Ateneo - UPO

The violence of History and the voices of the defeated.

1) The teacher will prepare a booklet with the texts that will be commented on in class, and which will be deposited in the copy shop (copisteria "Lisa", via Galileo Ferraris 76, Vercelli) before the start of the lessons. Students will be notified when the booklet is available.
2) Students are required to read in its entirety the novel: Gabriella Ghermandi, Regina di fiori e di perle, Roma, Donzelli, 2021;
3) Recommended but not mandatory readings: Silvia Camilotti, Cartoline d'Africa. Le colonie italiane nelle rappresentazioni letterarie, Venezia, Edizioni Ca' Foscari, 2014, https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/media/pdf/books/978-88-97735-59-5/978-88-97735-59-5.pdf; Caterina Romeo, Riscrivere la nazione. La letteratura italiana postcoloniale, Milano, Mondadori Education, 2018; Storie condivise nell'Italia contemporanea. Narrazioni e performance transculturali, ed. by Daniele Comberiati and Chiara Mengozzi, Roma, Carocci, 2023.

Knowledge and understanding: in-depth knowledge of some works of contemporary italian literature, examined through the theme of the violence of history (basic level); understanding of the texts involved, through a correct paraphrase (basic level) and attention to their linguistic and stylistic dimension (advanced level);
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze texts by placing them within genres and linking ideological and literary elements (basic level); ability to analyze texts from an intertextual perspective and discuss interpretative problems (advanced level);
Expression of judgments: ability to express reasoned judgments on texts and their interpretations, critically discussing their reasons and limits, with particular attention to the historical perspective (advanced level);
Communication skills: ability to present in an orderly and clear way the concepts and data learned, using an appropriate language (basic level); ability to present the results of the study with argumentative effectiveness and critical autonomy (advanced level);
Study skills: ability to read and analyze a literary text, recognizing its historical belonging and the main expressive strategies (basic level).

Historical-literary, linguistic-stylistic and basic metrics knowledge provided by the high school attended.

Frontal lessons with discussion; reading and commenting on the texts in the classroom, with questions and discussion; online teaching (DIR).

The teacher will make teaching materials available to students through the university IT service (DIR), to which students are invited to register before the start of lessons.
Non-attending students are asked to contact the teacher (cecilia.gibellini@uniupo.it) to get some general indications for the preparation of the exam and to arrange some supplementary readings.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse
e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted
the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination
modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final exam consists of a written test, which will focus on the following points:
1) Verification of knowledge of texts and authors: a question about a work, an author, a problem, referring to the booklet prepared by the teacher (indicated under "Reference texts") - 50% of the weight on the exam grade;
2) Verification of the ability to examine and interpret texts, to express judgments, and to apply oneself to the analysis of the literary text: a question consisting in the paraphrase, analysis and comment of a passage among those anthologized in the booklet prepared by teacher - 50% of the weight on the exam mark. To pass the exam, it will be necessary to answer at least sufficiently to each of the questions. The assessment is based on the degree of knowledge and understanding of the texts and authors in the program, on the ability to apply knowledge to the text or to the interpretative problem proposed, and on the degree of expressive and communicative capacity.

1) The violence of history and the voices of the defeated in nineteenth-twentieth century Italian literature, with reference to Risorgimento and post-Risorgimento history: Alessandro Manzoni, Giovanni Verga.
2) The violence of history and the voices of the defeated in contemporary Italian literature, with reference to the events of Italian colonialism in East Africa: Ennio Flaiano, Enrico Emanuelli, Gabriella Ghermandi, Igiaba Scego.

Integration of the gender dimension: specific attention will be dedicated to the production of Afro-Italian writers (Gabriella Ghermandi, Igiaba Scego) who also intertwine the post-colonial perspective with reflection on gender, in an intersectional perspective.

In order to achieve the knowledge and skills corresponding to the level of sufficiency, the student is asked to demonstrate: (KNOWLEDGE) knowing the texts examined in the course through the theme of historical violence; (SKILLS) knowing how to analyze and interpret literary texts, connecting the ideological elements to the more strictly literary ones; (TRANSVERSAL SKILLS) knowing how to present knowledge, information and opinions relating to the texts and problems covered in a clear and effective way, using appropriate language and terminology. To achieve an advanced level, the student must demonstrate: an organic vision of the topics covered in class, combined with articulated analysis and synthesis skills; the ability to critically and independently elaborate the topics covered, even beyond the indications provided in class and in the exam program; excellent expressive mastery.