B029303 - ENGLISH LITERATURE

Italian

The course is focused on the main features of English literature and
British drama. The course aims at providing the students with a solid background, developing their critical reading, through the study of the most significant authors of English literature and British drama from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century.

Keir Elam e Lilla Maria Crisafulli Manuale di letteratura e cultura inglese, Bologna, BUP, 2009
Booklet with articles and essays

The course (36 hours) will focus on William Shakespeare's The The Merchant of Venice and Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. Aims of the course:
a. to introduce students to Elizabethan theatre and drama, to Shakespeare and to the afterlife of the plays studied;
b. to familiarize students with the critical instruments required for the analysis of dramatic and theatrical texts of English Renaissance.
c. to enable students to develop a critical consciousness and an awareness of critical theory and culture theory through the analyses of some the most representative texts of English Renaissance.

1. Knowledge and understanding: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding in historical and cultural contexts of English Renaissance and will acquire the critical tools to cope with the formal and substantive components of the literary, dramatic and theatrical texts analyzed during the lessons.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will learn how to apply processes, models, questions, and theories that result in enhanced clarity in the comprehension of literary texts included in the program, which will be appreciated in both their formal and their contextual features.
3. Making judgements: Students will develop the ability to discuss the literary questions considered during the course, proposing critical perspectives and well-grounded judgements on the texts included in the program.
4. Communication skills: Students will develop the ability to can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, with particular reference to themes and questions considered during the lessons.
5. Learning skills: Students will acquire the methodological tools needed to read, analyze and understand English literary, dramatic, and theatrical texts.

the prerequisites are those provided for the course of study

lectures with the aid of powerpoint presentation, DVD, internet

The course will take place in the second semester.
Students must enrol to the course through e-learning Platform moodle from 17 February 2020.
You can contact prof. Cioni via e-mail at fernando.cioni@unifi.it

Oral and/or written exam. The exam will test students’ knowledge of:
1. The history of English literature and English theatre from the the origin to the Renaissance; the Romantic Age; Modernism; Contemporary theatre.
2. Specific issues and themes in Shakespeare and the Elizabethan theatre;
3. The key texts and critical literature included in the reading list.

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and critically evaluate the key texts included in the reading list, and to place them within their historical and cultural contexts.
Successful candidates will be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge in all of the above points (1,2,3).
The exam aims to assess:
- The knowledge of key concepts in The history of English literature and English theatre from the the origin to the Renaissance; the Romantic Age; Modernism; Contemporary theatre.
- The ability to describe and place literary phenomena within their contexts of production and reception;
- The ability of close reading and appreciation of all the texts included in the reading list as well as a thorough command of methodological and theoretical tools;
- The ability to use formal and critical terminology;
- activities and tests on e-learning Platform moodle.

Students will demonstrate that they can discuss the subjects treated during the course, make appropriate connections between different authors and works, and express themselves clearly.
Grades are given on the basis of 30 points. Points are awarded if students are able to
1) describe form and contents of the texts studied,
2) understand, summarize and propose critical readings of those texts,
3) elaborate personal judgements that are solidly grounded on the text and/or secondary literature,
4) use appropriate terms.
Nos. 1 and 4 are essential in order to obtain the minimum passing grade (18/30); higher evaluations depend on to what extent’ students have developed their skills in all four points listed above.

“The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare and The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe".

The course, starting from a study of Elizabethan theater, will focus on the Jewish character on Elizabethan stage, with the analysis of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta. The two plays will be studied both from a textual and performative point of view. The character of Shylock will be studied both in The Merchant of Venice stage history, and through rewritings and adaptations of the play from 18th to 21st century.

Texts:
William Shakespeare Il Mercante di Venezia a cura di Dario Calimani, Venezia, Marsilio. (Introduction and notes included).
Christopher Marlowe L’ebreo di Malta, a cura di Rocco Coronato, Venezia, Marsilio. (Introduction and notes included).

Critical texts
John Gross Shylock, chap. 9 e 19.*
Alessandro Serpieri,”Contratti di amore e di morte in The Merchant of Venice”*
Shaul Bassi Essere qualcun altro (capp.3 e 4)*
Booklet (available on moodle)
Slides, photocopies and other material available on moodle (http://e-l.unifi.it)