Medieval Italian Literature II (ITAL 5443)
3 credits (45 hours)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will study Italian literature from the 14th to the 16th Century. Students will critically analyze the
internationally renowned literary texts in their original language. Authors include Petrarch, Boccaccio, Ariosto,
Tasso, Machiavelli, and others. Students will read excerpts from these works and engage in a historical, literary
and rhetorical analysis of texts while determining techniques of poetic composition.
Students will also learn about the lives of authors and the historical context and how these affected the
masterpieces studied. Students are expected to actively participate and contribute to class discussion. They are
also expected to do all the exercises assigned daily.
*Students must have earned at least 12 credits of Italian language as the course will be instructed in Italian.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course the student will be able:
1. To analyze how the major life events of the authors and the historical context of the era affected the
literature studied.
2. To describe the style and technique of the author.
3. To critically analyze, interpret and discuss the texts
4. To develop comprehension of the significance of Italian texts in Italian, European and global context
including a general familiarity with literary history.
5. To achieve advanced proficiency in the Italian language.
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DIVISION OF SUBJECT MATTER
Topic
Total Hours
F. Petrarch, “Canzoniere”, the following canzoni:
• n. 16
• n. 35
• n. 62
• n. 90
• n. 126
G. Boccaccio, “Decameron”, the following novels:
• Ser Ciappelletto
• Andreuccio da Perugia,
• Lisabetta da Messina
• Federigo degli Alberghi
• Cisti Fornaio
• Fra’ Cipolla
Midterm evaluation (written and oral)
L. Ariosto, “Orlando Furioso”:
• Proemio (canto I, 1-4)
• La fuga di Angelica (canto I, 5 – canto II, 19)
• La pazzia di Orlando (canto XXIII, 100 – XXIV,
14)
N. Machiavelli, “Il Principe”:
• cap. I
• cap. III
• cap. XXIV
T. Tasso, La Gerusalemme Liberata:
• Proemio
• Canto IV
3
3
3
1.5
1.5
2
2
2
2
2
2
1.5
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
Final evaluation (written and oral)
1.5
Total
45
TEXTS
•
•
•
M. Maiden, et al. A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian, McGraw Hill.
M. Santagata, et al. Antologia e storia della letteratura italiana ed europea I, Laterza (2008).
An Italian Dictionary (e.g. “Dizionario della lingua italiana”, Le Monnier)
SANT'ANNA INSTITUTE ABSENCE POLICY
You are allowed two unexcused absences. Documentation for any other absence MUST be produced and
APPROVED by the professor or the Director. For absences due to illness, please provide the professor with a
doctor's note upon returning to class as well as inform them and/or the school the first day of illness. Each
unexcused absence after the second will reduce your grade by 3 percentage points.
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