Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Lingue e Letterature Straniere e Culture Moderne

The primary goals of this course are as follows:

1) to become familiar with the historical, cultural, and ideological circumstances surrounding a given piece of literature, and to also explore the development and expression of some fundamental ideas, assumptions, myths, and beliefs that still influence the ways Americans think about themselvesand their society.

2) to develop our ability to read these texts both carefully and critically, and to use textual evidence to support interpretations or opinions.

1.Use critical reading methods practiced in the discipline of literature to analyze novels and other texts in their historical and cultural contexts.

2.communicate via oral and written expression scholarly information and insight about the US culture and literature.

3. demonstrate capacity and agility in the use of primary and secondary research in print and online sources and databases.

As other classes in American studies, this course aims at developing abilities of critical thinking, independent study and initiative. Seminar discussions and individual study of the syllabus help students acquire critical and analytical tools for undestanding and conducting research in the field of North-American literature and culture. They also learn to place those texts within theoretical, critical, and historical contexts and to produce written analyses of those texts.

Revolution and Reform in the Atlantic World

This course will examine the literary responses to, and representations of the idea of revolution and reform during the late 18thc. and 19^th c. During the course of the semester we will consider three clusters: Atlantic revolutions and especially the Haitian Revolution; Reform and Transcendentalism; Abolitionism/Anti-slavery. Literary movements and styles such as sentimentalism, Romanticism, and the gothic will be considered in relation to the circulation of revolutionary ideas and the ensuing paranoia or conservative backlash.

Lecture format and seminar meetings.

This course is taught IN PERSON and is not suitable for distant learning.

Recording sessions (even partially) is forbidden. Recordings of lessons will not be made available.

Written exams during the semester, in the classroom, in English. Students will be required to show their skills in analyzing and contextualizing the texts on the syllabus in a critical and autonomous way. 

Final oral exam, where the students  will be evaluated in their ability to analyze and contextualize literary texts in a critical and autonomous way. The level of English and communication skills will also be evaluate

Bibliography:

• Wheatley, Poems (Selection)
• Paine, Writings (Selection)
• Olaudah Equiano, Interesting Narrative
• Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
• Leonora Sansay, Secret History or the Horrors of Haiti
• Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
• Fuller, Writings (Selection)
• Frances Harper, Iola Leroy

In addition, other required readings will be available online. The file or directions about how to find the site or file will be found on the course's blog which will be made available in Dececmber.