Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with historical-literary knowledge and enable them to develop advanced critical-analytical skills in relation to the British cultural environment, through specific and monographic examinations of authors, works and phenomena from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age (AA 2019- 20: the theme of vampirism in literature and the arts from the eighteenth century to the contemporary). In particular, part of the course will be dedicated to the study of aspects of literary translation relevant to the course’s main topic. In terms of learning goals, during the course the student will be invited to develop and acquire: in-depth knowledge of theoretical questions, authors, works, movements and aesthetic ideas, with the support of an updated critical bibliography; the ability to contextualise and analyze complex texts in English from both a formal and a thematic-ideological point of view; the ability to delineate research and analytical itineraries autonomously, using traditional and digital resources; the ability to formulate critical judgments based on a careful decoding of the text; communication skills in English based on the acquisition of the linguistic register and vocabulary appropriate to literary studies and to the level of linguistic competence assigned to the year of the degree to which the student belongs; the ability to independently apply the skills developed during the course to other types of text besides the literary. In addition, in line with the educational project of the Laurea Magistrale, the course aims to develop transversal skills of communication, engagement and problem-solving, in individual and group contexts, that is to help students acquire a varied and transferable skill-set applicable both to professional and non-professional situations.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of written and spoken English at least at B2 level but preferably C1 of CEFR; knowledge of the main lines of development of English and British literature; familiarity with the language of literary criticism and theory.
Course unit content
The course contents concern historical-literary aspects related to the British cultural sphere, through through specific and monographic examinations of authors, works and phenomena from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age (2018-19: "The theme of the East: from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period"). In particular, part of the course will be dedicated to the study of aspects of literary translation relevant to the course’s main theme.Detailed information is provided during the first class.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Bibliographic references are provided during the course and are specified in the exam syllabus.
Teaching methods
During the lectures, held in English, the teacher will introduce the main aspects of the historical-cultural context, the authors and the texts, using both the reference bibliography of the course and additional textual or visual materials that the students will be able to find at the Library of the Languages Unit (UNIPR) or at the Library of the DSLC Department (UNIMORE), or online in digital archives and in the UNIPR online teaching platform (Elly) or that of UNIMORE (Dolly). In this way, students will be encouraged to create individual study paths and to develop original approaches in the analysis of the topics and problems raised by the teacher during the course. At the same time, in accordance with the educational project of the Laurea Magistrale, during the course lectures will alternate with a number of seminar-type classes, in which students will be invited to develop their own in-depth analysis of themes. specific to the syllabus, and also propose possible topics of analysis. At the same time, the course contains seminar activities aimed to promote the development and acquisition by students of transversal and transferable skills within group work activities, debates, and oral presentations.
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment of knowledge, skills and competences is through an oral test in English. This test aims to verify the following: - oral competence in English corresponding to level C1-C2, as well as the acquisition of an appropriate linguistic register and the specific lexicon of literary studies; specific and in-depth knowledge of writers, texts and contexts of the periods and themes studied in the course; ability to interpret texts autonomously, re-elaborate the course contents individually, undertake further research on the topics addressed, and formulate judgments autonomously. The oral exam aims to evaluate the acquired knowledge, ability to re-elaborate and expand it, as well as to propose new and individual interpretative paths supplementing those suggested in the lectures.
Based on these premises, the evaluation will be carried out according to the following criteria: - insufficient evaluation: during the oral exam, the student does not demonstrate that s/he has acquired the level of knowledge required; does not know how to express him/herself in English as suitable for the topics under discussion and corresponding to a C1-C2 level; s/he is unable to re-elaborate contents autonomously, nor can s/he formulate judgments based on personal insights; - sufficient assessment (18-23 / 30): the student demonstrates that he/she has learned the minimum contents of the course; knows how to express her/himself in English at a level suitable to the topics under discussion and approaching the threshold of C1-C2; s/he demonstrates a level of autonomous preparation sufficient for the personal re-elaboration of the contents, as well as for the formulation of judgments based on personal in-depth analysis; - average assessment (24-27 / 30): the student demonstrates a level that is more than sufficient (24-25 / 30) or good (26-27 / 30) of all the indicators listed above; - outstanding evaluation (28-30 / 30): the student fully satisfies all the above evaluation criteria.
Other information
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