Provencal Literature
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The learning objective of this course is to give the students an advanced knowledge of Medieval Occitan language and literature, that will be studied also from the point of view of textual transmission.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will know the history of Medieval Provençal literature - from its origins to the mid fourteenth century - and the Occitan historical grammar. Students will also be able to understand, translate and examine in depth the texts that are taken into account during the lessons, discussing their linguistic features, historical-literary context and textual problems. Furthermore, students will acquire the ability to deal with interpretative problems, showing awareness of the different methodological perspectives, and making use of the provided bibliography and of discipline-specific terminology.
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
Lesson period
First semester
Lessons will be held mainly in class, and streamed at the same time. Students will find all the information for attending the lessons in the Ariel site of the course, where they will find also any other information about changes regarding the plan of the course, bibliography, and so on. If it will not be possible to sustain the exam as laid down here above, it will be carried out online (all the information will be published in the Ariel site of the course at the end of the lessons).
Course syllabus
The course focuses on the origins of Troubadour lyric, and is divided into three main teaching units:
- Section A will offer an overall introduction to the main theories about the origins of Troubadour lyric.
- Section B will focus on Arab Andalusian harğat, and on their importance within the discussion about the origins of Troubadour lyric.
- Section C will focus on texts written by some of the earliest Troubadours (William IX Duke of Aquitaine and others) using the same metrical scheme of zajal, discussing the possible Arab origin of this kind of metrical structure.
Students that will take a 6 c.f.u. exam will attend section A and will choose between sections B or C; students that will take a 9 c.f.u. exam will attend sections A, B and C.
- Section A will offer an overall introduction to the main theories about the origins of Troubadour lyric.
- Section B will focus on Arab Andalusian harğat, and on their importance within the discussion about the origins of Troubadour lyric.
- Section C will focus on texts written by some of the earliest Troubadours (William IX Duke of Aquitaine and others) using the same metrical scheme of zajal, discussing the possible Arab origin of this kind of metrical structure.
Students that will take a 6 c.f.u. exam will attend section A and will choose between sections B or C; students that will take a 9 c.f.u. exam will attend sections A, B and C.
Prerequisites for admission
None. Nevertheless, master's students are expected to have a basic understanding of textual criticism, the historical-comparative grammar of Romance languages and the history of Medieval Romance literatures.
Teaching methods
Class lessons are the prevailing teaching method; they include also the use of digital teaching materials (reproductions of manuscripts, performances of medieval musical pieces, textual and linguistic databases and so on) that are made available on the Ariel platform (https://ariel.unimi.it/). Students will also be required to discuss collectively in class the subjects treated during the lessons.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the teacher in order to arrange an apposite plan for exam preparation.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the teacher in order to arrange an apposite plan for exam preparation.
Teaching Resources
All students will study these three handbooks that offer a general overview of Troubadours' language and literature:
- Martín de Riquer, Leggere i trovatori. Edizione italiana a cura di Massimo Bonafin, Macerata, Eum, 2010;
- Michel Zink, I trovatori: una storia poetica, a cura di Federico Saviotti. Premessa di Maria Luisa Meneghetti, Sesto San Giovanni, MIM Edizioni, 2015;
- Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua dei trovatori. Profilo di grammatica storica del provenzale antico, Roma, Edizioni dell'Ateneo, 1965 (or later edition, Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra Editore, 1999), pp. 7-44.
The teacher will upload on the Ariel site of the course an anthology containing, for each section: a) texts that will be read and translated in class; b) other teaching materials; c) the critical bibliography specifically related to sections B and C.
Pp. 45-122 of the above-mentioned book by Aurelio Roncaglia will be used by the students for preparing the linguistic commentary of the texts when self-studying.
- Martín de Riquer, Leggere i trovatori. Edizione italiana a cura di Massimo Bonafin, Macerata, Eum, 2010;
- Michel Zink, I trovatori: una storia poetica, a cura di Federico Saviotti. Premessa di Maria Luisa Meneghetti, Sesto San Giovanni, MIM Edizioni, 2015;
- Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua dei trovatori. Profilo di grammatica storica del provenzale antico, Roma, Edizioni dell'Ateneo, 1965 (or later edition, Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra Editore, 1999), pp. 7-44.
The teacher will upload on the Ariel site of the course an anthology containing, for each section: a) texts that will be read and translated in class; b) other teaching materials; c) the critical bibliography specifically related to sections B and C.
Pp. 45-122 of the above-mentioned book by Aurelio Roncaglia will be used by the students for preparing the linguistic commentary of the texts when self-studying.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an interview that will assess learning outcomes. The interview begins with reading and translation of a Medieval text that has been analysed in class; students will have to be able to comment it making use of the acquired knowledge and skills about the study of Medieval Provençal texts from the point of view of their historical-cultural importance and literary, linguistic and textual characteristics. The ability to translate and to comment Medieval texts using the specific terminology of Romance studies will be evaluated. Handbooks listed in the section "Bibliography" may be the subject of an interview with a further member of the examination board. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the teacher and with the dedicated office.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the teacher and with the dedicated office.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours