ENGLISH LITERATURE II
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- PAOLA SPINOZZI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- L-LIN/10
Training objectives
- Students will widen their knowledge of British literature and culture from a theoretical, methodological, diachronic and synchronic perspective.
Discussion of theoretical and methodological topics will highlight the metaliterary dimension. The study of specific authors and texts is aimed at: presenting the historical and cultural contexts in Great Britain and Europe; applying critical tools to literary texts and interpreting their aesthetic, ethical and ideological value.
Particular attention will be devoted to the students’ acquisition of skills required in job sectors such as literature teaching and publishing, which involve understanding how literary forms and genres have evolved through history and in relation to other cultural expressions. Prerequisites
- Knowledge of English language: B2 level
Course programme
- Jackanory and British Storytelling
The course, dedicated to the BBC programme Jackanory, will explore British literature, illustration, history, culture, and society by delving into the genres of fairy and folk tales, children’s texts and television series, storytelling, performativity, the impact of TV, and the role of actors as readers.
"I’ll tell you a story about Jackanory". The first episode of the children’s storytelling programme went out on 13 December 1965, with Cap of Rushes, told by Lee Montague. It was illustrated with dance sequences from Marion Diamond. Over the week Montague told different traditional tales, sometimes aided by illustrations or costumes, as on the day he dressed as Lord Mayor to tell the story of Dick Whittington. But for most of the time Montague was sitting on a bench, talking directly to the viewer.
Actors loved Jackanory because of the connection with the audience, and it attracted big names including Kenneth Williams, Geraldine McEwan, Alan Bennett, Michael Hordern, Rik Mayall and Tony Robinson. Bernard Cribbins presented 111 episodes, more than anyone else. Authors also appeared. Some were well known, like Prince Charles, who read the Old Man of Lochnagar in 1984. Others became well known by the spirited reading of their own books, like John Grant with his stories of Littlenose the Caveboy.
Jackanory succeeded in persuading many reluctant readers to pick up a book. The success of spin-off Jackanory Playhouse encouraged the BBC to develop more children’s dramas, such as Jonny Briggs. Jackanory ended in 1996 but returned in 2007 as Jackanory Junior” (https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/december/jackanory/).
From time to time a specially commissioned artist, often Quentin Blake, illustrated the story.
We will read, hear, and discuss:
The Light Princess, 1864, Scottish fairy tale written by George MacDonald, read by John Laurie
1832 - The Light Princess: Part 1 - She Can’t be Ours, 24 February 1975
1833 - The Light Princess: Part 2 - Try a Drop of Water, 25 February 1975
1834 - The Light Princess: Part 3 - Look at the Rain, 26 February 1975
Part 1, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbfzYWX8pZc&list=PLx0YAKYkbg7x4B9dK-oiwHamW455jGu4n&index=2
The Hobbit, 1937, written by J. R. R. Tolkien, read by Bernard Cribbins, Maurice Denham, Jan Francis, David Wood
2470 The Hobbit: Part 1 - An Unexpected Journey, 1 October 1979
2471 The Hobbit: Part 2 - Over Hill and Under Hill, 2 October 1979
2472 The Hobbit: Part 3 - Riddles in the Dark, 3 October 1979
2473 The Hobbit: Part 4 - Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire, 4 October 1979
2474 The Hobbit: Part 5 - Flies and Spiders, 5 October 1979
2475 The Hobbit: Part 6 - Barrels out of Bond, 8 October 1979
2476 The Hobbit: Part 7 - Inside Information, 9 October 1979
2477 The Hobbit: Part 8 - Fire and Water, 10 October 1979
2478 The Hobbit: Part 9 - The Clouds Burst, 11 October 1979
2479 The Hobbit: Part 10 - The Last Stage, 12 October 1979
Part 1, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n221gNQSUgk&list=PLx0YAKYkbg7x4B9dK-oiwHamW455jGu4n&index=15
“Cap-o’-Rushes”, a traditional English fairy tale published by Joseph Jacobs in English Fairy Tales, 1890. Jacobs gives his source as “Contributed by Mrs. Walter-Thomas to ‘Suffolk Notes and Queries’ of the Ipswich Journal, published by Mr. Lang in Longman’s Magazine, vol. xiii., also in Folk-Lore September, 1890”. In the latter journal, Andrew Lang notes the folktale was “discovered” in the Suffolk notes by Edward Clodd.
This is the very first Jackanory story, read by Lee Montague and broadcast on 13 December 1965, which explains the use of the old theme tune playing on the black and white television during the opening sequence, re-read by Bernard Cribbins and broadcast on 4 January 1972, re-read by Jan Francis and broadcast on 15 February 1983.
1 - Cap of Rushes, 13 December 1965
1274 - Cap o’ Rushes, 4 January 1972
2887 - Cap of Rushes, 15 February 1983, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv4-PdtPqJ8&list=PLx0YAKYkbg7x4B9dK-oiwHamW455jGu4n
- Didactic methods
- Classes will be face-to-face and will tackle the historical and cultural context as well as specific authors and literary texts. To foster interaction, specific contexts and texts will be presented and students’ comments and questions will be encouraged.
The timetable is downloadable from Classroom, https://classroom.google.com/c/NDkwNDE0MDM5NTI3?cjc=e7bazam. Learning assessment procedures
- The exam consists of:
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A. a written part dedicated to the essay on the topics of the course;
B. an oral part focusing on the history of English literature as well as on the topics of the course.
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OR
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An oral exam divided into two parts:
A. a part dedicated to the presentation of a teaching module on or a translation of a topic of the course;
B. a part focusing on the history of English literature as well as on the topics of the course.
Part A. can be taken separately from and before Part B. only if you choose the first date available after the end of the course. After that date, the written and the oral part of the exam will have to be taken jointly on the same day.
All primary and critical works can be downloaded from Classroom, https://classroom.google.com/c/NDkwNDE0MDM5NTI3?cjc=e7bazam.
Assignments for the students who attend the course:
1.a) the study of the primary works;
1.b) the study of the critical works;
2) the study of a century of history of English literature.
Assignments for the students who do not attend the course:
1.a) the study of the primary works;
1.b) the study of the critical works;
2) the study of two centuries of history of English literature. Reference texts
- PRIMARY TEXTS
The Light Princess by George MacDonald, 1864
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937
“Cap-o’-Rushes”, published by Joseph Jacobs in English Fairy Tales, 1890.
HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
Ronald Carter, John McRae, eds, The Routledge History of Literature in English. Britain and Ireland, London and New York: Routledge, 2017, 3rd Edition.
All texts are available on Classroom:
https://classroom.google.com/c/NDkwNDE0MDM5NTI3?cjc=e7bazam
