116-463 Italian Neoclassicism and Romanticism

Formerly available as 116-075/363. Students who have completed 116-075 or 116-363 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Completion of 37.5 points at either post-beginners or post-VCE sequence for third year, admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in Italian for fourth year. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject will consist of three separate components: Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827), poet, prose-writer and patriot, who successfully merged neoclassical and romantic themes; Giacomo Leopardi (1798-1837), poet, philosopher, classical scholar, patriot and democrat, Leopardi is renowned both for his romantic poetry and his patriotic poems, and for his critical perspective on the period leading to the Italian Risorgimento; Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873), novelist, poet, playwright and language reformer. He is the author of the most celebrated 19th century Italian historical novel, I promessi sposi the story of a star-crossed betrothal against the background of the Spanish occupation of Lombardy in the 17th century.