Teaching code

4S003493

Teacher

Anna Cappellotto

Coordinatore

Anna Cappellotto

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY

Period

II semestre (Lingue e letterature straniere) dal Feb 14, 2022 al May 28, 2022.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars

Learning outcomes

The course is an Introduction to Germanic Philology. It aims at providing basic knowledge on multi-disciplinary topics, such as historical linguistics, palaeography, codicology, textual criticism (including basic knowledge for the analysis of texts and manuscripts by means of Digital Humanities tools and methodologies), and cultural history characterizing this discipline. Expected Outcomes At the end of the course the student will have to prove: - to have acquired basic knowledge of methodologies and cultural contents which are necessary to analyse and interpret Germanic linguistic and literary traditions; - to have acquired proficiency in the correct specialized vocabulary related to every field of the discipline; - to be able to apply autonomously the knowledge and contents acquired in the different specialized fields of Germanic Philology, mainly focussing on historical linguistics and textual criticism (also by means of Digital Humanities tools and methodologies), in order to write contents and analyse texts, in compliance with the general learning outcomes of the study program.

Program

The course will offer the basics for the study of Germanic Philology in its multi- and interdisciplinary aspects of cultural, linguistic and historical-literary nature.
The first module will trace the birth and development of the discipline up to the present day. The so-called ‘Germani’ will be described through the direct reading of the sources, in particular of some passages chosen by Tacitus’ Germania, which will allow to reconstruct the social, political and cultural institutions of the Germanic peoples (family, assembly, military associations, role of women, religion, writing). The fundamental stages of their history, of conversion to Christianity and of the development of literacy will be retraced.
A second module will address essential issues concerning historical linguistics, framing Germanic first in its evolution from Indo-European as well as in its main features and also with regard to individual language families (with particular attention to West Germanic).
The third module will be devoted to the study of textual criticism within the Germanic vernacular traditions. Essential knowledge of book history, codicology and paleography will be imparted through the analysis of exemplary manuscripts building up the most significant cultural heritage of the Germanic traditions. The analysis will lead into the historical recovery of the text through the principles of textual criticism (meant in its evolution from the genealogical method to the so-calle New Philology).
The last module will concern the birth of the Germanic vernacular literatures on the example of early representative eschatological texts. The Old High German Muspilli, some stanzas taken from the Old Norse Prophecy of the Seer (Völuspá, Poetic Edda, I) and some excerpts from Gylfi’s Deception (Gylfaginning, Snorri’s Edda) will be analyzed starting from the manuscripts in which they are preserved. The module includes reading, analysis (linguistic-philological and historical-cultural) and translation of the texts, which will be taken into consideration starting from the manuscripts in which they are preserved.
The above mentioned readings will be accessible on the Moodle platform, whereas for the other exam texts indicated in the bibliography, please refer to the University Library Catalogue.

Teaching:
As established by the university for the A.Y. 2021/2022, the course may take place either on the Zoom institutional platform, in the form of frontal streaming lessons (possibly supplemented by some recorded lessons), or face-to-face according to the indications that will be provided in due time. Any changes will be announced before the start of the course by means of a notice on the instructor's personal page and on the Moodle platform, to which everyone is required to register. Any suspension of lessons or changes will be communicated in the same way.
The course materials for attending students consist of the teacher's lectures, slides and other materials that will be made available on Moodle. The program for non-attending students must be agreed in advance. For this reason, non-attending students are asked to contact the teacher via email (via an institutional address @ students.univr.it) for a possible online reception (or in presence, always health conditions permitting).

Bibliography

Examination Methods

There will be an oral exam on Zoom or in person (depending on the evolution of the pandemic) and in both cases it will follow the official schedule published by the University. For those attending there will be a pre-roll call to be agreed together.
The oral exam will assess both the level of acquired contents and the ability to critically address the topics covered during the course, and to create connections among them. Part of the evaluation will also concern the correct and consistent presentation of the acquired knowledge; another part will verify the competent and appropriate use of the philological micro-language. During the exam the assimilation of the primary sources can be tested by reading, translation, and comment of short excerpts selected from the texts studied during the course and provided by the instructor during the exam. The final result is expressed out of 30 and it is to be understood as an overall evaluation of the results achieved.
For non-attending students, the exam will be oral and will follow the indications above.