Philology and Germanic Literatures
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to perfect the knowledge of ancient Germanic languages and literatures by investigating their historical and cultural context of origin and the dynamics of their diffusion, as well as their manuscript tradition, with the help of the most advanced tools of historical linguistics and textual criticism. The course also aims to encourage reflection on the concept of critical edition, popular edition and rewriting, and on the responsibilities of the philologist in making such texts available to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of production, circulation and reception of texts written in the main ancient Germanic languages (Gothic, Nordic, Anglo-Saxon, Continental Saxon and High German areas) in their historical and cultural context; knowledge and understanding of the most up-to-date methodologies of historical linguistics and ecdotics.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The ability to reconstruct the dating, provenance and circulation of written evidence in various ancient Germanic languages on the basis of textual, linguistic and palaeographic-codicological data. Ability to read and translate texts from manuscript, and analyse them phonologically, morpho-syntactically and lexically, in order to carry out digital transcription and contribute to their dissemination. The ability to deal with ecdotical problems of certain texts from the various ancient Germanic areas in order to independently assess the possibilities of edition.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The ability to reconstruct the dating, provenance and circulation of written evidence in various ancient Germanic languages on the basis of textual, linguistic and palaeographic-codicological data. Ability to read and translate texts from manuscript, and analyse them phonologically, morpho-syntactically and lexically, in order to carry out digital transcription and contribute to their dissemination. The ability to deal with ecdotical problems of certain texts from the various ancient Germanic areas in order to independently assess the possibilities of edition.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "The Disticha Catonis Tradition" and consists of the following three parts:
A: Principles and methods of textual criticism.
B: Proverbs as a textual genre and the tradition of "Disticha Catonis", especially in translations into Middle High and Low German, Old English, and Old Icelandic.
C: In-depth study of the ecdotic and linguistic aspects of the texts analysed in part B.
The course provides 6/9 cfu. Students wishing to acquire 6 cfu will stick to the syllabus of parts A and B; students wishing to acquire 9 cfu will stick to the complete syllabus (parts A, B, C).
In part A the principles and methods of textual criticism - from Lachmann to New Philology - will be studied on the basis of the textbook in the syllabus. Students will also be introduced to paleography and codicology in order to approach the text from the manuscript.
Part B will examine the paremiologic tradition, starting from the Latin source of the "Disticha Catonis" and the repertoire of the "Thesaurus Proverbiorum Medii Aevi". The German, Anglo-Saxon, and Nordic vernacular versions of the Latin proverb collection will be analysed in order to study their content and stylistic and lexical characteristics.
Part C will apply the methodologies and ecdotal tools learned in part A and deepen the analysis of part B texts, with the aim of preparing a presentation of the manuscript tradition of the works read in part B, from the codex to their editions and translations, to be made available on a website. The students will then be asked to carry out individual and/or group work, agreeing with the professor on an in-depth study of an aspect of the monographic part.
The course programme runs until September 2027.
A: Principles and methods of textual criticism.
B: Proverbs as a textual genre and the tradition of "Disticha Catonis", especially in translations into Middle High and Low German, Old English, and Old Icelandic.
C: In-depth study of the ecdotic and linguistic aspects of the texts analysed in part B.
The course provides 6/9 cfu. Students wishing to acquire 6 cfu will stick to the syllabus of parts A and B; students wishing to acquire 9 cfu will stick to the complete syllabus (parts A, B, C).
In part A the principles and methods of textual criticism - from Lachmann to New Philology - will be studied on the basis of the textbook in the syllabus. Students will also be introduced to paleography and codicology in order to approach the text from the manuscript.
Part B will examine the paremiologic tradition, starting from the Latin source of the "Disticha Catonis" and the repertoire of the "Thesaurus Proverbiorum Medii Aevi". The German, Anglo-Saxon, and Nordic vernacular versions of the Latin proverb collection will be analysed in order to study their content and stylistic and lexical characteristics.
Part C will apply the methodologies and ecdotal tools learned in part A and deepen the analysis of part B texts, with the aim of preparing a presentation of the manuscript tradition of the works read in part B, from the codex to their editions and translations, to be made available on a website. The students will then be asked to carry out individual and/or group work, agreeing with the professor on an in-depth study of an aspect of the monographic part.
The course programme runs until September 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held entirely in Italian, the materials, and the bibliography of the examination presuppose good knowledge of Germanism and sound skills in comparative-historical linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages; to take the exams in Philology and Germanic literatures, it is therefore necessary to have already taken and passed, in the bachelor or master programme, an exam in Germanic Philology.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading and ecdotic-textual commentary on passages from the works on the programme; individual and group work.
Teaching Resources
PLEASE NOTE: This section is updated at July 2025. Please check back later for updates.
The course has a website on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=8752), to which you can refer for information on the course and useful materials for exam preparation.
The following readings will be studied:
The following readings will be studied:
Part A:
- Paolo Chiesa, "Elementi di critica testuale", Pàtron, Bologna 2012.
- One chapter of your choice (to be agreed with the professor well in advance of the exam), relevant to the student's course of study and the contents of part A, to be discussed critically:
- Scandinavists: Judy Quinn, Adele Cipolla (eds), "Studies in the Transmission and Reception of Old Norse Literature. The Hyperborean Muse in European Culture", Brepols, Turnhout 2016.
- Anglicists: K. O'Brien O'Keeffe (ed), "Reading Old English Texts", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1997.
- Germanists: Martin-Dietrich Gleßgen, Franz Lebsanft (eds), "Alte und neue Philologie", Niemeyer, Tübingen 1997.
Part B:
- anthology of texts, which will be distributed during the course,
- lecture notes.
Part C:
Independent work to be agreed with the professor for the preparation of the website and/or the preparation of materials for the "Il Medioevo di UniMi" festival in May 2026.
Examination programme for non-attending students:
Part A: programme identical to that for attending students.
Part B: alternative readings, which will be made available during the course.
Part C: assignment of a task equivalent to that of attending students, to be agreed upon in advance. Non-attending students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible, especially for advice on how to approach textual analysis independently.
The course has a website on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=8752), to which you can refer for information on the course and useful materials for exam preparation.
The following readings will be studied:
The following readings will be studied:
Part A:
- Paolo Chiesa, "Elementi di critica testuale", Pàtron, Bologna 2012.
- One chapter of your choice (to be agreed with the professor well in advance of the exam), relevant to the student's course of study and the contents of part A, to be discussed critically:
- Scandinavists: Judy Quinn, Adele Cipolla (eds), "Studies in the Transmission and Reception of Old Norse Literature. The Hyperborean Muse in European Culture", Brepols, Turnhout 2016.
- Anglicists: K. O'Brien O'Keeffe (ed), "Reading Old English Texts", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1997.
- Germanists: Martin-Dietrich Gleßgen, Franz Lebsanft (eds), "Alte und neue Philologie", Niemeyer, Tübingen 1997.
Part B:
- anthology of texts, which will be distributed during the course,
- lecture notes.
Part C:
Independent work to be agreed with the professor for the preparation of the website and/or the preparation of materials for the "Il Medioevo di UniMi" festival in May 2026.
Examination programme for non-attending students:
Part A: programme identical to that for attending students.
Part B: alternative readings, which will be made available during the course.
Part C: assignment of a task equivalent to that of attending students, to be agreed upon in advance. Non-attending students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible, especially for advice on how to approach textual analysis independently.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is held in Italian and consists of an individual interview, which includes questions posed by the professor and interactions between professor and student, about the contents of Parts A and B. Students acquiring 9 cfu will have the opportunity to report and comment on the insights gained in Part C.
During the exam, you will be tested:
-the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of Parts A and B;
-the level of autonomy in the ecdotic and linguistic analysis of the texts in Part B;
-the adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and skills acquired;
- the level of autonomy and the ability to deepen and apply ecdotical methods in the agreed work of Part C.
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:
-the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of Parts A and B;
-the level of autonomy in the ecdotic and linguistic analysis of the texts in Part B;
-the adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and skills acquired;
- the level of autonomy and the ability to deepen and apply ecdotical methods in the agreed work of Part C.
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.
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Di Venosa Elena Angela
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.