116-462 Sex and Power in the Renaissance

Formerly available as 116-074/362. Students who have completed 116-074 or 116-362 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. 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.

The subject will examine two classics of Italian literature, Boccaccio's Decameron and Machiavelli's Il Principe. The first, composed in the 1350s, is a classic of comic writing which became an essential reference point for later writers. Students will study a selected number of stories to understand their narrative structures and their major themes. Il Principe is the foundation work of modern political science. Its reputation has ensured continuing interest in such a provocative work. By the end of the subject, students should have acquired a basic knowledge of Renaissance culture and politics. Students should also have gained some understanding of narratological analysis and have applied it to the Decameron.

• acquire particular generic skills:

• 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 French and Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

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

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

A 2000-word essay for 3rd year, 2500 words for 4th year 50%, a 10-minute classpaper in Italian 25% and a 1-hour test 25%.

• N Machiavelli, Il Principe. Feltrinelli.