Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of an historical outline of the course content, of the concept of popular/juvenile reader in the given context, and of the features of the related texts.
Applying knowledge and understanding: being able to explain some texts of the given period, using simple pedagogical-literary tools, and to reflect on their possible educational use.
Making judgements: being able to express opinions with due motivation: this is the main transversal goal of the course.
Communication skills: Ability to explain one's own work in reading and interpretating texts with a correct and appropriate language.
Learning skills: being able to reflect critically on one's own knowledge, in proportion with individual talents.
Course unit content
Adventure tales: history and future of a genre for children and adults
Bibliography
Introduction:
E. Fabietti, Manuale per le biblioteche popolari, 2° edizione (1909), pagine da 1 a 22 e da 45 a 59:
https://books.google.it/books?id=kk5MukOpPX8C
Album. Racconti, novelle, fatti, storici, e fantasie, avventure e scene di costumi, di D. Bertolotti, C. Cantù, D. Sacchi, T. Dandolo, ed altri autori italiani, francesi, e inglesi contemporanei (1834)
https://books.google.it/books?id=Lm4tAAAAMAAJ
To read: Enrico Dandolo, Il Guerrillero, Trionfo del Petrarca, Rip van Winkle, La Vendetta indiana, I Pirenei, Ichabod Crane, and two more short stories at choice.
I grandi romanzi d’avventura, edizione Newton Compton, cartacea o e-book
To read:
2 compulsory readings: Kipling, Capitani Coraggiosi; Cooper, L'ultimo dei Mohicani
2 readings at choice:
- 1 between Verne, Ventimila leghe sotto i mari e Stevenson, La Freccia Nera
- 1 between Salgari, Il corsaro nero; Conrad, Lord Jim; London, Zanna Bianca
A contemporary adventure novel for young readers, at the student's own choice.
Teaching methods
Lecture; classroom reading with comments; debate in the classroom; close reading training on selected texts.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination.
The passing mark is achieved if the students shows both these accomplishments:
a) Has read thoroughly the compulsory texts and is able to locate them in time and space;
b) Has reflected upon the educational problems/questions posited in the texts and has tried to give a personal interpretation.
