Philology and Dante Criticism
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Philology is essential to read and understand Dante. In the absence of his autographs, scholars have had to reconstruct his works trying with different methods to prepare scientifically reliable texts. The problems are not all solved as the continuous studies and the current debate show. The course aims to provide students with the fundamental notions of Dante's Philology: history, methods, solutions, problems. In particular we will focus on Vita nuova.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student must acquire:
- Knowledge of the tradition of Dante's works (in particular of the Vita nuova) and of the various attempts to reach a solution of the numerous ecdotic problem.
- Ability to read ancient manuscripts and the first printed editions of Dante's works (especially the Vita nuova)
- Ability to evaluate textual solutions proposed by modern publishers.
- Ability to read and evaluate editions and to interpret variants.
- Knowledge of the tradition of Dante's works (in particular of the Vita nuova) and of the various attempts to reach a solution of the numerous ecdotic problem.
- Ability to read ancient manuscripts and the first printed editions of Dante's works (especially the Vita nuova)
- Ability to evaluate textual solutions proposed by modern publishers.
- Ability to read and evaluate editions and to interpret variants.
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 teaching is divided into two parts. In the first part (shorter) the Vita Nuova will be explored in depth, in the second the manuscript tradition and the printed tradition will be analysed. Finally, the modern critical editions will be examined, from the edition edited by Michele Barbi up to the edition for the New commented edition of Dante's works.
First part. The Vita nuova: a new book.
1. Genesis of the book
2. An autobiographical book
3. The title
4. The plot
5. A tripartite structure
6. Internal chronology: krònos and kairòs
7. Spaces
8. The characters
9. Eros and caritas
10. The autobiography of a love poet
11. Recipients and the public
12. The renewal of vernacular love poetry
13. A sweet and new style
14. Literary genre and models
15. Reactions to a disruptive book
16. The new life, Dante and Guido Cavalcanti
Second part. Philology and Vita nuova
1. The manuscript tradition of the Vita nuova
2. The fourteenth-century manuscripts
3. Boccaccio editor of the Vita nuova
4. The fifteenth-sixteenth century manuscripts
5. The printed tradition: from the princeps to the nineteenth century editions
6. The critical edition of the Vita nuova edited by Michele Barbi
7. The edition edited by Guglielmo Gorni
8. The edition edited by Stefano Carrai
9. The edition edited by Donato Pirovano (Necod)
10. The problem of the paragraphs and the title of the work
11. The coat of arms in the light of the latest research
12. Critical apparatus
13. Variants of substance: new proposals and relevant cases
14. The Chig manuscript. L VIII 305 and the formal restitution of the Vita nuova
15. Edition criteria between conservation and readability.
First part. The Vita nuova: a new book.
1. Genesis of the book
2. An autobiographical book
3. The title
4. The plot
5. A tripartite structure
6. Internal chronology: krònos and kairòs
7. Spaces
8. The characters
9. Eros and caritas
10. The autobiography of a love poet
11. Recipients and the public
12. The renewal of vernacular love poetry
13. A sweet and new style
14. Literary genre and models
15. Reactions to a disruptive book
16. The new life, Dante and Guido Cavalcanti
Second part. Philology and Vita nuova
1. The manuscript tradition of the Vita nuova
2. The fourteenth-century manuscripts
3. Boccaccio editor of the Vita nuova
4. The fifteenth-sixteenth century manuscripts
5. The printed tradition: from the princeps to the nineteenth century editions
6. The critical edition of the Vita nuova edited by Michele Barbi
7. The edition edited by Guglielmo Gorni
8. The edition edited by Stefano Carrai
9. The edition edited by Donato Pirovano (Necod)
10. The problem of the paragraphs and the title of the work
11. The coat of arms in the light of the latest research
12. Critical apparatus
13. Variants of substance: new proposals and relevant cases
14. The Chig manuscript. L VIII 305 and the formal restitution of the Vita nuova
15. Edition criteria between conservation and readability.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites are requested. The class is conducted entirely in Italian.
Teaching methods
Lectures and classroom exercises.
Teaching Resources
Notes of the lessons
Material uploaded by the teacher on the Ariel platform
DANTE ALIGHIERI, Vita nuova, a cura di D. PIROVANO, in DANTE ALIGHIERI, Vita nuova - Rime, A cura di D. PIROVANO e M. GRIMALDI, Introduzione di E. MALATO, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2023 (NECOD: Nuova Edizione Commentata delle Opere di Dante).
Dante, a cura di R. REA e J. STEINBERG, Roma, Carocci, 2020 (reference manual for the general part on Dante's works).
Material uploaded by the teacher on the Ariel platform
DANTE ALIGHIERI, Vita nuova, a cura di D. PIROVANO, in DANTE ALIGHIERI, Vita nuova - Rime, A cura di D. PIROVANO e M. GRIMALDI, Introduzione di E. MALATO, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2023 (NECOD: Nuova Edizione Commentata delle Opere di Dante).
Dante, a cura di R. REA e J. STEINBERG, Roma, Carocci, 2020 (reference manual for the general part on Dante's works).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam (entirely in Italian) consists of an interview aimed at ascertaining the preparation of the students, the ability to exploit specific knowledge, the properties of exposure, the specialized language.
The oral interview will be divided into three parts which aim to ascertain the student's preparation on the topics covered in class or studied in the books in the bibliography:
1. knowledge of Dante's works (see manual by Steinberg and Rea)
1) knowledge of philological aspects and problems concerning the Vita Nuova.
2) ability to read, explain and comment a passage from the Vita Nuova with particular attention to the ecdotic aspects.
The final evaluation of the exam is expressed out of thirty.
Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.
Students unable to attend lessons are invited to go to the reception desk by the teacher, who will provide precise indications on the supplementary bibliography with which to replace attendance. The course program is valid until February 2025.
Students with any disabilities are kindly asked to contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
The oral interview will be divided into three parts which aim to ascertain the student's preparation on the topics covered in class or studied in the books in the bibliography:
1. knowledge of Dante's works (see manual by Steinberg and Rea)
1) knowledge of philological aspects and problems concerning the Vita Nuova.
2) ability to read, explain and comment a passage from the Vita Nuova with particular attention to the ecdotic aspects.
The final evaluation of the exam is expressed out of thirty.
Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.
Students unable to attend lessons are invited to go to the reception desk by the teacher, who will provide precise indications on the supplementary bibliography with which to replace attendance. The course program is valid until February 2025.
Students with any disabilities are kindly asked to contact the teacher in order to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
L-FIL-LET/13 - PHILOLOGY OF ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Pirovano Donato
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 11.00 A.M
Piazza sant'Alessandro, first floor, near Spanish studies