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 in their historical and cultural contexts.

2.communicate via oral and written expression scholarly information and insight about the early transatlantic world.

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

Lecture format and seminar meetings

Written exams during the semester

Oral exam

ISLANDS, ARCHIPELAGOES, OCEANS AND AMERICAN LITERATURE

This course aims at looking at the United States from the privileged perspective of the sea. America has always been defined by the sea, in terms of exploration, exploitation, expansion and cultural imaginary. By reading some literary texts, and considering other cultural productions, we will investigate and discuss  the relation between the sea, the water, colonialism, imperialism, exploration and the American culture