Ateneo - UPO

The course explores major American literary works from 1850 to 1970, focusing on poetry, short stories, drama, and political essays that examine the construction, challenges, and reinventions of American national identity. The syllabus traces the cultural and historical emergence of the nation through some of its most important narrative, dramatic, essayistic, and poetic voices. Throughout the course, we will highlight literary representations of key foundational conflicts within the nation-building project.

The Norton Anthology of American Literature Cristina Iuli e Paola Loreto, a cura di (2018);La letteratura degli Stati Uniti: dal Rinascimento Americano ai nostri; Roma, Carocci. Arthur Miller, The Crucible (Penguin or equivalent edition) Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun (Vintage or equivalent edition) Selected critical essays, historical excerpts, short stories and other materials out of copyrights (DIR platform)

Basic Level: Develop a general understanding of the American literary texts studied, identifying key themes. Grasp, with guidance, the relationship between literature and concepts such as nation, identity, race, and history. Recognize the main historical and cultural contexts in which the texts were produced. Begin to engage with the development of American literary form. Express personal and reflective responses in clear, simple written or oral form. Intermediate Level: Critically analyze complex literary texts, identifying formal structures and ideological messages. Explore independently the connections between text and socio-historical context, especially regarding race, identity, and nationhood. Recognize the evolution of literary forms, including modernist innovations and emerging ethnic voices. Construct structured and coherent arguments both orally and in writing. Offer interpretative and creative responses that reflect growing critical awareness. Advanced Level: Conduct in-depth literary analysis that integrates historical context, theoretical perspectives, and comparative approaches. Critically assess how literary texts shape and challenge national, racial, and identity narratives. Examine the transformation of the American literary voice, with attention to formal experimentation and cultural plurality. Produce autonomous, original, and theoretically grounded interpretations, including academic-level writing. Develop creative and sophisticated responses to literature, showing full critical awareness of the role of writing.

None. Basic familiarity with 19th- and 20th-century American history and culture is helpful but not mandatory. No prior literary training required; openness to critical discussion and reading is expected. Proficiency in English at intermediate or advanced level suitable for literary study.

Interactive lectures introducing historical and cultural contexts. Close reading and group discussion of literary texts. Written reading responses and brief in-class writing exercises. Creative assignments inspired by course texts. Use of multimedia resources (video clips of plays, audio recordings of poems). Collaborative debates and presentations.

Course materials (readings and handouts) will be available through the learning platform DIR. Non-attending students must contact the Professor for a specific reading list and assessment activities. 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.

Participation in class discussions and activities, including short written in class responses or home weekly prompts (10%) • Midterm online test (30%) • Final written test based on close reading (60%) In order to pass this exam students must pass both the test online and the written test. (at least 18/30 on each part of the final exam) Grading Breakdown (Base 30) with Performance Descriptors Category Score Range (out of 30) Description What the Student Demonstrates Excellent 27 – 30 Outstanding performance, insightful, thorough - Deep and nuanced understanding of texts and contexts - Original and critical analysis - Excellent use of textual evidence - Clear, well-structured, and sophisticated expression - Creative or advanced engagement with material Good 24 – 26 Strong understanding, well-argued - Solid comprehension of texts and contexts - Sound analysis with relevant examples - Clear and organized expression - Few minor errors or gaps - Shows critical thinking and engagement Sufficient 18 – 23 Adequate knowledge, meets minimum requirements - Basic understanding of texts and historical/cultural background - Some analysis but may be superficial or inconsistent - Adequate use of evidence - Expression is generally clear but may contain errors or lapses - Meets minimum criteria to pass Fail Below 18 Insufficient knowledge or skills - Limited or inaccurate understanding - Weak or missing analysis - Poor use or absence of textual support - Unclear or disorganized expression - Does not meet minimum standards for passing

Questo è un programma di massima. Il contenuto e la scelta dei testi possono subire variazioni. Il programma definitivo sarà disponibile sulla pagina DIR del corso prima dell'inizio delle lezioni. 1 1 Geo-History of the United States and Foundations of Political Thought Walt Whitman, “I Hear America Singing” Frederick Jackson Turner (excerpts) Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience (excerpts) 2 Moral Myth and Madness Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Young Goodman Brown” Edgar Allan Poe, “Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym” 3 Melville and Allegory I Herman Melville, Benito Cereno (Part 1) 4 Melville and Allegory II Benito Cereno (Part 2) Emily Dickinson Poems: “Because I could not stop for Death,” “Much Madness is divinest Sense,” “I dwell in Possibility”, “My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun” Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: “Learning to Read,” “The Slave Mother” Mark Twain: Humor and Voice Mark Twain, “A True Story....” Kate Chopin “Desiré’s Baby” Faulkner and Southern Memory William Faulkner, “Barn Burning” // “Dry September”// “A Rose for Emily” Frederick Douglass (excerpts) Modernism I: Fractured Forms and Images Ezra Pound, “In a Station of the Metro” T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” William Carlos Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow”, “This Is Just to Say” Wallace Stevens, “Anecdote of the Jar” Marianne Moore, “Poetry” (1919 version) Ethnic Modernism and Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes, “I, Too,” “Theme for English B,” “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Claude McKay, “If We Must Die” Jean Toomer, “Georgia Dusk” Drama: The Crucible I Arthur Miller, The Crucible Acts I–II 13 Drama: The Crucible II The Crucible Acts III–IV 8 14 Drama: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun 15 Final James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”

Basic Level (18–21/30) By the end of the course, students will be able to: Show a general understanding of the literary texts studied, identifying key themes and basic historical context. Perform basic close readings of selected passages, recognizing fundamental stylistic and rhetorical features. Reconstruct with guidance the link between literature and ideas of nation, race, identity, and history. Recognize essential features of American literary form without technical depth. Communicate basic ideas clearly and simply, both orally and in writing. Provide mainly descriptive and personal responses to literature. Intermediate Level (22–26/30) By the end of the course, students will be able to: Conduct detailed close readings of complex texts, identifying narrative strategies, stylistic choices, and rhetorical figures. Critically analyze literary texts, linking form, content, and socio-historical context, with attention to race, nation, and identity. Recognize and comment on the evolution of American literary form and the contribution of minority voices. Develop coherent arguments using appropriate disciplinary language. Offer personal interpretations that demonstrate critical awareness and creativity. Advanced Level (27–30 cum laude/30) By the end of the course, students will be able to: Perform sophisticated and detailed close readings integrating theoretical perspectives and advanced critical methods. Critically assess how texts shape and challenge national, racial, and identity narratives. Examine and discuss the transformation of the American voice with attention to formal innovation and cultural plurality. Produce original, well-structured, and theoretically informed written and oral work. Develop critical and creative responses reflecting full interpretive maturity and intellectual autonomy.