HUNTER COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES ITAL260W THE MODERN ITALIAN SHORT STORY 
SPRING 2009 SYLLABUS 
Prof. Maria Paynter mpaynter@hunter.cuny.edu
Office hours: M Th 8:30-9:30; W1:00-1:00 (1312W) Tel. 772-5090 
Course description: This course entails the study ofthe Italian Short Story from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. The selected readings offers students ample opportunity to discuss important topics from different viewpoints while also helping them develop greater appreciation for the various literary currents and styles. By the end of the semester, they will gain broader perspectives on many issues, as well as better analytical and writing skills. 
Required texts: 
Cavalleria Rusticana and Other Stories by G. Verga, translated by G.H. McWilliam Eleven Short Stories/Undici Novelle by L. Pirandello, translated by S. Applebaum Italian Short Stories I: Parallel Text Edition, ed. and translated by R. Trevelyan 
Name and Tears and Other Stories: Forty Years of Italian Fiction, ed. & trans. by K. Jason Unspeakable Women, ed. by R. Pickering-Iazzi 
New Italian Women: A Collection of Short Fiction, ed. by M. King These and other texts are on reserve at library 
Grading policy: Reading assignments and class participation, 20%; ten two- page papers on assigned topics, 20%; three quizzes, 15%; one term paper of at least 8 pages, 20%; final exam, 25%. Assignments are to be written in clear, cohesive prose. Prior to being submitted, they must be checked for semantic precision and spelling/grammar accuracy. Absences affect the class participation component of the final grade. 
Week of Jan 26 
Introduction to the course.The Modem Italian Short Story Italian Naturalism or "Verismo" 
Giovanni Verga, Cavalleria Rusticana and The She-Wolf Week of Feb 2 
Verga's Gramigna's Mistress and War of the Saints; Gabriele D'Annunzio, The Hero 
Week of Feb. 9 
TUESDAY FOLLOWS THURSDAY SCHEDULE. THURSDAY NO CLASS. 
D' Annunzio's San Pantaleone; Grazia Deledda, Two Miracles QUIZ#l 
Week of Feb. 16 
MONDAY NO CLASS 
Luigi Pirandello's concepts of Life and Form and Relativism 
The Wheelbarrow and Mrs. Frola and Mr. Ponza Her Son-in-Law Week of Feb. 23 
Pirandello's The Oil Jar and Citrons from Sicily 
Week of March 2 
Aspects of Realism 
Sociological realism 
Laudomia Bonanni, The Ditch; Vasco Pratolini, The Removal; Carlo Cassola, The Poor 

Week of March 9 
Ada Negri, The Captain, The Movies, and Woman with a Little Girl Week of March 16 
Anna Banti, The Courage of Women; Dino Buzzati, Something that Begins with 'L' and Seven Floors 
Week of March 23 Lyrical realism 
Elio Vittorini, Name and Tears; Vasco Pratolini, Vanda; Goffredo Parise, Caress Week of March 30 
Psychological realism 
Alberto Moravia,Cockroaches, Products, Ah, the Family! Francesca Sanvitale, The Electric Typewriter; Goffredo Parise, Woman 
Week of April 6 
SPRING RECESS: APRIL 8-17 
Milena Milani, My Mother Wore Pink; Carlo Cassola, At the Station QUIZ #2 Week of April 20 
Elsa Morante, The Mirrors; Dacia Maraini, Maria Week of April 27 
Surrealistic and fantastic narrative 
Tommaso Landolfi, Words in Commotion; Anna Maria Ortese, The Tree; Gesualdo Bufalino, The Invaded Man 
Week of May 4 
Ironic and satiric prose 
Giuseppe Pontiggia, Publisher's Reader, Halo Calvino, Adam One Afternoon; Umberto Eco, The Discovery of America QUIZ #3 
Week of May 11 GENERAL REVIEW 
MAY 14 LAST CLASS 
FINAL EXAM MAY 20,11:30-1:30