Medieval Latin Language and Literature
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with: 1) a basic knowledge of the specificities of the Latin language in use in the Middle Ages and of bibliographic tools useful for its analysis; 2) an introduction to the use of basic bibliographic tools for the study of Mediolatin literature, with experiences of practical application; 3) an in-depth level of knowledge in the field of Mediolatin literature, as compared to the level already acquired in the three-year course, with particular attention to the methodological aspects of the analysis and historical-literary setting of texts, through the examination of a specific literary genre or of a single author or text.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student is expected to be aware of the characteristics of the Latin texts of the Middle Ages, in their linguistic and formal specificity, and to master the fundamental bibliographic tools to autonomously face both the identification and the critical study of them. He will know the main characteristics assumed by the Latin language in the Middle Ages; the criteria for bibliographic identification of texts, in the specific problematic nature of the history of studies on Mediolatin sources; the main methods of philological-literary investigation applicable to texts of medieval Latinity. It will thus be able to critically analyze and interpret literary Mediolatin texts both from the linguistic point of view, with awareness of the variables determined by the chronological and geographical context, and in the various aspects related to their genesis and transmission, to their purposes, to their relationship with the previous tradition. Thanks to practical exercises, he will also be able to write a short encyclopedic entry about an author or text of medieval Latinity and to elaborate a public presentation of his or her individual work.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into two units, carried out in parallel.
Unit A includes: 1. an introduction to the basic bibliographic tools for the study of Mediolatin literature, with practical experiences in the classroom; 2. a profile of the main transformations undergone by the Latin language in the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The last part of the lectures will be dedicated to the presentation by students of their individual exercises in drafting a Wikipedia entry, concerning an author or work from the Latin Middle Ages, prepared by the specific bibliographic tools of the discipline, and uploaded to the web .
Unit B will focus on the analysis of a medieval Latin work, the Carolingian epic poem Waltharius, an original essay of fusion between Latin and Germanic epos whose interpretation, dating and attribution are still much discussed. The Waltharius is in fact an exemplary case of the potentials and limits of the philological-literary instruments when facing the anonymity that often characterizes mediolatin texts. Various hypotheses will be retraced, formulated on the basis of the manuscript tradition, the parallel testimonies on the Walther saga, the metric and stylistic analysis, the connection between author's intentions and possible historical contexts.
For those who take the exam for 9 cfu, the remaining 3 credits must be acquired attending Teaching unit C of the course of Medieval Latin Literature.
Unit A includes: 1. an introduction to the basic bibliographic tools for the study of Mediolatin literature, with practical experiences in the classroom; 2. a profile of the main transformations undergone by the Latin language in the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The last part of the lectures will be dedicated to the presentation by students of their individual exercises in drafting a Wikipedia entry, concerning an author or work from the Latin Middle Ages, prepared by the specific bibliographic tools of the discipline, and uploaded to the web .
Unit B will focus on the analysis of a medieval Latin work, the Carolingian epic poem Waltharius, an original essay of fusion between Latin and Germanic epos whose interpretation, dating and attribution are still much discussed. The Waltharius is in fact an exemplary case of the potentials and limits of the philological-literary instruments when facing the anonymity that often characterizes mediolatin texts. Various hypotheses will be retraced, formulated on the basis of the manuscript tradition, the parallel testimonies on the Walther saga, the metric and stylistic analysis, the connection between author's intentions and possible historical contexts.
For those who take the exam for 9 cfu, the remaining 3 credits must be acquired attending Teaching unit C of the course of Medieval Latin Literature.
Prerequisites for admission
The course presupposes the knowledge of the fundamentals of the literary history of the Latin Middle Ages, as acquired through the exam of Medieval Latin literature or, partially, through the exam of Humanistic Philology. A good knowledge of Latin is also essential.
Teaching methods
In the part of unit A dedicated to research tools, the presentation by the teacher will be accompanied by experiences of research in group in the classroom, through the digital supports available for the discipline (databases and online archives). Furthermore, part of the time will be devoted to individual presentations of students, aimed at demonstrating both the results obtained in the drafting of the respective Wikipedia entries, and the ability to organize their exposure effectively. The linguistic part of unit A will be introduced with lectures, but will also involve the drawing up of individual exercises in applying the acquired knowledge, through the linguistic analysis of a segment of text that will be discussed during the exam.
The lectures of Unit B will take place in the traditional frontal mode, but students will be invited to discuss points of method and interpretation of the work addressed.
Both units use booklets provided on the Ariel platform: the first one includes a description and a reasoned list of the research tools of the discipline and texts for individual analysis exercises; the second one contains an anthology of texts and other materials useful for the historical-literary framing of the work addressed.
Given the strong interactive and applicative component of teaching, attendance is strongly recommended.
The lectures of Unit B will take place in the traditional frontal mode, but students will be invited to discuss points of method and interpretation of the work addressed.
Both units use booklets provided on the Ariel platform: the first one includes a description and a reasoned list of the research tools of the discipline and texts for individual analysis exercises; the second one contains an anthology of texts and other materials useful for the historical-literary framing of the work addressed.
Given the strong interactive and applicative component of teaching, attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit A:
1) E. Löfstedt, Il latino tardo: aspetti e problemi, Brescia, Paideia, 1980, only chapters II e V.
2) P. Stotz, Il latino nel Medioevo: guida allo studio di un'identità linguistica europea, Firenze, Sismel - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2013, only §§ 1-7 (pp. 3-26), 10-11 (pp. 43-50), 15-18 (pp. 57-68).
3) Booklet: Strumenti e testi per le esercitazioni (available from the beginning of February 2020 on the Ariel website, on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin Language and Literature)
Teaching unit B:
1) Booklet: L'enigma del Waltharius (available from the beginning of February 2020 on the Ariel website, on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin Language and Literature)
2) Alice Rio, Waltharius at Fontenoy? Epic Heroism and Carolingian Political Thought, in «Viator» 46 (2015), pp. 41-64
3) D. Schaller, La poesia epica, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo, 1: Il medioevo latino, vol. I, 2, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1993, pp. 9-42 (only the first two paragraphs, pp. 9-32)
Teaching unit C:
See the program of the unit C of the course of Medieval Latin Literature.
Non-attending students:
For all three units the exam programme must be agreed with the teacher.
1) E. Löfstedt, Il latino tardo: aspetti e problemi, Brescia, Paideia, 1980, only chapters II e V.
2) P. Stotz, Il latino nel Medioevo: guida allo studio di un'identità linguistica europea, Firenze, Sismel - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2013, only §§ 1-7 (pp. 3-26), 10-11 (pp. 43-50), 15-18 (pp. 57-68).
3) Booklet: Strumenti e testi per le esercitazioni (available from the beginning of February 2020 on the Ariel website, on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin Language and Literature)
Teaching unit B:
1) Booklet: L'enigma del Waltharius (available from the beginning of February 2020 on the Ariel website, on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin Language and Literature)
2) Alice Rio, Waltharius at Fontenoy? Epic Heroism and Carolingian Political Thought, in «Viator» 46 (2015), pp. 41-64
3) D. Schaller, La poesia epica, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo, 1: Il medioevo latino, vol. I, 2, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1993, pp. 9-42 (only the first two paragraphs, pp. 9-32)
Teaching unit C:
See the program of the unit C of the course of Medieval Latin Literature.
Non-attending students:
For all three units the exam programme must be agreed with the teacher.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam includes an oral test, which consists of an interview on programme topics, aimed at ascertaining students' acquisition of the knowledge and skills presented above and the specific contents of the monographic unit (including the comprehension in the original language of the texts to be studied). Both the solidity of acquired knowledge and the ability to organize them in an effective discourse and to expose them using the specialized vocabulary of the discipline will be evaluated.
For teaching unit A, a part of the exam will be the discussion of a written exercise in linguistic analysis on a section of one of the texts contained in the relevant booklet, to be delivered to the teacher at least a week before the exam.
In addition to the final exam, the writing of an encyclopedic entry on an author or text of the medieval Latinity (to be published in Wikipedia and presented to colleagues during the lessons) contributes to the final mark.
Marks are out of 30.
For teaching unit A, a part of the exam will be the discussion of a written exercise in linguistic analysis on a section of one of the texts contained in the relevant booklet, to be delivered to the teacher at least a week before the exam.
In addition to the final exam, the writing of an encyclopedic entry on an author or text of the medieval Latinity (to be published in Wikipedia and presented to colleagues during the lessons) contributes to the final mark.
Marks are out of 30.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana Eugenia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana Eugenia
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana Eugenia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana Eugenia
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana Eugenia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Guglielmetti Rossana EugeniaProfessor(s)