Italy in English Literature Corso per Scienze del Turismo Donatella Badin

Why should tourism students know literature?

Why study Italy in Englsh literature? Tourists come to Italy expecting to see the places they have read about in literary works Some of the consecrated places and objects which every tourist must see have often been canonized by literature. Tourists arrive with preconceived ideas about Italy which they have formed through books, plays, films, operas, pictures Tourist operators in a country such as Italy should be familiar with the literary sources of stereotypes and commonplaces about the country

“I have found it a pleasant thing while travelling to have in the carriage the works of those who have passed through the same country. Sometimes they inform, sometimes they excite curiosity... Visiting spots often described, pursuing a route such as [those pursued by other travellers] form for the most part the common range of the tourist” (Mary Shelley Rambles through Italy). Tourist- operators should be familiar with these books. Italy like a theme-park. Tuous are organized around some famous stories or authors.. Tourists enjoy reading books about the places they visit

Join Classical Actor and Singer Joe Vincent on a Grand Tour of Shakespeare’s Italy VENICE, VERONA and ROME.Joe Vincent Come see the Italy that gave us: Shakespeare in Love Enjoy these great cities in the company of a versatile actor who will bring them alive with performances from the popular plays. The group will be small, the season uncrowded, the hotels elegant, the schedule relaxed, and the price is unbelievable!!!!

After you tour our site: Phone us at: Call us toll free at FRTours ( ) or us at: Mail address: P.O.Box 367 Leeds MA,

The topic of the course Which images of Italy are reflected in English literature? How were they formed? –Direct knowledge of the country –Literary and artistic influence What role did literature play in the dissemination of ideas about Italy? Which authors influenced the perception of Italy either through their works or their permanence in Iatly?

Italy is a topos of the British imaginary Italy is a mythical, ideal reality It remained a constant component of the English background even in the centuries of Italy ’ s political eclipse Literary Italy is a construction, a creation of the writers, rather than a reportage. Yet the perceptions of Italy are more vivid than the actual experience of being in the country The traveller/ reader sees Italy through the filter of this half created reality

Preconceived ideas about Italy Memories of visits and contacts Artistic and literary associations Myths Stereotypes

The perception of Italy is often based on sets of comparisons with England Latin Roman Catholic (popist) Effeminate Passion Sensuous pleasure Exuberance Anarchy Disorganization Antiquity Hot Germanic Protestant Masculine Reason Discipline Self-control Political order Efficiency Modernity Cold

Why were these preconceptions formed? To define oneself by defining the Other (see quotation n. 2) To define one ’ s sense of cultural identity For political and ideological reasons

Quotation N. 2 Italy is England ’ s other self “The British have for centuries been susceptible to the charms of Italy, of the bel paese. Unlike France or Germany, Italy does not challenge the British at any of the pursuits they are best at: parliamentary democracy, fighting wars and writing plays. Instead, it excels in spheres in which the Brits invest little pride: cooking, painting, music and living life with a general sense of style. It is a complementary match of masculine and feminine characters. All too often, though, it is a mismatch of understanding."

What are we going to study in this course? Some set texts which illustrate the most common ideas about Italy The theory of literary genres. See how different genres (a play, a romance, a novel, a travel book, a poem) contribute to the dissemination of ideas. History and the history of literature to understand how different contexts determine the text.