PERSIAN LITERATURE
Course objectives
General goals: presentation of a panorama of the history of Persian literature, the different poetic genres, and the characteristics of the traditional figurative language. Specific goals: at the end of the course, the student (1) knows a general sketch of the history of Persian literature and its main texts and authors, especially with reference to classical literature; (2) is able to recognize the different formal genres of classical poetry and is able to interpret its main images; (3) knows how to judge a literary text, also thanks to the knowledge of the relevant bibliography; (4) can explain to others the main characters of Persian literature, also on the basis of training and readings in class; 5) can autonomously continue his studies also on the basis of instructions on how to plan research projects.
Channel 1
MARIO CASARI
Lecturers' profile
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
The course aims at providing students with a general knowledge of the history of Persian literature and its main literary genres, from its origins to the contemporary era, through the reading of selected texts in prose and poetry by authors belonging to different periods:
1) Persian literature in the Eurasian Context (2 hours)
2) Fields and genres of classical Persian literature (36 hours):
- Lyrical poetry (qaside and ghazal)
- Quatrain
- Narrative poetry: Heroic Epic, Romantic, Didactic Genres (masnavi)
- Prose
3) The crisis of the traditional system and the encounter with European models (1 hour)
4) Fields and genres of contemporary Persian literature (3 hours):
- Narrative Prose (novels and short stories)
- Poetry
Prerequisites
Since the course envisages guided reading of texts written in Persian, the following requirements apply: the student must have a reading ability of written texts in Persian (Arabic-Persian alphabet); basic knowledge of the morphology and syntax of the Persian language is mandatory; ability to translate from Persian to Italian with the help of the instructor. The course is designed as a second-year course of the Persian language curriculum (Bachelor degree), therefore it is mainly attended by students who have passed the exam of Persian Language and Translation I and are attending the course of Persian Language and Translation II. Basic knowledge of the history, religion, and culture of the Islamicate societies is useful, although not necessary.
Books
A. Bausani, La letteratura neopersiana, Roma, Nuova Cultura, 2011.
Persian texts will be provided by the lecturer during the course and made available on the e-learning platform.
Teaching mode
The course comprises a total of 42 hours with the instructor. Lessons will be held twice a week (2 hours + 2 hours).
The course consists of frontal lessons, with historical and theoretical presentations, reading of Persian texts in the original language and in translation, and critical discussions with students.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged
Exam mode
The final exam consists of an oral exam on all the topics dealt with during the course.
The final grade is out of a maximum of 30.
The minimum grade to pass the exam is 18/30. In order to pass the exam, the student has to show basic knowledge of the history of Persian literature, adequate knowledge of genres and motifs of Persian literature, ability to explain the main features of Persian literature to others.
To obtain the maximum 30/30 cum laude, the student has to show excellent knowledge of all the topics covered in the course and should be able to connect different topics in a logical and coherent way.
Bibliography
A. Bausani, La letteratura neopersiana, Roma, Nuova Cultura, 2011.
A.M. Piemontese, Storia della letteratura persiana, 2 voll., Milano, Fabbri, 1970.
J. Rypka, History of Persian Literature, Dordrecht, Reidel, 1968.
E. Yarshater (General Editor), A History Of Persian Literature, 20 voll., London, I.B. Tauris, 2008-in print.
Lesson mode
The course comprises a total of 42 hours with the instructor. Lessons will be held twice a week (2 hours + 2 hours).
The course consists of frontal lessons, with historical and theoretical presentations, reading of Persian texts in the original language and in translation, and critical discussions with students.
MARIO CASARI
Lecturers' profile
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
The course aims at providing students with a general knowledge of the history of Persian literature and its main literary genres, from its origins to the contemporary era, through the reading of selected texts in prose and poetry by authors belonging to different periods:
1) Persian literature in the Eurasian Context (2 hours)
2) Fields and genres of classical Persian literature (36 hours):
- Lyrical poetry (qaside and ghazal)
- Quatrain
- Narrative poetry: Heroic Epic, Romantic, Didactic Genres (masnavi)
- Prose
3) The crisis of the traditional system and the encounter with European models (1 hour)
4) Fields and genres of contemporary Persian literature (3 hours):
- Narrative Prose (novels and short stories)
- Poetry
Prerequisites
Since the course envisages guided reading of texts written in Persian, the following requirements apply: the student must have a reading ability of written texts in Persian (Arabic-Persian alphabet); basic knowledge of the morphology and syntax of the Persian language is mandatory; ability to translate from Persian to Italian with the help of the instructor. The course is designed as a second-year course of the Persian language curriculum (Bachelor degree), therefore it is mainly attended by students who have passed the exam of Persian Language and Translation I and are attending the course of Persian Language and Translation II. Basic knowledge of the history, religion, and culture of the Islamicate societies is useful, although not necessary.
Books
A. Bausani, La letteratura neopersiana, Roma, Nuova Cultura, 2011.
Persian texts will be provided by the lecturer during the course and made available on the e-learning platform.
Teaching mode
The course comprises a total of 42 hours with the instructor. Lessons will be held twice a week (2 hours + 2 hours).
The course consists of frontal lessons, with historical and theoretical presentations, reading of Persian texts in the original language and in translation, and critical discussions with students.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged
Exam mode
The final exam consists of an oral exam on all the topics dealt with during the course.
The final grade is out of a maximum of 30.
The minimum grade to pass the exam is 18/30. In order to pass the exam, the student has to show basic knowledge of the history of Persian literature, adequate knowledge of genres and motifs of Persian literature, ability to explain the main features of Persian literature to others.
To obtain the maximum 30/30 cum laude, the student has to show excellent knowledge of all the topics covered in the course and should be able to connect different topics in a logical and coherent way.
Bibliography
A. Bausani, La letteratura neopersiana, Roma, Nuova Cultura, 2011.
A.M. Piemontese, Storia della letteratura persiana, 2 voll., Milano, Fabbri, 1970.
J. Rypka, History of Persian Literature, Dordrecht, Reidel, 1968.
E. Yarshater (General Editor), A History Of Persian Literature, 20 voll., London, I.B. Tauris, 2008-in print.
Lesson mode
The course comprises a total of 42 hours with the instructor. Lessons will be held twice a week (2 hours + 2 hours).
The course consists of frontal lessons, with historical and theoretical presentations, reading of Persian texts in the original language and in translation, and critical discussions with students.
- Lesson code10600039
- Academic year2025/2026
- CourseOriental languages and civilizations
- CurriculumLingue persiana e araba
- Year2nd year
- Duration12 months
- SSDL-OR/15
- CFU6