The main aim is to invite students to look into a selection of twentieth-century
novels and poetry, and to participate in certain of the major
debates that have animated twentieth-century literature and criticism.
Starting from the variety of historical contexts in which the literary texts
and the critical debates have arisen, the course attends in detail some of
the most intriguing texts of the twentieth century and the debates that
followed their publication. The course unit is organized into two modules, with
each module focussing on a particular literary genre (prose and poetry).
For each literary text, the course will undertake a close analysis of its
literary language; examine its historical context(s); discuss competing
critical and theoretical interpretations; and relate the particular text and
its critical reception to the general debates covered in the module. The
objective is that the student should feel encouraged to develop his/her
own readings of the texts by combining close critical analysis and
historical contextualisation, in relation to the relevant critical and
theoretical perspectives.
Abilities:
At the end of the course, students will be able to read critically and analyze some of the fundamental texts of the British canon in the original language.
Self-assessment:
Students will have to acquire sufficient skills in order to give a critical response to the texts proposed and their contexts
Communicative Skills:
Students will have to use appropriate language and speak of texts, contexts, topics and writing strategies connected to the primary texts also in relations to other literatures and cultures.