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ENGLISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE I

Course Overview

This is a first-year course taught in the second semester, introducing students to aspects and issues of early modern English drama. The course outlines the historical, cultural, political, and religious context, as well as the structural and formal characteristics of early modern English drama, using William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra as an example.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of British literature and culture from the Renaissance to the present age, with special emphasis on the development of modern fiction, post-colonial studies, twentieth-century modernism, and post-modernism. Students who attend this course regularly and study the prescribed materials will be able to:

1. Describe the literary forms and the most important personalities of early modern English literature.
2. Familiarize themselves with numerous aspects and issues of early modern English drama.
3. Acquaint themselves with the main features of Early Modern English and read and understand English texts in old spelling.
4. Analytically know at least one play by Shakespeare, describe its main features, and relate them to specific historical and cultural contexts.
5. Analyze highly complex texts such as those by Shakespeare, recognizing the main formal features of the single texts and relating them to the various historical and cultural contexts, as well as using the cues and ideas offered by the critical material.

Prerequisites

• Level B1, English Language

Teaching Methods

• Lectures in English, complemented by screenings of theatrical performances to enable students to appreciate theatrical texts in their fullest instantiation.
• Attendance is highly recommended.
• Students who are unable to attend will have to read some supplementary material, which will be made available.

Syllabus/Content

The course seeks to introduce students to the study of early modern English literature. Lectures will first illustrate the historical, religious, social, and cultural features of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England. They will then focus on the formal and content analysis of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Particular attention will be paid to the relevance of religious controversies on the literary, artistic, and cultural production, and the material conditions of the period's theatrical experience.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra in English
• Other materials (presentations, contextual texts, and critical essays) made available through the learning platform or in the Department library.
• Reference books: L. Hopkins and M. Steggle, Renaissance Literature and Culture, Continuum, London 2006, pp. 1-96; L. M. Crisafulli e K. Elam, Manuale di letteratura e cultura inglese, Bononia UP, 2009, pp. 19-179.

Teachers and Exam Board

• Domenico Lovascio
• Exam Board:
  • Domenico Lovascio (President)
  • Stefania Michelucci
  • Luisa Villa
  • Laura Colombino (President Substitute)
  • Pamela Pierro (Substitute)
  • Maddalena Repetto (Substitute)

Lessons

• Lessons start: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
• Class schedule available on the learning platform.

Exams

Exam Description

The course is assessed by a written examination on the contents of the course and the reading list, as well as other compulsory materials. The language of examination is English or Italian, with a total test time of 3 hours. The open-ended-question exam paper covers all parts of the syllabus.

Assessment Methods

The exam paper involves open-ended questions on the historical period, cultural contexts, literary movements, and main authors, and guided commentary of literary texts. The open questions test knowledge and comprehension; the guided commentary tests the students' ability to recognize and describe the main formal features of specific texts and connect them to contextual historical and cultural information.

Exam Schedule

• 20 January 2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 03 February 2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 17 June 2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 08 July 2026, 09:00, GENOVA

Further Information

• Attendance is highly recommended.
• Students who are unable to attend will have to study some supplementary or different material.
• Course enrollment is mandatory.
• This syllabus is valid until July 2027.
• Students with valid certification of physical or learning disabilities should speak with the instructor and the Department's disability liaison.