OVERVIEW

The course is part of the educational activities of Master's Degree Program in Primary Education (24 hours 4 ECTS). Through the study of certain literary figures and the reading of emblematic or unconventional works of Italian literature, the course will explore themes, poetics, trends, styles, and communicative strategies of literary texts, with particular focus on the educational potential of literature and the evolving boundaries of the literary canon.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main objective of the course is a focused analysis of those aspects  and topics
in the Italian literary production that best suit the specificities of Primary Education. Literature will be analyzed and presented as a privileged reflection of society, as a projection of  the human condition, with special reference to the world of childhood, of maternity, of the feminine, in the complex interweaving of historic reality, sealed by the added value of artistic transfiguration. The course aims also to educate students to read the literature in a training perspective and to provide adequate tools through which students can design learning paths for Primary School.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main objectives of the course are: to educate students on the educational potential of literary works through the reading, analysis, and interpretation of texts, as well as the study of the historical and cultural context in which they were produced; and to provide them with an adequate foundation of knowledge that, once they become teachers, they can draw upon to design learning paths appropriate to the school level in which they will work.

In particular, the expected learning outcomes are:

Knowledge and understanding:
Through classroom lectures, guided readings, exercises, and discussions, students will learn the main methods for analyzing literary texts and their contexts, also reflecting on whether or not the texts have been canonized.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
Through independent analysis of original or translated texts, students will be able to apply the analytical skills acquired to grasp both the structural elements of the texts and their relationship with the historical and cultural context in which they were produced.

Making judgements:
Through oral presentations analyzing specific texts, students will develop the ability to critically understand and discuss the distinctive features of a literary work.

Communication skills:
Oral presentations will help students develop the ability to present the results of their analyses in a clear and concise manner, to express concepts using appropriate language, and to engage in informed discussion on the topics covered.

Learning skills:
The activities described will enable students to acquire the methodological tools necessary for continuing their studies.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge, at high school level, of the history of Italian literature.

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons will take place in person and will employ various teaching methods. The course provides students with a range of educational tools and supplementary materials, available in a dedicated section of the e-learning platform AulaWeb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Two Classics of Children Literature: Pinocchio and Cuore

In a short span of years, between 1881 and 1886, Italy saw the emergence of two works that were among the most important not only for literary history but also for the formation of the culture of the new nation: The Adventures of Pinocchio and Cuore. The course, divided into two sections, will present a series of readings taken not only from the two works, but also from some of their continuations and rewritings from the 19th and 20th centuries.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography for attending students

- Edmondo De Amicis, Cuore (suggested ed., Milano, Feltrinelli, 2007. Complete reading)

- Carlo Collodi, Le avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino (suggested ed., ed. by G. Alfano, Milano, Rizzoli/BUR, 2022. Complete reading)

Further readings will be indicated during lectures.
All the students must study the texts and the support materials available on Aulaweb.

Bibliography for non-attending students:
Non-attending students are requested to contact the lecturer to discuss supplementary readings.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 16, 2026

Class schedule

ITALIAN LITERATURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be conducted orally (optional written intermediate exercises may be provided).

For the first part, the student will need to demonstrate the ability to analyze the text, contextualizing it and examining it at all levels.

For the second part, the student will need to demonstrate critical thinking and synthesis skills regarding the historical-literary profile as presented in the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will cover both parts of the course and the topics addressed in class. For the first module, the exam will start with the analysis of the text, followed by the contextualization of the examined verses within the broader profile of the work and its author. For the second module, the exam will begin with figures, works, and themes, and then move to construct a critical discourse on specific issues.

The exam aims to assess the student's knowledge of the topics covered, their critical ability to reinterpret and contextualize the texts and authors studied from a historical-cultural perspective, to explain thematic, linguistic, rhetorical, and stylistic aspects, and to express the concepts learned in an appropriate manner.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students, whether attending or not, are requested to register for the course on AulaWeb in order to receive communications and notices concerning the course.Erasmus students or non-native speakers of Italian must contact the lecturer to agree on the examination programme.
Students with a certified DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the lecturer at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods which, while respecting the teaching objectives, take account of individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools. The same students are also invited to make use of the various services provided to accompany them on their university journey (for further information, please refer to https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).