electiveHQ

This module considers the development of the short story, in terms of form and themes, from its Renaissance roots in Boccaccio, through some of its well-known nineteenth-century practitioners (Verga, Serao), into the early and mid- twentieth-century (Pirandello, Buzzati) right through to its contemporary manifestations in the collection 'Sei fuori posto' (Saviano, Vinci, Lucarelli, Parrella, Colaprico, Wu Ming). Close readings, with an eye to themes and stylisic features of particular importance are offered in lectures and tutorials. Close, guided, textual analysis is an important element of tutorial work. Assessment is in the form of a commentary or an essay submitted in week 7 (40%), and a 2-hour exam based on essay and commentary questions at the end of the trimester.