Ateneo - UPO

«Con simulazion, menzogne e frodi»: lies, deceptions, self-deceptions in the Italian literature of the Renaissance.

1) For the institutional part: Giancarlo Alfano, Paola Italia, Emilio Russo, Franco Tomasi, Letteratura italiana. Dalle Origini a metà Cinquecento. Manuale per studi universitari, Mondadori Università, 2018, pp. 329-705 (epoche 3, 4 e 5). 2) For the monographic part: a booklet with the texts that will be commented on in class will be deposited in the copy shop before the start of the lessons. Students will be notified when the booklet is available. 3) For further information (recommended but not mandatory readings): Harald Weinrich, Linguistica della menzogna, in Idem, Metafora e menzogna: la serenità dell’arte, Il Mulino, 1976; Maria Bettetini, Breve storia della bugia. Da Ulisse a Pinocchio, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2001; Francesco Ferretti, Menzogna e inganno nel Furioso, in «Versants», 59, 2012, pp. 85-109; Cecilia Gibellini, Giovan Battista Casti tra Boccaccio e Voltaire: lettura intertestuale delle Novelle galanti, Carabba, 2015.

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the poetics, genres, texts and authors of Italian Renaissance literature and in-depth knowledge of some works of primary importance, examined through the theme of lies, deception and self-deception (basic level); understanding of the texts of Italian Renaissance literature, 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 connecting biographical, 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, avoiding mnemonic repetition (advanced level); Study skills: ability to read and analyze a literary text, recognizing its historical belonging and the main expressive strategies (basic level). Expression of judgments: ability to identify data and tools useful for formulating motivated evaluations on texts and problems addressed and ability to express such evaluations with argumentative effectiveness (advanced 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 an oral exam, which will focus on the following points: (1) Verification of knowledge of the texts of Italian Renaissance literature (general part): a question about a work, an author, a problem, referring to the manual adopted (indicated under Textbooks) - 40% of the weight on the exam grade; (2) Verification of the ability to examine and interpret the texts (with particular attention to the topic of the course), and together of communication skills and the ability to express judgments: a question on one or more texts among those included in the booklet prepared by teacher - 30% of the weight on the exam grade; (3) 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 manual adopted or in the dossier prepared by teacher - 30% 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 Novella del Grasso legnaiuolo. 2) Seduction and blasphemy in Masuccio Salernitano and Giambattista Casti. 3) Machiavelli: lies and deceit in Il Prince and in La Mandragola. 4) Lie, deception and self-deception in the Orlando Furioso. 5) Sprezzatura and dissimulazione onesta: courtly treatises.

In order to achieve the knowledge and skills corresponding to the sufficiency level, the student is asked to demonstrate: (KNOWLEDGE) to know, in the main junctions, the poetics, genres, texts and authors of the Italian literature of the Renaissance, and, in greater depth, some works of primary importance, examined through the theme of lies, deception and self-deception; (SKILLS) knowing how to analyze and interpret Renaissance literary texts, linking the biographical and ideological elements to the more strictly literary ones; (TRANSVERSAL SKILLS) knowing how to present in a clear and effective way knowledge, information and opinions relating to the texts and problems dealt with, using appropriate language and terminology. For the achievement of an advanced level, the student must demonstrate: an organic vision of the topics addressed in class, combined with articulated skills of analysis and synthesis; 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.