INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY CRITICISM

Course objectives

Acquire the knowledge of the main literary theories and the tools of literary criticism and demonstrate the knowledge of the principal issues in this field of study. Understand how the theories and themes in the field of literary theory and criticism are relevant at a national and international level and relate such theories and themes to a broader literary, historical and cultural context. Acquire the ability to create a continuum among the different issues and to shape, formulate and communicate independent thoughts on such issues. Acquire the maturity that will allow not only to employ the acquired knowledge independently in the field of literary theory and criticism, but also to utilize it as the foundation for other courses in literary studies and other related disciplines (such as linguistics, philology, history).

Channel 1
CATERINA STEFANIA ROMEO Lecturers' profile
Channel 2
FRANCESCA MEDAGLIA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course will focus on different critical methods, especially those developed in the 20th century, studying analysis as well as historical and cultural perspectives. Furthermore, attention will be paid to the authorship issue and transmedia storytelling.
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of the history of European and western literatures; ability to understand written texts in another European language.
Books
- R. BARTHES, “La morte dell’autore”, in Id., Il brusio della lingua, trad. it. B. Bellotto, Saggi Critici IV, Einaudi, Torino 1988, pp. 51-56. - M. FOUCAULT, “Che cos’è un autore?”, in Id., Scritti letterari, trad. it. C. Milanese, Feltrinelli, Milano 1971, pp. 1-21. - F. MUZZIOLI, Le teorie della critica letteraria, Carocci 2003 e edizioni successive. - F. MEDAGLIA, Intermedialità diffusa: la narrazione transculturale metamoderna, Peter Lang, 2024.
Frequency
On campus
Exam mode
Oral examination: verification of the learned concepts and of the development of skills for the analysis of literary and transmedia texts, plus a short thesis.
Lesson mode
This course will be delivered through traditional lessons plus cooperative learning and peer to peer methodology.
FRANCESCA MEDAGLIA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course will focus on different critical methods, especially those developed in the 20th century, studying analysis as well as historical and cultural perspectives. Furthermore, attention will be paid to the authorship issue and transmedia storytelling.
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of the history of European and western literatures; ability to understand written texts in another European language.
Books
- R. BARTHES, “La morte dell’autore”, in Id., Il brusio della lingua, trad. it. B. Bellotto, Saggi Critici IV, Einaudi, Torino 1988, pp. 51-56. - M. FOUCAULT, “Che cos’è un autore?”, in Id., Scritti letterari, trad. it. C. Milanese, Feltrinelli, Milano 1971, pp. 1-21. - F. MUZZIOLI, Le teorie della critica letteraria, Carocci 2003 e edizioni successive. - F. MEDAGLIA, Intermedialità diffusa: la narrazione transculturale metamoderna, Peter Lang, 2024.
Frequency
On campus
Exam mode
Oral examination: verification of the learned concepts and of the development of skills for the analysis of literary and transmedia texts, plus a short thesis.
Lesson mode
This course will be delivered through traditional lessons plus cooperative learning and peer to peer methodology.
  • Lesson code1023160
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseModern humanities
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-FIL-LET/14
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaLetterature moderne