, as well as social and natural environments. Particular attention is given to a conspicuous selection of exemplary texts from Italian literature, chosen for their educational potential. These texts are analyzed from multiple interpretative perspectives: accurate comprehension and interpretation, with the ability to summarize and critically analyze content; historical and cultural context, including possible connections with foreign literatures and references to art history; thematic analysis of literary genres, focusing on their specific characteristics; presentation and commentary on key formal features (stylistic, rhetorical, metrical, and linguistic); and an in-depth examination of the pedagogical opportunities each text offers, with a focus on its potential educational applications. The course thus forms part of the core curriculum in language sciences and educational skills.
Course Prerequisites
A preferred prerequisite for the course is prior attendance of an Italian literature class during the undergraduate (Bachelor’s) program, preferably with a historical and linguistic orientation. Since the course is scheduled in the first year of the Master’s program, it also draws upon the teaching of related subjects such as history, art history, linguistics, sociology, and geography, as included in the study plan.
Teaching Methods
The course is delivered in a blended format for 66% of its total contact hours, with sessions held via Microsoft Teams. Lessons are structured around the reading and analysis of selected literary texts, contextualized within their appropriate historical frameworks. Particular emphasis is placed on in-depth textual analysis, supported by the use of school textbooks and the didactic manual included in the syllabus.
Assessment Methods
The final examination is oral and assesses students’ understanding of the methods and approaches to teaching Italian literature. The manual, supplementary readings, and other course materials made available provide the basis for exam questions assessing knowledge of the subject matter, expository clarity, and critical analysis skills. The evaluation is based on: accuracy and quality of the responses (70%) as well as on communicative ability and the capacity to justify analyses, interpretations, and critical judgments (30%).
Contents
The course aims to develop skills related to teaching Italian literature, with particular attention to the function of literary writing across different historical periods and communicative contexts. It highlights the connections between literature and other expressive forms, as well as with other cultural fields.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Office hours: generally held after class. Please make an appointment by email.
