Romance Philology (advanced)
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
This course aims to further students' knowledge of the historical-comparative study of Romance languages and literatures and to introduce them to the guiding principles of textual criticism, its application to medieval texts in the Romance vernaculars and their manuscript tradition.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: At the end of the course, students will have a detailed knowledge of the Romance literature of the Middle Ages, set against their literary and historical background. Students will learn the principles of textual criticism, with a focus on the manuscript traditions of the texts written in the Romance languages of the Middle Ages. Students will also learn the historical grammar of the texts studied in the course. They will achieve a wider awareness of the importance of the philological study of the texts and of the tools of textual criticism.
Skills: Students will become skilled in the interpretation of the literary works in their formal aspects, content and broader historical and cultural context. Students will be able to paraphrase Old Italian texts or to translate texts in other Romance languages. They will be able to understand and use secondary literature and the different methodological perspectives it implies. Students will be able to comment on and expand upon the texts and the specific topics covered in the course, using Romance Philology's technical terms.
Skills: Students will become skilled in the interpretation of the literary works in their formal aspects, content and broader historical and cultural context. Students will be able to paraphrase Old Italian texts or to translate texts in other Romance languages. They will be able to understand and use secondary literature and the different methodological perspectives it implies. Students will be able to comment on and expand upon the texts and the specific topics covered in the course, using Romance Philology's technical terms.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Course title (60 hours and 9 ECTS): Boccaccio as a literate.
A (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Reading and interpretation of some excerpts from Boccaccio's works (from minor works to «Decameron»).
B (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Observations of Textual Philology.
C (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Linguistics Considerations.
The course is addressed to students of the Degree Course in Humanities, whose surname starts from A to H that have already taken the first year course of this subject. The students who intend to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend all the three Parts; students who intend to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend Part A and Part B.
The advanced course further explores the insight into Romance Philology provided in the first year course according to a strategy that maintains a comparative view of Romance Language and Literature, and studies more in detail the linguistic problems and deals with the principles of textual criticism, and the philological dimension of the texts. This year's programme will mainly look into the theme of "Boccaccio literate". Reading some excerpts of Boccaccio's works (from minor works to «Decameron»), we will reflect upon issues as Boccaccio and the gallo-romance tradition; materials and sources of great relevance for the author's poetics; the literary canon of "Three Crowns". The texts will be interpreted against the background of inter-textual connections, considering the literary genre, interpretive and philological issues. The Part A will present the theme of the monographic course. Part B introduces the students to the guiding principles of textual criticism and its application in relation to Romance medieval texts and their manuscript tradition. Part C will focus on the Linguistic features of the text proposed in the course.
Other Information for the students
1. Non-attending students are invited to see the Professor at the office hour for any information regarding their exam.
International students or Erasmus incoming are invited to contact the Professor of the course.
The examination mode for SLD students and/or students with other disabilities will be agreed upon with the Professor in accordance with the competent Office.
2. Students of Degree Courses other than Humanities can substitute Teaching unit C (Linguistics) with other studies agreed with the Professor.
3. The students interested in a Thesis in Romance Philology (Three-year degree or Master Programme) are advised to contact the Professor in time in order to define the subject of the Thesis.
A (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Reading and interpretation of some excerpts from Boccaccio's works (from minor works to «Decameron»).
B (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Observations of Textual Philology.
C (20 hours and 3 ECTS): Linguistics Considerations.
The course is addressed to students of the Degree Course in Humanities, whose surname starts from A to H that have already taken the first year course of this subject. The students who intend to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend all the three Parts; students who intend to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend Part A and Part B.
The advanced course further explores the insight into Romance Philology provided in the first year course according to a strategy that maintains a comparative view of Romance Language and Literature, and studies more in detail the linguistic problems and deals with the principles of textual criticism, and the philological dimension of the texts. This year's programme will mainly look into the theme of "Boccaccio literate". Reading some excerpts of Boccaccio's works (from minor works to «Decameron»), we will reflect upon issues as Boccaccio and the gallo-romance tradition; materials and sources of great relevance for the author's poetics; the literary canon of "Three Crowns". The texts will be interpreted against the background of inter-textual connections, considering the literary genre, interpretive and philological issues. The Part A will present the theme of the monographic course. Part B introduces the students to the guiding principles of textual criticism and its application in relation to Romance medieval texts and their manuscript tradition. Part C will focus on the Linguistic features of the text proposed in the course.
Other Information for the students
1. Non-attending students are invited to see the Professor at the office hour for any information regarding their exam.
International students or Erasmus incoming are invited to contact the Professor of the course.
The examination mode for SLD students and/or students with other disabilities will be agreed upon with the Professor in accordance with the competent Office.
2. Students of Degree Courses other than Humanities can substitute Teaching unit C (Linguistics) with other studies agreed with the Professor.
3. The students interested in a Thesis in Romance Philology (Three-year degree or Master Programme) are advised to contact the Professor in time in order to define the subject of the Thesis.
Prerequisites for admission
The advanced course is aimed at students who have already taken the first year course of this subject.
Teaching methods
The course is offered in lecture format; attendance is strongly recommended. The teaching makes use of bibliographical materials such as critical editions, manuals, monographs, essays that will be partly uploaded on the Ariel on-line platform.
Teaching Resources
Bibliographical information and exam programme for attending students:
A
- Texts: At the end of the course a detailed list of texts to be studied for the exam (reading, paraphrase and commentary) as well as some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
Studies: Martin Eisner, Boccaccio e l'invenzione della letteratura italiana, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2022.
For the exam, students are expected to read, and be prepared to paraphrase or translate and to comment upon the Old Italian texts. They will study the lecture notes of the course, and some texts and essays.
Please Note: Some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
B
- Attending students will study in detail the notes of the course and the handbook: A. D'Agostino, Capitoli di filologia testuale. Testi italiani e romanzi, Milano, CUEM, 2006. Theoretical parts and definitions (book's examples are subsidiary and complementary to the understanding of textual philology's topics).
C
- Attending students will study in detail the notes of the course, and the textbook: Luca Serianni, Lezioni di grammatica storica italiana, Roma, Bulzoni, 2005.
Bibliographical information and exam programme for non-attending students:
A
- For the exam, students should read, and be prepared to paraphrase and to comment upon the Boccaccio's texts provided. They will study some texts and essays.
Text: - At the end of the course a detailed list of texts and passages to be studied for the exam (reading, paraphrase and commentary) as well as some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
Studies: - Studi: Martin Eisner, Boccaccio e l'invenzione della letteratura italiana, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2022.
Please Note: Some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
B
- A. D'Agostino, Capitoli di filologia testuale. Testi italiani e romanzi, Seconda edizione corretta e accresciuta, Milano, CUEM, 2006.
- Giovanni Orlandi, Latino e volgari nell'Occidente medievale, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 2 . Il Medioevo volgare. vol. II, La circolazione del testo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002, pp. 267-303. (Uploaded on the Ariel on-line platform).
- Alberto Vàrvaro, Il testo letterario, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 2 . Il Medioevo volgare. vol. I, La produzione del testo, t. I, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1999, pp. 387-422. (Uploaded on the Ariel on-line platform).
C
- Luca Serianni, Lezioni di grammatica storica italiana, Roma, Bulzoni, 2005.
- Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua d'oïl, Roma, Edizioni dell'Ateneo, 1971.
A
- Texts: At the end of the course a detailed list of texts to be studied for the exam (reading, paraphrase and commentary) as well as some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
Studies: Martin Eisner, Boccaccio e l'invenzione della letteratura italiana, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2022.
For the exam, students are expected to read, and be prepared to paraphrase or translate and to comment upon the Old Italian texts. They will study the lecture notes of the course, and some texts and essays.
Please Note: Some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
B
- Attending students will study in detail the notes of the course and the handbook: A. D'Agostino, Capitoli di filologia testuale. Testi italiani e romanzi, Milano, CUEM, 2006. Theoretical parts and definitions (book's examples are subsidiary and complementary to the understanding of textual philology's topics).
C
- Attending students will study in detail the notes of the course, and the textbook: Luca Serianni, Lezioni di grammatica storica italiana, Roma, Bulzoni, 2005.
Bibliographical information and exam programme for non-attending students:
A
- For the exam, students should read, and be prepared to paraphrase and to comment upon the Boccaccio's texts provided. They will study some texts and essays.
Text: - At the end of the course a detailed list of texts and passages to be studied for the exam (reading, paraphrase and commentary) as well as some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
Studies: - Studi: Martin Eisner, Boccaccio e l'invenzione della letteratura italiana, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2022.
Please Note: Some other texts and studies will be provided and eventually uploaded on "Ariel" on-line platform.
B
- A. D'Agostino, Capitoli di filologia testuale. Testi italiani e romanzi, Seconda edizione corretta e accresciuta, Milano, CUEM, 2006.
- Giovanni Orlandi, Latino e volgari nell'Occidente medievale, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 2 . Il Medioevo volgare. vol. II, La circolazione del testo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002, pp. 267-303. (Uploaded on the Ariel on-line platform).
- Alberto Vàrvaro, Il testo letterario, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 2 . Il Medioevo volgare. vol. I, La produzione del testo, t. I, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1999, pp. 387-422. (Uploaded on the Ariel on-line platform).
C
- Luca Serianni, Lezioni di grammatica storica italiana, Roma, Bulzoni, 2005.
- Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua d'oïl, Roma, Edizioni dell'Ateneo, 1971.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment method consists in an oral exam in which students will present in detail what they have learnt during the course, regarding the Romance literature of the Middle Ages, the principles of textual criticism and the tradition of Romance languages' texts written in the Middle Ages and the language of the texts proposed in the course. Students' evaluation will be based on their ability in paraphrasing the Old Italian texts, commenting on, and expanding upon the texts and the specific topics covered in the course and their skills in interpreting the formal aspects of the works, in using the secondary literature, several methodological perspectives and Romance Philology's lexicon. Marks are out of 30.
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Barbiellini Amidei Beatrice
I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Parts A-C (40 hours, 6 ECTS): James I of Aragon's _Llibre dels fets_ and medieval vernacular historiography
James I of Aragon's _Llibre dels fets_ is a unique text in Medieval Romance literatures: it is an autobiographic narrative written by a king using the first person, in order to cast a favorable light on the history of his reign, and to serve as a tool in the formation of his heirs. We will read some excerpts from this large work in order to stress its originality in the broader context of contemporary Romance literatures, and we will ask questions about the meaning of autobiography in this medieval text.
In the second half of this part, the problems of the critical edition of a medieval text in a romance language will be studied from examples related to the textual tradition of the Llibre and its publishing history.
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Elements of the Historical Grammar of Medieval Catal
This part aims to strengthen the understanding of the passages that we will read in the main part of the course by studying the morphology and syntax of Medieval Catalan, and by giving a brief introduction to its phonological evolution from Latin.
James I of Aragon's _Llibre dels fets_ is a unique text in Medieval Romance literatures: it is an autobiographic narrative written by a king using the first person, in order to cast a favorable light on the history of his reign, and to serve as a tool in the formation of his heirs. We will read some excerpts from this large work in order to stress its originality in the broader context of contemporary Romance literatures, and we will ask questions about the meaning of autobiography in this medieval text.
In the second half of this part, the problems of the critical edition of a medieval text in a romance language will be studied from examples related to the textual tradition of the Llibre and its publishing history.
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): Elements of the Historical Grammar of Medieval Catal
This part aims to strengthen the understanding of the passages that we will read in the main part of the course by studying the morphology and syntax of Medieval Catalan, and by giving a brief introduction to its phonological evolution from Latin.
Prerequisites for admission
This course is addressed to students who have already attended the introductory Romance Philology course and passed the exam.
Teaching methods
The course consists of 30 lectures of 2 hours each. Lectures rely on e-learning material (images of manuscripts, maps, addresses of online dictionaries and databases) uploaded on the Ariel 2.0 website of the course. The lectures offer an integrated presentation of all the topics described above, which is not just an explanation of the bibliography; attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Parts A-B:
1) An anthology of passages from the Llibre dels fets will be made available on the Ariel 2.0 website of the course.
For an Italian translation of the Llibre:
Giacomo I d'Aragona, Libro dei fatti, traduzione italiana, con introduzione e note a cura di Aniello Fratta, prefazione di Antoni Ferrando, Roma, Aracne, 2015.
2) Stefano Asperti, La letteratura catalana medievale, in V. Bertolucci, C. Alvar, S. Asperti, L'area iberica, Bari, Laterza, 1999 (terza edizione 2006), pp. 325-408.
3) S. Asperti, Il re e la storia. Proposte per una nuova lettura del Llibre dels feyts di Jaume I, «Romanistische Zeitschrift für Literaturgeschichte/Cahiers d'Histoire des Littératures Romanes», 7 (1983), 275-296.
Jaume Aurell, Authoring the Past: History, Autobiography, and Politics in Medieval Catalonia, Chicago-London, The University of Chicago Press, 2012, capitolo 7 (The Dawn of Catalan Autobiography as Chronicle), pp. 133-154.
Students wanting to try and work on secondary literature written in Cataln may choose to substitute the following chapter for one of the two studies mentioned above:
Stefano Maria Cingolani, La memòria dels reis. Les quatres grans cròniques, Barcelona, Editorial Base, 2007, cap. 1, pp. 31-74.
4) L. Leonardi, Filologia romanza. 1. Critica del testo, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022.
Part C:
Personal notes and the material made available by the teacher will be used to prepare the final paper for this part along with:
5) Antoni Badia i Margarit, Evolución lingüística interna I. Gramática, in Lexikon der romanistischen Linguistik, hrsg. von Günter Holtus, Michael Metzeltin, Christian Schmitt, V/2, Okzitanisch, Katalanisch, pp. 127-152 [in spagnolo].
6) Philip D. Rasico, Early Medieval Catalan, in Manual of Catalan Linguistics, ed. by Joan A. Argenter and Jens Lüdtke, Berlin-Boston, De Gruyter, 2020, pp. 437-469.
Both chapters can be downloaded free of charge from the De Gruyter website through the Minerva catalogue of Unimi libraries.
All the documents uploaded on the Ariel 2.0 website of the course are part of the course's bibliography.
Students who are not able to attend the course need to contact at least once the teacher, who will give a specific bibliography, discuss any topics they may find more difficult, but also to revise their pronunciation of Medieval texts.
1) An anthology of passages from the Llibre dels fets will be made available on the Ariel 2.0 website of the course.
For an Italian translation of the Llibre:
Giacomo I d'Aragona, Libro dei fatti, traduzione italiana, con introduzione e note a cura di Aniello Fratta, prefazione di Antoni Ferrando, Roma, Aracne, 2015.
2) Stefano Asperti, La letteratura catalana medievale, in V. Bertolucci, C. Alvar, S. Asperti, L'area iberica, Bari, Laterza, 1999 (terza edizione 2006), pp. 325-408.
3) S. Asperti, Il re e la storia. Proposte per una nuova lettura del Llibre dels feyts di Jaume I, «Romanistische Zeitschrift für Literaturgeschichte/Cahiers d'Histoire des Littératures Romanes», 7 (1983), 275-296.
Jaume Aurell, Authoring the Past: History, Autobiography, and Politics in Medieval Catalonia, Chicago-London, The University of Chicago Press, 2012, capitolo 7 (The Dawn of Catalan Autobiography as Chronicle), pp. 133-154.
Students wanting to try and work on secondary literature written in Cataln may choose to substitute the following chapter for one of the two studies mentioned above:
Stefano Maria Cingolani, La memòria dels reis. Les quatres grans cròniques, Barcelona, Editorial Base, 2007, cap. 1, pp. 31-74.
4) L. Leonardi, Filologia romanza. 1. Critica del testo, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022.
Part C:
Personal notes and the material made available by the teacher will be used to prepare the final paper for this part along with:
5) Antoni Badia i Margarit, Evolución lingüística interna I. Gramática, in Lexikon der romanistischen Linguistik, hrsg. von Günter Holtus, Michael Metzeltin, Christian Schmitt, V/2, Okzitanisch, Katalanisch, pp. 127-152 [in spagnolo].
6) Philip D. Rasico, Early Medieval Catalan, in Manual of Catalan Linguistics, ed. by Joan A. Argenter and Jens Lüdtke, Berlin-Boston, De Gruyter, 2020, pp. 437-469.
Both chapters can be downloaded free of charge from the De Gruyter website through the Minerva catalogue of Unimi libraries.
All the documents uploaded on the Ariel 2.0 website of the course are part of the course's bibliography.
Students who are not able to attend the course need to contact at least once the teacher, who will give a specific bibliography, discuss any topics they may find more difficult, but also to revise their pronunciation of Medieval texts.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral exam will be a survey of the topics discussed during the course. It is aimed at assessing a student's knowledge of literary history, textual philology and linguistics. The exam always begins with the translation of one of the passages analysed during the course; it is necessary for any student to be able to provide a sensible translation in order to pass the exam.
Students taking Unit C will submit a short paper consisting of the translation and linguistic analysis of a short passage in Catalan. The bibliography provided for this part is to be intended for the preparation of the paper only.
Marks are out of 30. The minimum grade in order to pass the exam is 18/30.
International or incoming Erasmus students are invited to promptly contact the teacher of the course.
The exam mode for SLD students and/or for students with other disabilities will have to be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the Office in charge.
Students taking Unit C will submit a short paper consisting of the translation and linguistic analysis of a short passage in Catalan. The bibliography provided for this part is to be intended for the preparation of the paper only.
Marks are out of 30. The minimum grade in order to pass the exam is 18/30.
International or incoming Erasmus students are invited to promptly contact the teacher of the course.
The exam mode for SLD students and/or for students with other disabilities will have to be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the Office in charge.
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Gaggero Massimiliano
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)