Modern humanities

The course aims to examine the relationship between morality and literature in the work of Luigi Pirandello, starting with the intertwining of novels and theatre. The novel Il fu Mattia Pascal and the trilogy of theatre within theatre ( Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore, Ciascuno a suo modo, Questa sera si recita a soggetto) will therefore be examined with the aim of focusing on the ways in which Pirandello represents the reversal of morality in the two genres. Weeks 1-4: analysis and commentary on ‘Fu Mattia Pascal’; Weeks 5-7: workshop activities on some of Pirandello's short stories; analysis and commentary on ‘Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore’; Weeks 8-9: analysis and commentary on ‘Ciascuno a suo modo’; Weeks 10-12: analysis and commentary on ‘Questa sera si recita a soggetto’; final comparison and in-depth discussion of the topics covered.

Good knowledge of the history of Italian literature from the early centuries to modern times.

L. Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascal, ed. by A. Sichera and A. Di Silvestro, Milano, Oscar Mondadori, 2023 (recommended edition); L. Pirandello, Trilogia del teatro nel teatro, ed. by A. Andreoli and B. Alfonzetti, Milano, Mondadori, 2025. Teaching and didactic material provided by the teacher by the course's Google Classroom.

Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

The exam consists of an oral test with questions about the author and the texts on the syllabus. If necessary (e.g. in the case of students with certified specific learning difficulties), it is possible to agree on dispensatory measures and compensatory tools to help achieve the objectives. More specifically, the oral exam is based on three questions (on individual texts and thematic issues) and lasts approximately 25-30 minutes. The assessment takes into account the following criteria: -relevance, accuracy and completeness of answers; -ability to articulate a clear, coherent and well-organised argument; -understanding and critical reworking of issues and thematic points; -lexical and syntactic mastery. In order to pass, a mark of 18/30 is required. Marks will be distributed as follows: - 18 to 21/30: sufficient or more than sufficient relevance and completeness of answers; sufficient or more than sufficient clarity, coherence and organisation of discourse; sufficient or more than sufficient comprehension and reworking; sufficient or more than sufficient linguistic mastery; - 21 to 24/30: fair relevance and completeness of answers; fair clarity, coherence and organisation of discourse; fair comprehension and reworking; fair linguistic mastery; - - 25 to 27/30: good relevance and completeness of answers; good clarity, coherence and organisation of speech; good comprehension and reworking; good linguistic mastery; - 28 to 30/30: more than good or excellent relevance and completeness of answers; more than good or excellent clarity, coherence and organisation of discourse; more than good or excellent comprehension and reworking; more than good or excellent linguistic mastery; - 30 'cum laude': excellent relevance and completeness of answers; excellent clarity, coherence and organisation of discourse; excellent critical reworking; excellent linguistic mastery.

Pirandello, ed. by B. Alfonzetti and V. Gallo, Roma, Carocci, 2024; B. Alfonzetti, L’impossibile finale, Marsilio, Venezia, 2017.

Lectures alternate with classroom discussions (stimulating questions) and group and individual activities based on case studies (e.g. Pirandello's short stories).