EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course delves into the origins and evolution of the novel and poetry in modern Turkish literature, from the Tanzimat era to more recent trends. The aim is to bring students closer to the history of Turkey over the last two centuries through the lens of literary production.
The course enables students to develop critical knowledge of the work of representative authors, as well as of their context of production and the cultural influences and trends that have affected literary production in the period under consideration. In addition, it will enable students to improve their knowledge of the history of Turkey and its political and social changes.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course aims to provide knowledge about the evolution and role of poetry and prose within modern Turkish literature. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically engage in the analysis of the literary works covered in the programme by putting them in historical context.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Autonomy of judgement:
Students will acquire the necessary knowledge to critically analyse literary texts and their social and cultural contexts of production.
Learning skills:
At the end of the course students will be able to autonomously and critically read the literary texts of the period examined, and to detail their style and cultural implications.
Knowledge of Turkish literature from pre-Islamic to Tanzimat era. Elementary knowledge of modern Turkish.
Turkish Literature I is propaedeutical to Turkish Literature II.
The course develops through classes consisting of a first part of lecture and a second part in which students will be stimulated to engage in critical discussion of the literary texts examined. Before each class, they are expected to read passages from novels, poems, and critical literature, which we will then discuss collectively. The texts pertain to a selection of works that are representative of Turkey’s both literary and socio-political developments over the last two centuries.
Students are also expected to read two contemporary novels and write a short paper (15/20,000 characters) on aspects discussed during the course.
The examination consists of an oral test, preceded by a short paper on specific aspects discussed during the course. The paper shall be submitted at least one week before the exam - approximate length: 15/20,000 characters.
Language of the exam: Italian.
Assessment criteria: the exam will assess the level of knowledge of the evolution of modern Turkish poetry and novel (19th-20th century). In particular, it will consider students’ ability to discuss, analyze and critically contextualize the various literary manifestations of the periods covered in the course. The written paper will also contribute to the final grade.
Main texts:
- Alessio Bombaci, La letteratura turca, Firenze, Sansoni, 1969 (estratti selezionati).
- Erdağ Göknar, “The Novel in Turkish: Narrative Tradition to Nobel Prize”, in: Kasaba R. (ed.), The Cambridge History of Turkey. Turkey in the Modern World, vol. IV, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 472-503.
- Ayşe Saraçgil, Il maschio camaleonte. Strutture patriarcali nell’Impero ottomano e nella Turchia moderna, B. Mondatori, Milano, 2001.
- Azade Seyhan, Tales of Crossed Destinies: The Modern Turkish Novel in a Comparative Context, New York, Modern Language Association, 2008.
Further reading material will be shared throughout the course.
Additional texts:
- Erik Jan Zürcher, Storia della Turchia: dalla fine dell’impero ottomano ai giorni nostri, Roma, Donzelli, 2007.
- Lea Nocera, La Turchia contemporanea: Dalla repubblica kemalista al governo dell’AKP, Roma, Carocci, 2011.
- Çiğdem Oğuz (ed.), Storia dell’Impero ottomano e della Repubblica turca, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2023.
Modern Turkish literature (19th-20th century)
Italian and Turkish.
