Study-unit ENGLISH LITERATURE II
| Course name | Foreign languages and cultures |
|---|---|
| Study-unit Code | 35308009 |
| Curriculum | Comune a tutti i curricula |
| Lecturer | Annalisa Volpone |
| Lecturers |
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| Hours |
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| CFU | 9 |
| Course Regulation | Coorte 2023 |
| Supplied | 2024/25 |
| Supplied other course regulation | |
| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Letterature straniere |
| Sector | L-LIN/10 |
| Type of study-unit | Opzionale (Optional) |
| Type of learning activities | Attività formativa monodisciplinare |
| Language of instruction | Italiano |
| Contents | This course explores the evolution of the ghost story within the Modernist literary movement, focusing on works by James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Katherine Mansfield, Elizabeth Bowen, and May Sinclair. We will examine how these authors incorporate elements of the supernatural to address themes such as memory, trauma, identity, and the boundaries of reality. Through close readings and critical analysis, students will gain an understanding of how the ghost story was adapted to reflect the complexities of early 20th-century life and thought. |
| Reference texts | Required Texts James Joyce, Dubliners (selected stories) Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway and A Haunted House and Other Short Stories Katherine Mansfield, The Garden Party and Other Stories (selected stories) Elizabeth Bowen, The Demon Lover and Other Stories (selected stories) Additional readings will be provided via the course’s online platform. Students with disabilities and/or with SLD who, having completed regular accreditation through SOL, have obtained access to the University services, can request the compensatory tools provided by the law (for example, textbooks in digital format; teaching materials in accessible formats: presentations, handouts, exercise books, provided if necessary in advance of the lessons), for which see the page https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa . For the request, the student is invited to contact the teacher, who will put him in contact with the Disability and/or SLD Representative of the Department (prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it ) |
| Educational objectives | By the end of this course, students will be able to: Identify and discuss the characteristics of the "New Woman" as portrayed in 19th-century English literature. Analyze the ways in which Bronte, Gaskell, and Austen critique and subvert traditional gender roles. Engage critically with primary texts and relevant scholarly criticism. Develop coherent arguments in written and oral forms about the portrayal of women in the selected works. Contextualize the "New Woman" within broader historical, cultural, and literary frameworks. |
| Prerequisites | A general understanding of the representation of the New Woman in the Victorian Age. |
| Teaching methods | Students must have a good knowledge of British Literature and Twentieth Century Literature. Teaching Methods Lectures: Each class will begin with a lecture that provides context, background information, and an overview of key themes and concepts related to the day's readings. Close Readings: We will engage in detailed, line-by-line analysis of selected passages to uncover deeper meanings and stylistic techniques. Class Discussions: Students are expected to participate actively in discussions, sharing their insights and interpretations of the texts. Group Work: Small group activities and discussions will facilitate peer learning and collaborative analysis. Multimedia Resources: The use of films, audio recordings, and visual art to provide additional perspectives and enhance understanding of the texts. Guest Lectures: Invited speakers will offer expert insights on specific topics related to Modernist ghost stories. Online Discussion Boards: Supplementary discussions and activities will take place on the course’s online platform, providing opportunities for extended engagement with the material. Students with disabilities and/or with SLD, after consultation with the lecturer, can request any teaching materials in accessible formats (presentations, handouts, exercise books), provided if necessary in advance of the lessons, as well as the use of other technological facilitation tools in the study phase. For general information, consult the University Services at the page https://lettere.unipg.it/home/disabilita-e-dsa and get in touch with the Department Representative (prof.ssa A. Di Pilla). |
| Other information | Students with disabilities and/or SLD: for any information on University services, consult the page https://lettere.unipg.it/home/disabilita-e-dsa and contact the Disability and/or DSA Department Coordinator (prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it) |
| Learning verification modality | A 2500 word essay in English to be submitted at least 10 days before the exam session, and a brief oral discussion of the themes and texts explored in the course (15 minutes max). Students with disabilities and/or with SLD who, having completed regular accreditation through SOL, have obtained access to University services, can apply for compensatory tools, dispensatory measures and inclusive technologies ensured by law, to be requested and agreed with the teacher well in advance of tests and exams. For general information, consult the page https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa and contact the Disability and/or SLD Department Coordinator (prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it). The essay accounts for 70% of the final exam result, the oral part for the remaining 30%. |
| Extended program | Introduction to Modernism and the Ghost Story Overview of Modernist literature and its themes Introduction to the ghost story genre James Joyce Dubliners: "The Dead" Discussion on memory and the supernatural in Joyce’s work Virginia Woolf Mrs Dalloway (selected excerpts focusing on Septimus Warren Smith) A Haunted House and Other Short Stories: "A Haunted House" Virginia Woolf Continued discussion on Woolf’s use of ghostly imagery |
| Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile | 4 and 5 |