Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of contemporary Portuguese
literature, through the particular point of view of some famous works wrote upon
Lisbon. The essential information about the history of Portugal, and Lisbon in
particular, will be given at the beginning of the course, in order to allow students to
understand the historical and cultural context of many textual references which form
part of the literary works they will subsequently read.
Throughout the lessons, students will learn:
- to know the most important authors, works, literary movements and ideas of XXth century’s Portuguese literature, and their historical, political, cultural and artistical
context;
- to understand and analise both poetic and narrative texts, to discern their formal elements and to perceive their thematic and ideological contents. Literary works will
be read in italian translation; nonetheless, students will hear the reading of many poetic in Portuguese language (with italian subtitles)in order to appreciate the
phonetic and rytmic value of the original texts;
- to express well-informed and appropriate comments, based on a careful reading of
the texts;
- to be capable of identifying, discerning, appreciating and illustrating the main
characteristics of Portuguese contemporary culture.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
A literary look on contemporary Lisbon.
An overview of contemporary portuguese literature, through the point of view of
some famous authors who wrote on Lisbon. The city is considered as a benchmark
of Portuguese culture and history, but also as an urban and poetic space in which
the writers search their inner selves: after reflecting on the cultural and anthropological meanings attributed to the city over the centuries, the students will read and analise works from
Cesário Verde (poetry), Fernando Pessoa (both poetry and prose), José Saramago
and José Cardoso Pires (novel and texts on Lisbon).
Full programme
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Bibliography
ENRICO MARTINES, Sguardi letterari su Lisbona contemporanea, lecture notes.
Readings:
CESÁRIO VERDE, Poesie, Perugia, 1982 (Introduction by Piero Ceccucci and
selected poems).
FERNANDO PESSOA, selected passages from Libro dell’Inquietudine.
JOSÉ SARAMAGO, L'anno della morte di Ricardo Reis, translated by Rita Desti,
Torino, Einaudi, [1996].
FERNANDO PESSOA, Lisbon: What The Tourist Should See, (Biblioteca di Lingue)
JOSÉ SARAMAGO, Viaggio in Portogallo, Torino, Einaudi, 1999 (just the pages on
Lisbon).
JOSÉ CARDOSO PIRES, Lisbona libro di bordo: voci, sguardi, memorie, Feltrinelli
Traveller, 1997.
Teaching methods
Lectures supported by audiovisual contents: pictures of authors, texts, events and
locations, documentaries, readings and videos regarding literary works, video
lectures; use of tools such as quizzes and forums to encourage active student participation and self-testing of learning in progress. Audiovisual contents in Portuguese language has italian subtitles.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam testing:
- the knowledge of texts, authors, contexts studied in the course;
- the ability to re-elaborate the subjects studied, to propose personal in-depth
analysis, to obtain further information in order to interpret complex texts, to develop
personal evaluations.
Students (attending and non-attending) who, during the course, have participated in activities on the proposed literary texts will be exempt from the specific question in the examination. Students will fail the exam if they show to possess an insufficient knowledge of the
basic contents of the course, or if they are not able to obtain further information in
order to interpret complex texts, to develop personal evaluations. Students will
obtain a result between 18-23/30 by demonstrating to possess a sufficient
knowledge of the basic contents of the course and the ability to obtain further
information in order to interpret complex texts, developing personal evaluations
expressing themselves in an appropriate linguistic register. Students will obtain a
result between 24-27/30 by demonstrating to possess a more than sufficient level
(24-25/30) or a good level (26-27/30) in the above mentioned competences. Higher
marks (28-30/30 or 30 cum laude) will be obtained by demonstrating a very good to
excellent level in the above mentioned competences.
Other information
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