No prerequisites.
The course proves guidelines to the history of criticism through the analysis of critical approaches that played a crucial role in the development of XX century theories of reading: reception theory, reader response criticism and intersectional feminist criticism.
This course offers a survey of the main trends in literary criticism during the second half of the twentieth century, with a focus on reader-response and reception theory, which will be analyzed in the context of the poststructuralist challenge to traditional views of the literary canon.
Lectures and oral presentations given by students in class. Students are encouraged to give in-class oral presentations based on assigned readings. They can also submit discussion questions of their own design and write a final paper of about 3000 words.
Written exam. Students will be asked to answer two questions. The first question will deal with theoretical concepts described in the required readings; the second will ask students to analyze a passage from one of the texts listed in the bibliography. The exam will assess the knowledge of the course texts, and the ability to critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the methodological approaches covered in the syllabus. The final evaluation will also reflect the students’ ability to present ideas in a structured and coherent way, using appropriate style and terminology.
A. Outstanding (30 e lode): excellent knowledge of all of the contents of the course. Excellent ability to analyze the texts and to contextualize them in an appropriate way. The student uses the academic writing register/style with appropriate linguistic terminologies.
B. Very good (30 to 27): very good knowledge of all of the contents of the course. Very good ability to analyze the texts and to contextualize them in an appropriate way.
C. Good (26-24): Good knowledge of the contents of the course. Adequate ability to describe the texts. The language used is simple but correct.
D. Fair/sufficient (23-18): The work has sufficient knowledge, coherence, use of appropriate resources and quality of presentation to warrant a basic pass. The work is very descriptive and does not fully address the issues raised by the question.
E. Fail (below 18): The student demonstrates only a basic awareness of the contents of the course. The work is frequently confused and incoherent.
Qualora l'insegnamento venisse impartito in modalità mista o a distanza potranno essere introdotte modifiche rispetto a quanto dichiarato nel syllabus per rendere il corso e gli esami fruibili anche secondo queste modalità.