Italian 241EF - Elena Ferrante, Ital. Mystery

This course explores the writings of Elena;Ferrante. In particular, we are going to;concentrate on Ferrante's four volume epic known;as the Neapolitan Quartet and its two;female protagonists, Elena and Lila. We will;examine Ferrante's notion of female friendship;and;solidarity, love, marriage and motherhood. We;will pay special attention to working class women;in post-WWII Naples and their unique lives. We;are going to follow Elena and Lila's complex;journey around Naples, Pisa, Rome, Ischia etc.;while we try to understand and unmask the;literary sensation that reclusive Ferrante has;become.