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2013/14 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ITAL2401 Tall Tales: An Introduction to the Italian Short Story

15 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Federica Pich
Email: F.Pich@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2013/14

Pre-requisite qualifications

Level 1 Italian or equivalent

This module is mutually exclusive with

ITAL2100

Tall Tales: An Introduction to Italian Short Story

Module replaces

ITAL2041

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The short story will be the focus of this module, which introduces students to a selection of texts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well as the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will be able to compare how the novella tradition influenced and reflected cultural concerns such as social mobility, gender roles and religion in different historical periods. In the first semester students will study Boccaccio's Decameron, one of the most provocative, irreverent and sexually suggestive texts of the Italian Middle Ages, in the context of a selection of Boccaccio's sources and followers (such as Masuccio Salernitano and Matteo Bandello). The second semester will concentrate on different uses of realistic, fantastic, and surreal patterns for the short story. Students will analyse some of the most representative authors of modern Italian literature, from 19th-century Verismo to 20th-century Neo-realism. Texts will be selected from a range of authors including Pirandello, Morante, Pavese, Buzzati, Calvino.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will be able to
- critically evaluate the terms 'novella' and 'racconto' (short story) in terms of historical commentary and modern criticism
- analyse the narrative structure of a selection of short stories
- analyse the set texts in relation to their specific historical and cultural background
- understand how authors in different historical periods contributed to the short story genre, both by shaping existing material and influencing successive works

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- read and analyse literary texts;
- gather, evaluate and use information from secondary sources;
- show an awareness of the historical, cultural and linguistic situation in the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and in the Modern Age;
- communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Syllabus

Semester 1

1. Introduction to Narratology and the Short Story

2. Introduction to Boccaccio
3. The Decameron in context
4. The role of the cornice
5. The art of storytelling
6. (Im)morality
7. Reading week
8. Boccaccio and his sources
9. After Boccaccio (1)
10. After Boccaccio (2)
11. Conclusion and revision

Semester 2

1. READING WEEK
2. Introduction to the modern short story
3. Issues of Realism: Pirandello
4. Issues of Realism: Pirandello
5. Beyond Realism: Morante
6. Beyond Realism: Pavese
7. Beyond Realism: Pavese
8. The Fantastic genre: Buzzati
9. The Fantastic genre: Buzzati
10. Postmodernism: Calvino
11. Postmodernism: Calvino

Conclusion

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	16	1.00	16.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			126.00
Total Contact hours			24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Reading set texts in preparation for seminars (76 hours)
Preparation for seminar presentation (20 hours)
Researching/writing essay (30 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored through feedback given on student presentations in seminars and on performance in the exam.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words (due before Easter)	44.00
Oral Presentation	10 minutes	12.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		56.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	44.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		44.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/03/2014

Disclaimer

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