ITA4340

Modern Italian literature and society III

R Lampugnani

8 points - 3 hours per week - Second semester - Clayton

Objectives Through the reading of representative novels, the study of selected secondary sources and written practice students will have the opportunity to (i) reassess the image of Italian society to include the feminine point of view; (ii) appreciate major trends in women's writing; (iii) acquire an awareness of the relationship between thematic treatment and the changing social, cultural, political context of Italy, in the light of established male narrative discourse; (iv) gain an understanding of the relationship between ideology, cultural models, forms of narrative discourse and subversion. Students taking this subject at fourth year level are expected to read more extensively in primary and secondary literature and to write essays that require more analytical/theoretical discussion.

Synopsis A survey of themes and narrative techniques in the works of contemporary women writers. The subject examines the relationship between literary texts and social changes which have affected Italian women, the family and society in general in recent years.

Assessment Two essays (1500 words each): 50% - Examination (2 hours): 35% - Seminar participation: 15%

Prescribed texts

Aleramo S Una donna Feltrinelli, 1995
de Céspedes A Quaderno proibito Mondadori, 1981
Fallaci O Lettera a un bambino mai nato Rizzoli, 1975
Ginzburg N È stato così latest edin, Einaudi
Sereni C Casalinghitudine latest edn, Einaudi

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