Successful completion of the course English Language I (first year).
Intermediate knowledge of the English language.
An outline of the history of English literature.
At the end of the course, the student:
a. has a critical knowledge of the literary and cultural history of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth and the twentieth century through the reading in the original language and the analysis of the set literary texts;
b.has some basic methodological strategies for the critical reading of novels;
c. can apply critical skills to literary texts;
d. describes and discusse literary complexity;
e. makes independent evaluations of literary texs.
The course examines the strategic role of the empire within British contemporary 'metropolitan' literature and culture. Some basic methodological strategies for the critical reading of novels will be taught.
B1 The Lonely Londoners, any edition in English.
B2 Timothy Mo Sour Sweet, 1982, any edition in English
B3 Andrea Levy, Fruit of the Lemon, Picador, 1999
B4 Moshin Hamid, The reluctant fundamentalist, Penguin, 2007.
B5 F.Nicora, Longing for landscape: New Londoners' sense of belonging and the representation of the city, in Vanessa Guignery(ed.),(Re-)mapping London: visions of the metropolis in the contemporary novel , Paris, Publibook.
B6 Steven Connor, The English Novel in History 1950-1995, London, Routledge pp.83-127.
B7 J.Acheson, The contemporary British novel since 2000, Edinburgh University Press, 2017, Ch.16 Moshin Hamid
Lectures, films. Lessons will include PowerPoint slides, as well as audio-video materials.
Students will be asked to actively participate in these activities, with discussion and debate.
Guest lecturers will contribute to focus on specific topics.
The first session is a written exam (answer five questions on the course with open answers, including a brief translation. Six point for each question). The remaining sessions are oral.
Abilities required for the exam:
1. a basic knowledge of the 19th and 20th century cultural and literary issues engaged in the course.
2. students must be able to read all the texts addressed in English and to translate them into Italian.
3. students must be able to develop a critical argument on the issues engaged with adequate references to the texts addressed.
The result of the written exam is visible in the student's webpage. A mail is sent by the system to inform about publication.
Erasmus students and students who cannot attend classes are asked to meet the instructor during tutorial hours (not by e-mail) if they need advice or feel the necessity of supplementary reading to gain a full understanding of the topics.