Medieval French Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to:
- introduce students to medieval French literature and its peculiarities;
- provide the tools for reading and studying literary texts in Ancient and Middle French;
- acquire awareness of the peculiarities related to the handwritten and printed transmission of medieval works.
- introduce students to medieval French literature and its peculiarities;
- provide the tools for reading and studying literary texts in Ancient and Middle French;
- acquire awareness of the peculiarities related to the handwritten and printed transmission of medieval works.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: to know the medieval production of novels, their transmission and reception.
Skills: to be able to read and understand the original texts presented in class and to comment on linguistic and stylistic aspects, as well as their literary and cultural value.
Skills: to be able to read and understand the original texts presented in class and to comment on linguistic and stylistic aspects, as well as their literary and cultural value.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course, entitled "Perceval, héros medieval / héros moderne", is aimed at students of the Master's degree; it includes three parts and it is held in the first semester.
- A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Le roman français du Moyen Âge; l'œuvre de Chrétien de Troyes"
- B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Le Conte du graal de Chrétien de Troyes: un chef d'œuvre en ancien français"
- C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Perceval le Gallois (1530): de l'ancien français au français de la Renaissance"
Students interested in acquiring 6 ECTS will adhere to the program of parts A + B or A + C; students interested in acquiring 9 ECTS will follow the full program.
Part A constitutes an introduction to the medieval French Language and Literature, through the most significant texts, in particular Chrétien de Troyes' works (12th century).
Part B will be dedicated to the reading of the most significant episodes of Chrétien de Troyes' "Conte du Graal", explained and commented on from a linguistic and literary point of view.
Part C will be dedicated to the novel "Perceval le Gallois" (1530), some significant passages of which will be read and commented on.
The course programme is valid until February 2026.
- A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Le roman français du Moyen Âge; l'œuvre de Chrétien de Troyes"
- B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Le Conte du graal de Chrétien de Troyes: un chef d'œuvre en ancien français"
- C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Perceval le Gallois (1530): de l'ancien français au français de la Renaissance"
Students interested in acquiring 6 ECTS will adhere to the program of parts A + B or A + C; students interested in acquiring 9 ECTS will follow the full program.
Part A constitutes an introduction to the medieval French Language and Literature, through the most significant texts, in particular Chrétien de Troyes' works (12th century).
Part B will be dedicated to the reading of the most significant episodes of Chrétien de Troyes' "Conte du Graal", explained and commented on from a linguistic and literary point of view.
Part C will be dedicated to the novel "Perceval le Gallois" (1530), some significant passages of which will be read and commented on.
The course programme is valid until February 2026.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held in French, as well as examination materials and bibliography presuppose a solid language proficiency in French.
Teaching methods
The schedule of lessons, their modalities and any updates will be published in the website Ariel.
The course also includes seminar moments, in which students are asked to actively participate.
The course also includes seminar moments, in which students are asked to actively participate.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website Ariel, which can be consulted for information and teaching materials.
Bibliography (all the texts will be made available on Ariel).
Part A
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 9-117
Anthology of Medieval texts (pdf)
Part B
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 81-156
Chrétien de Troyes, Le Roman de Perceval ou Le Conte du Graal, édité par Keith Busby, Tübingen, Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1993 (ONLY the episodes read during the course)
Chrétien de Troyes, Œuvres complètes, Paris, Gallimard, 1994 (Perceval ou le Conte du Graal, «Notice», p. 1299-1318)
Part C
Maria Colombo Timelli, «Un recueil arthurien imprimé: la Tresplaisante et recreative hystoire de Perceval le Galloys (1530)», 2008 (pdf)
Jean Frappier, «Sur le Perceval en prose de 1530», in Fin du Moyen Âge et Renaissance, Anvers, Nederlandsche boekhandel, 1961, p. 233-247
Pierre Servet, «D'un Perceval l'autre. La mise en prose du Conte du graal (1530)», in L'œuvre de Chrétien de Troyes dans la littérature française, Lyon, CEDIC, 1997, p. 197-210
Perceval le Galloys en prose, édition critique de Maria Colombo Timelli, Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2024 (pdf) (ONLY the episodes read during the course)
Bibliography (all the texts will be made available on Ariel).
Part A
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 9-117
Anthology of Medieval texts (pdf)
Part B
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 81-156
Chrétien de Troyes, Le Roman de Perceval ou Le Conte du Graal, édité par Keith Busby, Tübingen, Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1993 (ONLY the episodes read during the course)
Chrétien de Troyes, Œuvres complètes, Paris, Gallimard, 1994 (Perceval ou le Conte du Graal, «Notice», p. 1299-1318)
Part C
Maria Colombo Timelli, «Un recueil arthurien imprimé: la Tresplaisante et recreative hystoire de Perceval le Galloys (1530)», 2008 (pdf)
Jean Frappier, «Sur le Perceval en prose de 1530», in Fin du Moyen Âge et Renaissance, Anvers, Nederlandsche boekhandel, 1961, p. 233-247
Pierre Servet, «D'un Perceval l'autre. La mise en prose du Conte du graal (1530)», in L'œuvre de Chrétien de Troyes dans la littérature française, Lyon, CEDIC, 1997, p. 197-210
Perceval le Galloys en prose, édition critique de Maria Colombo Timelli, Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2024 (pdf) (ONLY the episodes read during the course)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will take place in oral form. It will consist of an individual assessment, which includes questions about the contents of the course, reading, translation, linguistic, stylistic and literary commentary of one or more passages from the texts in the program. The assessment will be held in French for students of the Master's Degree in languages, in Italian or in French for students of the other Master's Degree Courses.
Non-attending students, international students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the lecturer. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the lecturer, in agreement with the relevant office.
Non-attending students, international students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the lecturer. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the lecturer, in agreement with the relevant office.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9,30-10,30, by appointment
Platforms: Skype, Zoom, Times.