Class meeting dates, topics, and assignments (posts are due 2 days before the class meets)
| August 28 | Introduction to Elena Ferrante.
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What do you expect from this class and this novel? |
| Sept. 4 | My Brilliant Friend, cover-119
W. Benjamin, “Naples” |
Blog 1: Choose one paragraph that you would define “emotionally charged” or “intense.” Explain why.
(You cannot repeat another student’s choice). Meta-post: Julie |
| Sept. 11 | My Brilliant Friend, 119-229 | Post 2
Post 2: consider how the topic of your first post evolves in the chapters read for this class. Meta-post: Jackie |
| Sept. 18 | My Brilliant Friend, 229-331 | Post 3: consider reading the third part of the novel through the lens of one of Benjamin’s ideas about Naples
Meta-post: Christofer |
| Sept. 25 | The Story of a New Name, cover-160 | Post 4: consider writing about 1) elements of disruption in the chronology. What do they convey; or 2) Ferrante’s women
Mata-post: Kelsey |
| Oct. 2 | The Story of a New Name, 160-321 | Post 5: run-on sentences or new topics
Meta-post: Ariana |
| November 7 (Thursday) | Lecture on Ferrante by Professor Giancarlo Lombardi | Faculty lounge
HW floor 8- 6pm |
| Oct. 23 | The Story of a New Name, 321-471 | Post 6: consider reflecting on 1) names, 2) on Van Ness’s essay “Dixit Mater”
Meta-post: Katherine |
| Oct. 30 | Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, cover-140 | Midterm conference
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| Nov. 6 | Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, 140-283 | Post 7: consider reflecting on: 1) on new topics emerging from the narrative; 2) the historical references; 3) minor characters and how they are represented.
Meta-post: Paul |
| Nov. 13 | Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, 283-418 | Post 8: consider reflecting 1) on the TV show (based on Prof. Lombardi’s lecture), 2) history in the novel
Meta-post: Annabella |
| Nov. 20 | The Story of the Lost Child, cover-122 | Post 9: consider reflecting on: 1) structural elements of vol. 4; 2) the pace of the narration; 3) Lenù’s feminism (or careers vs motherhood); 4) code-switching and emotions
Meta-posts: Zevi and Shoshana |
| Nov. 27 | The Story of the Lost Child, 122-243 | Post 10: 1) react to Lucamante’s essay; or 2) reflect on the symbolic value of the earthquake; or 3) is there anything else to consider (Lenù as a mother, etc.)
Meta-post: Irini |
| Dec. 4 | The Story of the Lost Child, 243-360 | (Final papers outline) |
| Dec. 11 | The Story of the Lost Child, 360-466 | (Final papers intro and bibliography) |
Other important dates and non-meeting dates/days when classes follow a different schedule:
August 28 Our first class
October 9 No class
October 16 No class (Wednesday that follows a Monday schedule)
November 5 Last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of W
December 11 Last day of class
December 18, 9-11am Final exam
December 19, 2pm Final paper due
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