BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will have:
- Acquired competent familiarity with the formal, thematic, and rhetorical aspects of the texts examined
- Developed awareness of different approaches to interpreting and reading texts critically
- Refined their sensitivity to the expressive potential of the English language
- Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of the historical, political, social, and literary contexts of the period under study
Assessment Requirements:
Students are required to demonstrate thorough knowledge of the historical, political, social, and literary contexts of the period examined.
Course Prerequisites
A strong command of English (B2-C1 level). Bergamo University students must have completed English Language 1 and either English Literature 1, Postcolonial Literature 1, or American Literature. If this course is taken as an elective, the only prerequisite is the required language proficiency.
Erasmus students are expected to have at least B2/C1 level competence in English.
Teaching Methods
The course will be delivered through lectures. Lessons may incorporate PowerPoint slides and multimedia tools. Students are encouraged to actively participate in class discussions.
Assessment Methods
In order to take the final exam Bergamo students must have successfully completed English Language I. Erasmus students must possess a valid B2 or higher language competence certification.
The syllabus is valid for three (3) years, starting with the first year the course is offered.
Assessment consists of a written exam only; no oral exams will be offered.
Students must demonstrate:
- Comprehensive knowledge of literary and cultural contexts presented in Poplawski's English Literature in Context and all required secondary readings
- Critical reading skills that connect course texts to their central themes and issues
EXAM FORMAT
Students will complete a 2-hour-and-40-minute written exam divided into three sections:
- Multiple-Choice Section (40-45 minutes)
The multiple-choice section tests your ability to recognize primary texts and your knowledge of the chapters from Poplawski’s English Literature in Context
- 42 questions in English
- Tests recognition of texts, historical contexts, and cultural significance
- Covers all primary and secondary course readings
2. Text Analysis (15-20 minutes)
- Brief analysis (approximately 10 lines) of one primary course text
3. Essay Questions (60 minutes)
- Two short essays selected from four options
- Each response should be at least two handwritten pages either in English or in Italian (at least two pages).
- PLEASE NOTE: Students who demonstrate mastery of academic writing in English will receive higher grades. The use of formal register and accurate, well-structured prose is required.
The grade for the written exam will be visible on the student's personal page, and the student will be notified via email once it has been published.
Contents
The course is divided into two parts, focusing on texts (novels, short stories, essays, or poems) written between the late 18th century and the late 19th century.
· Part A offers a textual and critical reading of works typically associated with the genre of Gothic Fiction.
· Part B examines texts generally categorized as Detective Fiction. Multiple interpretive approaches will be applied to these texts, with discussions on the resources and limitations of each approach. Given the length of the novels, students are advised to read them before the course begins, if possible.
For both modules, students should:
1. Possess at least a general knowledge of the major periods in English literature (Old English, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Victorianism, Modernism). Each candidate should roughly be able to place the key authors of the period in the correct half of the century.
2. Have a reasonably detailed understanding of the period of English literature covered in the two modules (approx. 1780 to 1890), including the key historical, cultural, and literary features of the time.
To prepare for this, students should refer to:
Paul Poplawski: English Literature in Context, Cambridge University Press, 2017 (1st or 2nd edition).
Chapters:
· 4: The Romantic Period 1780–1832
· 5: The Victorian Age 1832–1901
Further information on specific sections to study will be posted on the Moodle (e-learning) course page.
Students are also expected to:
1) Have a thorough knowledge of each primary text discussed in class (e.g., entire novels, select chapters, essays, or short stories). This knowledge should go beyond plots, characters, and main themes to include aspects such as style, imagery, symbolism, or any other theoretical issues covered in class.
2) Have at least a general biographical understanding of each author discussed (life and works).
Online Resources
More information
The course will be taught in the 3rd and 4th sub-terms. Erasmus students and those unable to attend may contact the lecturer during office hours, via email or through GOOGLE MEET (davide.del-bello@unibg.it) for additional explanations or supplementary readings, if needed.
Class handouts will be made available online at the end of the course on the e-learning (MOODLE) platform.
PLEASE NOTE: Non-attending students must complete the exact same coursework and meet identical exam requirements as attending students. No exceptions or adjustments will be made for non-attendance.