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Literature and Theatre

Italian Journeys: A Grand Tour in Fiction

Course Times & Enrolment

Wednesdays from 17th April 2024 (Code LI250-301) Wednesdays from
17th April 2024 6:30pm - 8:20pm • (10 classes) LG48 Paterson's Land, Holyrood Campus • Tutor: David M. Wingrove AB (Magna) MA BFI Cert
This course is now closed for enrolments

Course Summary

From the Romantic Age up to our own time, Italy has held an irresistible allure for writers. But did they ever see the country and its people, or just a world of their own dreams? Come and explore Italy through the lens of fiction and poetry.  

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

None – no knowledge of the Italian language is required. 

Content of Course

This course provides a friendly introduction to Italy through the eyes of some of the biggest author names of the 20th and 21st century. You will explore cultural aspects of Italy as presented in the works of writers such as Goethe, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry James, Thomas Mann, E. M. Forster, Tennessee Williams and Muriel Spark. Students will study texts using weekly themes as identified by the class teacher. By the end of the course, students will not only have a wider view of Italy but might be tempted to visit and see for themselves.  

Teaching method(s)

Each session will combine lecture and teacher-led group discussion. You will be encouraged to critically engage with the course reading, introducing you to some of the key writings about Italian life, culture and identity. You will be encouraged to reflect on the literature through the lenses of your own thoughts and experiences. Feedback provided during class will enhance your ability to understand the studied texts. 

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:  

  1. Describe the influence of Italian life and culture on a wide range of European and American fiction. 

  1. Evaluate the role of fantasy and the lure of ‘the other’ in literary creation. 

  1. Discuss a literary work in a ‘cross-cultural’ context. 

  1. Identify the literary sources of persistent stereotypes and myths. 

Sources

Core Readings

Students should wait until the course has been confirmed to run before purchasing any of the recommended books.

Recommended:

McEwan, Ian (1997) The Comfort of Strangers, London, Vintage.

Forster, E. M. (2006) A Room with a View, London, Penguin Classics.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel (2008) The Marble Faun, Oxford, World Classics.

James, Henry (2013) Daisy Miller & An International Episode, Oxford, World Classics.

Mann, Thomas (2001) Death in Venice & Other Stories, London, Vintage Classics.

Schiller, Friedrich (2018) The Ghost-Seer, London, Alma Classics.

Spark, Muriel (2006) The Driver’s Seat, London, Penguin Modern Classics.

Williams, Tennessee (1999) The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone, London, Vintage Classics.

Web Sources

Best Books About Italy: A Literary Guide https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-books-about-italy/ 

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.