WRI301/ENG 320: The Italian Story: An Exploration of the Quotidian
Course description
This course explores Italy’s emergence after World War II as a democratic republic and economic power through the lens of the short story. Students will read works by authors such as Natalia Ginzburg, Alberto Moravia, Anna Maria Ortese, and Italo Calvino, examining key themes in modern and contemporary Italian fiction and its connections to American literature. The course also considers regional differences, cinematic influences, and issues of translation and adaptation. Alongside literary analysis, students will develop their own short fiction through guided exercises and workshops. Emphasis is placed on creativity, revision, and active engagement rather than prior writing experience or artistic mastery.
Learning objectives
The objectives in this course are two-fold. Firstly, students will be expected to learn to analyze and discuss short fiction. They will gain the vocabulary for talking about fiction as authors themselves, thinking about theme, character, and craft in building the very framework of the story. Secondly, there is the creative writing component in which students will learn to generate and revise short stories, learn to discuss and critique each other’s work in class, and finally create a short collection of work of their own by the end of the semester. Emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanics of fiction, working in a collaborative environment, and improving revision methods.