Voices from 18th and 19th century America. An Introduction to the culture and literature of the United States
The course fully taught in English offers students an introduction to American Literature and Culture from Colonial Period to the American Renaissance through a selection of the founding texts in the history, culture and literature of the United States.
Students will acquire a general knowledge of the language, culture, institutions and selectied literary trends and texts of the U.S.
The course aims to familiarize students with major trends of American culture and with important works in different genres (fiction, essay, drama, poetry, film). Students will learn how to analyze such works competently from a historical and generic perspective.
Lecture course. Three hours per week given in two classes (of 2 hours and 1 hour respectively).
LESSONS ARE IN ENGLISH.
For students who decide to come to lessons the attendance is mandatory for 28 hours out of 36 (75% of the couse). Attendance is checked through signatures.
PROGRAM A for students who attend lessons (attendance is mandatory for 75% of the course, 28 hours out of 36)
Lessons will primarily focus on the following themes:
1. The Birth of the United States and the Puritan Legacy
2. Wilderness, Manifest Destiny and the myth of the frontier
3. Transcendentalism and the American Renaissance
4. Benjamin Franklin and the American Enlightenment
5. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Walt Whitman
6. The African American experience
The list of the works that will be examined in class will be communicated with announcements on aulaweb.
PROGRAM B for students who do NOT ATTEND lessons History of American Literature: the 18th century to be studied on manuals that will be listed in the section TEXTS/BIBLIOGRAPHY. Additional critical texts will be given before the beginning of summer exams.
Reading of 3 unabridged texts and of some extracts from collections of poems, essays or short stories that will be listed in the section TEXTS/BIBLIOGRAPHY at the beginning of the course.
Ricevimento: Office hours by appointment. Please send a message to paola.nardi@unicatt.it
MASSIMO BACIGALUPO (President)
PAOLA ANNA NARDI (President)
STEFANIA MICHELUCCI
The course will take place in the second semester.
The course starts on the 17th of February
EXAM DESCRIPTION
Students will take a written exam at the end of the course (June, July, September, October 2019 February 2020). Their work will be evaluated by the lecturer and a colleague in the same subject.
ASSESSMENT METHODS
EXAMINATION PROCEDURE There will be a written exam (2 hours), which can be taken in June-July, September-October 2020 or February 2021. The exam is in three parts: Part 1 - Fill in the blank (10 questions) Part 2 - Short Answers (5 questions, answers must be at least 12-15 lines long)
Erasmus students are welcomed!
