Humanistic Philology
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to show students the patterns of the transmission of the Latin texts written in Classical Antiquity, in the Middle Ages and in the Humanism; the problems which arise and the techniques used to decipher the tradition; differences and similarities of textual criticism when applied to medieval and humanistic texts with respect to the ancient and modern ones.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge of the forms, patterns and channels of transmission of Latin texts from Late Antiquity to Humanism. Knowledge of the writing techniques in the Middle Ages. Knowledge of the role of institutions (libraries, schools, scriptoria, monasteries, bishoprics, courts, book trade) in the transmission of texts in the Middle Ages and Humanism.Knowledge of the transmission of Latin texts in the various European regions in the Middle Ages and Humanism. Knowledge of the methods of humanists in their approach to ancient texts, with consequences on the cultural activity of the time.
Ability to employ the basic technical lexicon of textual criticism. Ability to distinguish between the different types of manuscript evidence (e.g. direct and indirect tradition). Awareness of the different value of the available editions of a text, according to their different methodological lines. Critical awareness of the close connection between the knowledge we have of a text and the way in which this text has come down to us. Awareness of the historicity of methods of textual criticism, highlighted through the history of their applications.
Ability to employ the basic technical lexicon of textual criticism. Ability to distinguish between the different types of manuscript evidence (e.g. direct and indirect tradition). Awareness of the different value of the available editions of a text, according to their different methodological lines. Critical awareness of the close connection between the knowledge we have of a text and the way in which this text has come down to us. Awareness of the historicity of methods of textual criticism, highlighted through the history of their applications.
Lesson period: Second semester
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
Any health emergency will affect the course as described below.
1) Programme and reference materials
No change. If part of the materials are not available due to the closure of the libraries and the suspension of the expeditions, the teacher will provide alternative materials on the Ariel site of the discipline, together with an explanation file ("Extraordinary program").
2) Teaching methods
The lessons in attendance will be replaced by two complementary modes of telematic teaching delivery, synchronous and asynchronous. All the contents of the course (literary history, commented reading of anthological texts, rudiments of textual criticism) will be proposed in ppt with audio uploaded in the Ariel site of the discipline in correspondence with the lesson times. Periodically a synchronous lesson on the Teams or Zoom platform will be dedicated to answering students' questions and to any in-depth analysis that may be requested; questions may be asked live during these lessons or proposed in advance on the forum that will be specifically activated in Ariel. These synchronous lessons will be recorded and left available to students in the repository of the platform itself or in Ariel.
The calendar of all synchronous and asynchronous lessons will be published in Ariel as soon as the emergency arises; the site will also be the reference place for any organizational communication.
3) Methods of learning verification
The exams will be conducted orally on the Teams platform.
1) Programme and reference materials
No change. If part of the materials are not available due to the closure of the libraries and the suspension of the expeditions, the teacher will provide alternative materials on the Ariel site of the discipline, together with an explanation file ("Extraordinary program").
2) Teaching methods
The lessons in attendance will be replaced by two complementary modes of telematic teaching delivery, synchronous and asynchronous. All the contents of the course (literary history, commented reading of anthological texts, rudiments of textual criticism) will be proposed in ppt with audio uploaded in the Ariel site of the discipline in correspondence with the lesson times. Periodically a synchronous lesson on the Teams or Zoom platform will be dedicated to answering students' questions and to any in-depth analysis that may be requested; questions may be asked live during these lessons or proposed in advance on the forum that will be specifically activated in Ariel. These synchronous lessons will be recorded and left available to students in the repository of the platform itself or in Ariel.
The calendar of all synchronous and asynchronous lessons will be published in Ariel as soon as the emergency arises; the site will also be the reference place for any organizational communication.
3) Methods of learning verification
The exams will be conducted orally on the Teams platform.
Course syllabus
The first part of the course deals with the history of the textual tradition in the Middle Ages and in Italian Humanism, namely:
1) production and circulation of the book in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages;
2) the codex;
3) transmission of Latin texts in the Early Middle Ages;
4) Carolingian libraries, schools and scriptoria;
5) production and circulation of the book in the Late Middle Ages;
6) production and circulation of the book in Humanism.
In the second part of the course, some examples of textual criticism will be provided, in order to show reconstructive methods connected to the history of the transmission. These examples will be chosen among Latin literary works with medieval and humanistic tradition.
Students who earn 9 ECTS will attend the whole course (60 hours); students who earn 6 ECTS will attend the first 40 hours of the course.
1) production and circulation of the book in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages;
2) the codex;
3) transmission of Latin texts in the Early Middle Ages;
4) Carolingian libraries, schools and scriptoria;
5) production and circulation of the book in the Late Middle Ages;
6) production and circulation of the book in Humanism.
In the second part of the course, some examples of textual criticism will be provided, in order to show reconstructive methods connected to the history of the transmission. These examples will be chosen among Latin literary works with medieval and humanistic tradition.
Students who earn 9 ECTS will attend the whole course (60 hours); students who earn 6 ECTS will attend the first 40 hours of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of Latin language and literature of the classical age. Basic knowledge of the history of Late Antiquity and of the Middle Ages.
Teaching methods
Lecturing, supported by projection of images related to main topics. Classroom discussion, as a method for acquiring technical language. The images presented in the lessons will be made available free of charge on the ARIEL website. At the end of the course, a visit to the library for direct consultation of manuscript material is foreseen. Course attendance is recommended.
Teaching Resources
For all students (attending and non-attending):
- P. Chiesa, La trasmissione dei testi latini. Storia e metodo critico, Roma, Carocci, 2019. Students earning 9 ECTS are expected to study the whole book; students opting for 6 ECTS are expected to study pp. 15-141 and 223-229. In the examination, for students attending, knowledge and ability to discuss the textual examples actually discussed during the lessons will be required and assessed; for students not attending, knowledge and ability to discuss all the textual examples included in the book will be required and assessed.
- P. Chiesa, Elementi di critica testuale, 2th ed., Bologna, Pàtron, 2012. Students who have already taken the exam of Letteratura latina medievale will replace this book with: 1) A. Stussi, Fondamenti di critica testuale, Bologna, Il Mulino (limitedly to the papers by Bédier, Timpanaro, Contini); 2) G. Pasquali, Storia della tradizione e critica del testo, chapters I, II e IV («Il metodo del Lachmann», «Ci fu sempre un archetipo?», «Recentiores non deteriores»).
- M. Berté - M. Petoletti, La filologia medievale e umanistica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017, limitedly to pp. 73-123.
- images presented in class and linked to the chapters of the manual (useful for exam preparation) will be made freely available to students on the ARIEL website.
For not-attending students:
Non-attending students are expected to study the whole bibliography for attending students. In addition, all non-attending students (both those who earn 6 ECTS, and those who earn 9 ECTS) are expected to study:
- M. Berté - M. Petoletti, La filologia medievale e umanistica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017, limitedly to pp. 45-72.
- V. De Angelis, Scritti di filologia medievale e umanistica, Napoli, D'Auria, 2011, limitatamente ai saggi "...e l'ultimo Lucano" (pp. 95-149) e "Petrarca, i suoi libri e i commenti medievali ai classici (pp. 233-269).
Please note that, as indicated above, for the book "La trasmissione dei testi latini.History and critical method", non-attending students will be required to have knowledge of and ability to discuss all the textual examples included.
In addition, not-attending students who earn 9 ECTS are expected to study:
- Giovanni Boccaccio, Vita di Petrarca, ed. G. Villani, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004.
The student must study: 1) the introduction (pp. 11-60); the Vita written by Boccaccio (pp. 72-91) and the following commentary; 3) the Epistola by Petrarca, Seniles XVIII (pp. 106-126) and the following commentary. During the examination, translation and discussion of a passage of the Latin text will be required.
- P. Chiesa, La trasmissione dei testi latini. Storia e metodo critico, Roma, Carocci, 2019. Students earning 9 ECTS are expected to study the whole book; students opting for 6 ECTS are expected to study pp. 15-141 and 223-229. In the examination, for students attending, knowledge and ability to discuss the textual examples actually discussed during the lessons will be required and assessed; for students not attending, knowledge and ability to discuss all the textual examples included in the book will be required and assessed.
- P. Chiesa, Elementi di critica testuale, 2th ed., Bologna, Pàtron, 2012. Students who have already taken the exam of Letteratura latina medievale will replace this book with: 1) A. Stussi, Fondamenti di critica testuale, Bologna, Il Mulino (limitedly to the papers by Bédier, Timpanaro, Contini); 2) G. Pasquali, Storia della tradizione e critica del testo, chapters I, II e IV («Il metodo del Lachmann», «Ci fu sempre un archetipo?», «Recentiores non deteriores»).
- M. Berté - M. Petoletti, La filologia medievale e umanistica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017, limitedly to pp. 73-123.
- images presented in class and linked to the chapters of the manual (useful for exam preparation) will be made freely available to students on the ARIEL website.
For not-attending students:
Non-attending students are expected to study the whole bibliography for attending students. In addition, all non-attending students (both those who earn 6 ECTS, and those who earn 9 ECTS) are expected to study:
- M. Berté - M. Petoletti, La filologia medievale e umanistica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017, limitedly to pp. 45-72.
- V. De Angelis, Scritti di filologia medievale e umanistica, Napoli, D'Auria, 2011, limitatamente ai saggi "...e l'ultimo Lucano" (pp. 95-149) e "Petrarca, i suoi libri e i commenti medievali ai classici (pp. 233-269).
Please note that, as indicated above, for the book "La trasmissione dei testi latini.History and critical method", non-attending students will be required to have knowledge of and ability to discuss all the textual examples included.
In addition, not-attending students who earn 9 ECTS are expected to study:
- Giovanni Boccaccio, Vita di Petrarca, ed. G. Villani, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2004.
The student must study: 1) the introduction (pp. 11-60); the Vita written by Boccaccio (pp. 72-91) and the following commentary; 3) the Epistola by Petrarca, Seniles XVIII (pp. 106-126) and the following commentary. During the examination, translation and discussion of a passage of the Latin text will be required.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Single oral examination, in a single test, with a mark out of thirty; the mark is communicated at the end of the exam.
Evaluated knowledge: Knowledge of the history of Latin literary works in their transmission. (Knowledge of the forms, patterns and channels of transmission of Latin texts from Late Antiquity to Humanism. Knowledge of the writing techniques in the Middle Ages. Knowledge of the role of institutions in the transmission of texts in the Middle Ages and Humanism. Knowledge of the transmission of Latin texts in the various European regions in the Middle Ages and Humanism. Knowledge of the methods of humanists in their approach to ancient texts, with consequences on the cultural activity of the time).
Evaluated awareness: Awareness of the connection through editorial practice and transmissional history (Ability to employ the basic technical lexicon of textual criticism. Awareness of the different value of the available editions of a text, according to their different methodological lines. Critical awareness of the close connection between the knowledge we have of a text and the way in which this text has come down to us. Awareness of the historicity of methods of textual criticism, highlighted through the history of their applications).
Assessment criteria: 1) level of knowledge; 2) language property in the specific matter; 3) effectiveness of presentation; 4) ability in connecting topics; 5) critical perspective.
Bibliography is partially different for attending and not-attending students (see above). International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher early. The assessment procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be discussed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Evaluated knowledge: Knowledge of the history of Latin literary works in their transmission. (Knowledge of the forms, patterns and channels of transmission of Latin texts from Late Antiquity to Humanism. Knowledge of the writing techniques in the Middle Ages. Knowledge of the role of institutions in the transmission of texts in the Middle Ages and Humanism. Knowledge of the transmission of Latin texts in the various European regions in the Middle Ages and Humanism. Knowledge of the methods of humanists in their approach to ancient texts, with consequences on the cultural activity of the time).
Evaluated awareness: Awareness of the connection through editorial practice and transmissional history (Ability to employ the basic technical lexicon of textual criticism. Awareness of the different value of the available editions of a text, according to their different methodological lines. Critical awareness of the close connection between the knowledge we have of a text and the way in which this text has come down to us. Awareness of the historicity of methods of textual criticism, highlighted through the history of their applications).
Assessment criteria: 1) level of knowledge; 2) language property in the specific matter; 3) effectiveness of presentation; 4) ability in connecting topics; 5) critical perspective.
Bibliography is partially different for attending and not-attending students (see above). International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher early. The assessment procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be discussed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)