The course is divided into several units.

With the exception of the first unit, a general introduction to the study of European literary tradition, each unit will study a major theme or genre of the Western literary and artistic tradition.Each block will count on a group of texts (or selection) of mandatory readings that the students must have read before attending the respective classes. The readings of each block will be analyzed by the teachers during the sessions in a generic framework that could allow the student to understand the particularity of a discourse or case within its tradition.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of students' competencies at different levels, including their understanding of the course content, written expression, argumentative skills, and related abilities. Assessment will be based on written examinations, text commentaries, multiple-choice tests, and an oral presentation.

1) Examinations 1 and 2: one mid-term examination covering the first part of the course and one final examination covering the remaining material are scheduled. The examinations will include:

a) a textual commentary on one of the required readings;

b) a set of questions designed to assess students' ability to synthesise and interpret the material covered in class. Particular attention will be paid to the ability to provide clear, well-structured, and relevant answers.

2) Oral presentation: students will choose one of the required readings that they have read in its entirety and present it (either in class or during office hours), using a selection of passages of their choice as the basis for their discussion.

3) Multiple-choice tests: for Units II–V, brief multiple-choice quizzes (approximately 15 minutes each) will be administered in class. These will cover:

a) lectures related to the course content that are available in written or digital format;

b) critical texts included in the course bibliography.

f a student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant distortion of the assessment of an evaluation activity, that activity will be awarded a mark of 0, irrespective of any disciplinary proceedings that may subsequently be initiated. If a student commits more than one irregularity in the assessment activities of the same course, the final mark for the course will be 0. In particular, plagiarism (whether total or partial) and the use of artificial intelligence tools are not permitted under any circumstances in any assessment activity.

Students will receive the grade Not Assessed if they have completed no more than 30% of the assessment activities.

At the time of each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform students of the procedure and date for the review of marks. Students who do not obtain a passing grade will be entitled to resubmit assignments or commentaries and to sit reassessment examinations, which will be of the same format and level of difficulty as the ordinary assessment. Only those examinations or assessment activities that have previously been graded may be reassessed, provided that the student has obtained a minimum overall course average of 3/10.

At the time of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the student of the procedure and the date of review of the grades. In the case of a non-positive evaluation, the student may make new deliveries (work, commentary) and extraordinary tests that will have the same level of difficulty and the same typology as the ordinary tests. Only those students who have submitted at least one of the two final exams will be eligible for the re-evaluation of the subject, and only those exams that have been previously evaluated may be re-evaluated, provided that a minimum grade of 3 points in the average of the subject.

Single-assessment option

Students who choose the single-assessment option will be assessed by means of:

1. a written examination consisting of theoretical questions and a text commentary (40%);
2. a multiple-choice test designed to assess their knowledge of the critical texts discussed during the course (40%);
3. the oral presentation (20%).

These assessment activities will take place in June 2027.

Students who do not achieve a passing grade in any of the assessment components will be required to sit the ordinary reassessment examination, unless circumstances beyond their control prevent them from doing so. In such cases, students must notify the lecturer at least two weeks in advance so that, where appropriate, an alternative date can be arranged.