German Philology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing the historical-comparative study of the old Germanic languages and of the cultural and textual production of the Germanic peoples. It pays particular attention to the phonological development from Indo-European to Proto-Germanic and to the medieval Germanic languages through the reading of their written sources.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the fundamental questions about the linguistic, textual and historical-cultural shaping of the medieval Germanic world, analyzed from a comparative perspective; knowledge of the linguistic phenomena which led to the birth and development of the old Germanic languages, particularly from the phonological and morphological viewpoint. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read, translate, and analyze texts written in the principal Old Germanic languages from the grammatical and semantic point of view and within their historical and cultural background.
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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "At the origin of myths: elves, dwarves and giants", and consists of the following three parts:
A) Introduction to Germanic culture;
B) Historical-comparative linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages;
C) Old and Middle High German, Old English, and Old Norse sources that tell of elves, dwarves, and giants.
Part A will examine the history and culture of ancient Germanic peoples, including people-to-people contacts, paganism, Christianization, and the subsequent spread of book culture in north-central Europe from the late antique period to the end of the Middle Ages.
Part B will analyse in detail the phonological and morphological phenomena that led to the emergence and differentiation of Germanic languages from one another.
Part C will present the most famous figures of Germanic mythology and folklore - especially elves, dwarves and giants - as seen through their sources, which show how differently they are conceived in the three main Germanic cultural areas: in epic poetry in the German area, in medico-magical texts in the Anglo-Saxon area; in eddic charms and sagas in the Nordic area.
The course programme is valid until February 2027. Starting from the Summer session of 2026, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2026-2027.
For the students of the Foreign Languages Course of Studies, the course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6 ECTS. Students of other study programmes who intend to acquire 6/9 ECTS have to agree to the programme in due time with the professor.
A) Introduction to Germanic culture;
B) Historical-comparative linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages;
C) Old and Middle High German, Old English, and Old Norse sources that tell of elves, dwarves, and giants.
Part A will examine the history and culture of ancient Germanic peoples, including people-to-people contacts, paganism, Christianization, and the subsequent spread of book culture in north-central Europe from the late antique period to the end of the Middle Ages.
Part B will analyse in detail the phonological and morphological phenomena that led to the emergence and differentiation of Germanic languages from one another.
Part C will present the most famous figures of Germanic mythology and folklore - especially elves, dwarves and giants - as seen through their sources, which show how differently they are conceived in the three main Germanic cultural areas: in epic poetry in the German area, in medico-magical texts in the Anglo-Saxon area; in eddic charms and sagas in the Nordic area.
The course programme is valid until February 2027. Starting from the Summer session of 2026, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2026-2027.
For the students of the Foreign Languages Course of Studies, the course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6 ECTS. Students of other study programmes who intend to acquire 6/9 ECTS have to agree to the programme in due time with the professor.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is taught entirely in Italian, the materials, and the examination bibliography all require good technical and linguistic skills. For this reason, to take the exam in German Philology, students on the Foreign languages programme must have already taken and passed the Glottology examination. For students on other study courses, any Linguistics examination in their programme is valid, but they must inform the professor well in advance to prepare the examination.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons, classroom exercises, reading, and linguistic-philological commentary of passages from the texts in the programme.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the online teaching platform MyAriel (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=7608), to which reference should be made for lesson notes and other materials provided by the professor.
The following are the mandatory readings for the three parts of the course:
Part A:
- Booklet "Parte A - Introduzione storico-culturale 2025-2026" (available in MyAriel);
- Raymond Ian PAGE, "Miti scandinavi", Mondadori 1995 (available in libraries);
- TACITO, "La Germania" (an edition of your choice in Italian translation).
Part B:
- Booklet "Parte B - linguistica storico-comparativa 2025-2026" (available in MyAriel).
- Lesson notes complementing the booklet.
Part C:
Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in MyAriel at the end of the course);
- Gianna CHIESA ISNARDI, "I miti nordici", Longanesi 1997, cap. "Gli esseri sovrannaturali", pp. 299-364 (including appendices and notes).
- Anthology of the texts (available in MyAriel).
The examination programme for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is identical to the programme for attending students. Students unable to attend are invited to contact the professor in good time for exam preparation.
The following are the mandatory readings for the three parts of the course:
Part A:
- Booklet "Parte A - Introduzione storico-culturale 2025-2026" (available in MyAriel);
- Raymond Ian PAGE, "Miti scandinavi", Mondadori 1995 (available in libraries);
- TACITO, "La Germania" (an edition of your choice in Italian translation).
Part B:
- Booklet "Parte B - linguistica storico-comparativa 2025-2026" (available in MyAriel).
- Lesson notes complementing the booklet.
Part C:
Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in MyAriel at the end of the course);
- Gianna CHIESA ISNARDI, "I miti nordici", Longanesi 1997, cap. "Gli esseri sovrannaturali", pp. 299-364 (including appendices and notes).
- Anthology of the texts (available in MyAriel).
The examination programme for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is identical to the programme for attending students. Students unable to attend are invited to contact the professor in good time for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is held in Italian; it consists of an individual interview, which includes questions posed by the professor and interactions between professor and student: the interview begins with questions on part A and continues with the discussion on part C, during which the student must be able to analyse the texts in the programme both from the historical-cultural and linguistic point of view, applying the phenomena studied in part B.
During the exam, you will be tested:
-level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of parts A and C;
-level of autonomy in recognising and analysing the linguistic phenomena studied in parts B and C;
-adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and competences acquired in the three parts.
The final grade is expressed in 30ths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
During the exam, you will be tested:
-level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of parts A and C;
-level of autonomy in recognising and analysing the linguistic phenomena studied in parts B and C;
-adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and competences acquired in the three parts.
The final grade is expressed in 30ths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment always; during the semester outside the classroom at the end of class.
Pending the return of the offices in Germanistica, which are unusable due to works, the temporary office is in Iberistica, Sant'Alessandro 1, first floor.