116-416 Modern Italian Novel

Due to overlap in subject content, students who have completed 116-078 (in 2001 and 1999) are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Completion of 37.5 points of Italian at intermediate or post-VCE level for third year. Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in Italian for fourth year. Europeans studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year.

The subject examines a sample of the most significant and interesting prose fiction coming out of Italy in recent times. Students focus on the 20th century Italian novel in order to analyse the Italian novel tradition and the impact of postmodernism on recent output. The subject encourages students to analyse the social context of the fiction studied relating it to developments in Italian society in the postwar period. Students taking this subject will learn to apply contemporary literary theory to specific texts; to evaluate the importance of specific Italian elements in the novels studied and to be able to discuss novels using Italian.

• gain an understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

• be capable of communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• gain skills in public speaking and confidence in self-expression through tutorial participation and class presentations.

A 10-minute class paper in Italian 25% (due during the semester) an essay of 2000 words for 3rd year and 2500 words for 4th year 50% (due after the end of the subject) and a 1-hour final written test 25% (due during exam period).

• S Aleramo, Una donna. Feltrinelli.
• I Calvino, Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore. Adelphi.
• L Sciascia, Todo modo. Mondadori.