The 1st year Literature course (Non-European language) comes under the core educational activities of the “Languages and cultures studies of the respective countries” of the bachelor’s degree course in Languages and Cultural & Linguistic Mediation, specifically the activities aimed at providing knowledge of the cultural and in particular the literary tradition of the foreign language of study, as well as the tools to analyze critically texts belonging to diverse literary typologies.
The course aims at providing: a) the acquaintance with the principal authors and texts in the language of study; b) the familiarity with the basic tools for the analysis of literary texts.
Expected learning outcomes: the students will become acquainted with some of the most significant genres, authors and literary texts in the foreign language of study; they will acquire basic tools for the critical analysis of literary texts.
The course aims at providing: a) the acquaintance with the principal authors and texts in the language of study; b) the familiarity with the basic tools for the analysis of literary texts.
Expected learning outcomes: the students will become acquainted with some of the most significant genres, authors and literary texts in the foreign language of study; they will acquire basic tools for the critical analysis of literary texts.
teacher profile teaching materials
At the end of the course, students must demonstrate a precise knowledge of the historical and cultural profile of Chinese literature, as well as a good familiarity with the most renowned and influential genres, texts and authors, serving as a basis for future studies in Chinese literature.
Program:
1. Periodization of Chinese history, archaic China, basic philosophical concepts, foundation myths, early documents
2. Development of the Chinese literary tradition, wenyan and baihua, the figure of the man of letters and the relationship between culture and state
3. From the Zhou dynasty to the Han dynasty: historical context and first literary texts
4. Confucianism: Confucius, Mengzi, and Xunzi
5. Daoism: Laozi and Zhuangzi
6. Buddhism
7. Poetry: from Shijing to fu poetry
8. Six dynasties and Tang dynasty: history and shi poetry
9. Tang fiction: bianwen and chuanqi
10. Song dynasty: historical context and main literary genres
11. Yuan dynasty: historical context and qu poetry
12. Zaju and the birth of the theatre
13. Ming dynasty: historical context and vernacular novels
14. The Great Ming Classical Novels
15. Qing dinasty: historical context and fiction
16. Development of theatre and Peking Opera
17. Tang Poetry: analysis of selected poems
- Cheng, A. (2000). Storia del pensiero filosofico cinese (voll. 1-2). Torino: Einaudi (chs.: Introduction, 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19).
- Additional materials uploaded on Teams and Moodle
Programme
The course aims to offer an overview of the development of Chinese literature from its origins (approximately from the 9th century BC) to the mid-19th century, focusing on the genres, currents, works and authors who occupy a privileged position in the literary canon and in the cultural imagery of China. The course also includes elements of Chinese history, which are essential for the historical, social and cultural collocation of the topics covered.At the end of the course, students must demonstrate a precise knowledge of the historical and cultural profile of Chinese literature, as well as a good familiarity with the most renowned and influential genres, texts and authors, serving as a basis for future studies in Chinese literature.
Program:
1. Periodization of Chinese history, archaic China, basic philosophical concepts, foundation myths, early documents
2. Development of the Chinese literary tradition, wenyan and baihua, the figure of the man of letters and the relationship between culture and state
3. From the Zhou dynasty to the Han dynasty: historical context and first literary texts
4. Confucianism: Confucius, Mengzi, and Xunzi
5. Daoism: Laozi and Zhuangzi
6. Buddhism
7. Poetry: from Shijing to fu poetry
8. Six dynasties and Tang dynasty: history and shi poetry
9. Tang fiction: bianwen and chuanqi
10. Song dynasty: historical context and main literary genres
11. Yuan dynasty: historical context and qu poetry
12. Zaju and the birth of the theatre
13. Ming dynasty: historical context and vernacular novels
14. The Great Ming Classical Novels
15. Qing dinasty: historical context and fiction
16. Development of theatre and Peking Opera
17. Tang Poetry: analysis of selected poems
Core Documentation
- Bertuccioli, G. (2013). La letteratura cinese. Roma: L’asino d’oro (chs. 1-7).- Cheng, A. (2000). Storia del pensiero filosofico cinese (voll. 1-2). Torino: Einaudi (chs.: Introduction, 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19).
- Additional materials uploaded on Teams and Moodle
Reference Bibliography
Compulsory readings (choose at least one philosophical text and one novel): Philosophical texts: - Confucio (2003). Dialoghi. Torino: Einaudi. - Laozi (2018). Daodejing. Il canone della via e della virtù. Torino: Einaudi. - Zhuangzi (1992). Zhuang-zi [Chuang-tzu]. Milano: Adelphi. Novels: - Anonimo (2017). Jin Ping Mei (2 voll.). Milano: Luni Editrice. - Li Ruzhen (2016). Destini dei fiori nello specchio. Milano: O barra O. - Tsao Hsüe-ch’in (2008). Il sogno della camera rossa. Segrate: Rizzoli. - Wu Ch’êng-ên (1971). Lo scimmiotto. Milano: Adelphi. Fiction and autobiographical prose: - Bisetto, B. (a cura di). (2010). Il laccio scarlatto. Roma: Marsilio. - Pu Songling (2012). I racconti fantastici di Liao. Milano: La Vita Felice. - Sabattini, M., & Santangelo, P. (2008). Il pennello di lacca. La narrativa cinese dalla dinastia Ming ai giorni nostri. Roma-Bari: Laterza. - Shen Fu (2019). Racconti di una fugace esistenza. Memorie di un povero erudito. Milano: Luni Editrice. Other readings: - Bellonci, M. (2004). Marco Polo. Segrate: Rizzoli. - Bertuccioli, G., & Masini, F. (2014). Italia e Cina. Roma: L’asino d’oro. - Granet, M. (1973). La religione dei cinesi. Milano: Adelphi. - Senzaki, N., & Reps, P. (a cura di). (1973). 101 storie zen. Milano: Adelphi. - Watts, A. (2013). La via dello zen. Milano: Feltrinelli. - Watts, A. (1978). Il tao. La via dell’acqua che scorre. Roma: Astrolabio Ubaldini. Based on individual interests, other readings to supplement or replace those recommended can be agreed with the teacher. Further readings: - Lanciotti, L. (2007). Letteratura cinese. Roma: ISIAO (capitoli 1-16). - Idema, W., & Haft, L. (2008). Letteratura cinese. Venezia: Cafoscarina. - Mair, Victor H. (a cura di) (2010). The Columbia History of Chinese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press. - Roberts, J.A.G. (2013). Storia della Cina. Bologna: Il Mulino.Type of delivery of the course
The lessons will be held in presenceAttendance
Attendance is highly recommendedType of evaluation
Oral interview, aimed at ascertaining the acquisition of the disciplinary skills and knowledge required by the course. The interview includes the reading and critical commentary of some of the poetic texts analyzed during the course.