Teaching code

4S010582

Academic staff

Chiara Maria Concina, Edoardo Ferrarini

Coordinator

Chiara Maria Concina

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS

Period

CuCi 1 A, CuCi 1 B

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

Instruction in Literature and Civilization of the Middle Ages, through reading and analysing literary texts in Medieval Latin and in various romance languages, will allow students to acquire a basic knowledge in the areas of Philology, History, and Literary Studies. This knowledge will be taken into account within the wider framework of the other subjects that are taught in the training course of Cultural Heritage (Art History and History in particular). Close reading and interpretation of literary texts, as well as important elements of critical, historical and cultural judgement, will also be improved. By the end of the course, students should demonstrate an ability to handle independently the different levels of analysis that will be applied to the texts studied as part of the syllabus. Students should furthermore demonstrate an awareness of the terminology of the discipline and present their ideas in the appropriate linguistic style.

Prerequisites and basic notions

None.

Program

Course content: Part One: The Latin Middle Ages (18 hours, prof. E. Ferrarini) 1A) The Middle Ages: chronology and periodization; the genres of Middle Latin literature. 1B) The literary genre of the epic in the Latin poetry of the Middle Ages. Reading in translation and commentary of selected passages from the «Alexandreis» by Walter of Châtillon (c. 1180). Divided into ten books, Gualtiero's poem is dedicated to the deeds of Alexander the Great and emblematically bears witness to the interest in historical figures, classical myths and ancient poets during the so-called 'Renaissance of the 12th century'. Part two: The Romantic Middle Ages (18 hours, prof. C. Concina) 2A) Introduction to philology as a scientific discipline. 2B) The epic in the Romance literatures of the Middle Ages. Through the reading and commentary of passages selected from the Chanson de Roland and the Cantar de mio Cid (i.e. the two oldest epic texts from France and Spain respectively) the main characteristics of the epic genre in the vernacular will be analysed. Reference texts and other teaching material: 1A) Notes from the lessons. 1B) 1. Dieter Schaller, «Epic poetry», in «The literary space of the Middle Ages, 1. The Latin Middle Ages», vol. I, second volume: «The production of the text», Salerno, Rome 1993, pp. 9-42 (will be made available on moodle). 2. Gualtiero di Châtillon, «Alessandreide», edited by Lorenzo Bernardinello, Pacini (Latin Writers of Medieval Europe 13), Pisa 2019. 2A) Notes from the lessons and materials that will be made available on moodle. 2B) 1. Alberto Limentani, Marco Infurna, «The epic romance in the Middle Ages», Bologna, il Mulino, 2007: chaps. 1 («The medieval epic»), 2 («The epic in the Iberian area: the “chansons de geste”») and 4 («The epic in the Iberian peninsula»). 2. «La canzone di Orlando», introduction and critical text by Cesare Segre, translation by Renzo Lo Cascio, introduction to the text, notes and indexes by Mario Bensi, Milan, BUR, 1995 (or subsequent reprints): study of the introduction and complete reading of the text in Italian translation. Warning: Students unable to attend lessons regularly will adapt the exam program as follows. - Part one (The Latin Middle Ages): 1. Dieter Schaller, «Epic poetry», in «The literary space of the Middle Ages, 1. The Latin Middle Ages», vol. I, second volume: «The production of the text», Salerno, Rome 1993, pp. 9-42 (will be made available on moodle). 2. Walter of Châtillon, «Alessandreide», edited by Lorenzo Bernardinello, Pacini (Latin Writers of Medieval Europe 13), Pisa 2019: of the «Alessandreide» they will prepare reading in translation and commentary only of books I, II, IX and X (pp. 47-101, 277-329), aided by the commentary notes and the editor's introduction (pp. 7-41). 3. Francesco Stella, «The text of the image. Literary sources for the study of medieval art», Le Monnier University, Florence 2021: five freely chosen chapters. - For the second part (The Vulgar Middle Ages): 1. Alfredo Stussi, «Brief introduction to Italian philology», il Mulino, Bologna 2002, cap. 1 (Manuscripts and prints), chap. 3 (The transmission of texts), chap. 4 (the critical edition). 1. Alberto Limentani, Marco Infurna, «The epic romance in the Middle Ages», Bologna, il Mulino, 2007: chaps. 1 («The medieval epic»), 2 («The epic in the Iberian area: the “chansons de geste”») and 4 («The epic in the Iberian peninsula»). 2. «La canzone di Orlando», introduction and critical text by Cesare Segre, translation by Renzo Lo Cascio, introduction to the text, notes and indexes by Mario Bensi, Milan, BUR, 1995 (or subsequent reprints): study of the introduction and complete reading of the text in Italian translation. 3. Erich Auerbach, «The appointment of Orlando as head of the rear guard of the Frankish army», in Id., «Mimesis», Torino, Einaudi, 1956, vol. 1, pp. 107-135. (will be made available on moodle)

Bibliography

Didactic methods

- frontal lessons (36 hours) (1) With regard to attending students, the teaching methods consist of frontal lessons dedicated to the thematic areas of the course. In the classroom, the active and participatory intervention of students will be encouraged, thus giving them the opportunity to verify the knowledge acquired from time to time. (2) The moodle platform is used for communication between teachers and students, to provide further support material and to report any opportunities related to the discipline (conferences, seminars, presentations, etc.). (3) non-attending students must contact the teachers from the start of the academic year). Any further updates will be made available to the student through the moodle platform. Furthermore, throughout the academic year, the individual reception service managed by the teachers is available, at the times indicated on the personal and constantly updated web pages.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam methods are different for attending and non-attending students. For the former, there is a written test in two parts; the latter should contact the teachers.

Evaluation criteria

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT TEST • verify the analytical knowledge of the program topics; • verify the ability to comment on the texts dealt with during the course; • verify the ability to reflect and re-elaborate in relation to some problematic aspects.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will be expressed in thirtieths and will be given by the average of the marks of each of the two parties (prof. Ferrarini and prof. Concina), also expressed in thirtieths.

Exam language

Italiano