Comparative Romance Languages and Literatures
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to enable master students deepen their training in Romance languages and literatures in medieval Europe, accessing from a comparative perspective their works, authors, contexts and genres through the most advanced tools of philology; it will thus give the opportunity to measure the broad horizon within which the literary tradition has to be framed.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the participants will know extensively the production, circulation and reception dynamics of medieval literary works in Romance Europe; they will also master the most up-to-date methods of historical linguistics and textual criticism, applied to the manuscript and print tradition of texts.
Furthermore, the students will be able to translate or paraphrase accurately works written in different Romance languages, to relate them to each other and to analyze them autonomously, both from a linguistic and from a literary point of view, in light of the most recent developments of criticism; they will also be able to place them in the context in which they were created and to reconstruct their textual and paratextual history, with particular attention to codicological and decorative data.
In addition, students will sharpen their skill to evaluate scientific bibliography independently, observing the development of the critical discussion, and will enhance the ability to expose clearly and properly their knowledge
Furthermore, the students will be able to translate or paraphrase accurately works written in different Romance languages, to relate them to each other and to analyze them autonomously, both from a linguistic and from a literary point of view, in light of the most recent developments of criticism; they will also be able to place them in the context in which they were created and to reconstruct their textual and paratextual history, with particular attention to codicological and decorative data.
In addition, students will sharpen their skill to evaluate scientific bibliography independently, observing the development of the critical discussion, and will enhance the ability to expose clearly and properly their knowledge
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 course, entitled "Brunetto Latini and the 'Tresor' in the Romance Middle Ages", consists of the following two sections, which will be addressed in sequence:
- A+B: "In the Footsteps of Messer Brunetto" + "Through the Text of the 'Tresor': Selected Passages" (40 hours, 6 CFU);
- C: "The European and Mediterranean tradition of the 'Tresor': philological and linguistic issues" (20 hours, 3 6 CFU).
Parts A + B will first trace the biographical and literary profile of Brunetto Latini, a notary, author in Italian and French, and Dante's 'master': this will enable us to highlight the discrepancy between the information provided by literary works (his own and those of others) and documentary sources, which still leave several grey areas (A). The focus will then shift to the «Tresor», the most successful Romance-language encyclopaedia of the Late Middle Ages, highlighting the richness and originality of its content in comparison with Latin and Romance sources, as well as its possible connections with the work of Brunetto's most famous disciple.
Part C will address the main philological and linguistic issues relating to the compilation and dissemination of the 'Tresor' in Europe, both in the original language and in translation, including evidence of its influence in the Mediterranean region, from the East (in the Crusader kingdoms beyond the sea) to the West (Castile and Aragon).
The examination awards a total of 9 CFU; those wishing to obtain only six CFU will sit section A + B.
NB: Students may take the examination on this programme by the January-February 2028 session, after which the programme will cease to be valid.
- A+B: "In the Footsteps of Messer Brunetto" + "Through the Text of the 'Tresor': Selected Passages" (40 hours, 6 CFU);
- C: "The European and Mediterranean tradition of the 'Tresor': philological and linguistic issues" (20 hours, 3 6 CFU).
Parts A + B will first trace the biographical and literary profile of Brunetto Latini, a notary, author in Italian and French, and Dante's 'master': this will enable us to highlight the discrepancy between the information provided by literary works (his own and those of others) and documentary sources, which still leave several grey areas (A). The focus will then shift to the «Tresor», the most successful Romance-language encyclopaedia of the Late Middle Ages, highlighting the richness and originality of its content in comparison with Latin and Romance sources, as well as its possible connections with the work of Brunetto's most famous disciple.
Part C will address the main philological and linguistic issues relating to the compilation and dissemination of the 'Tresor' in Europe, both in the original language and in translation, including evidence of its influence in the Mediterranean region, from the East (in the Crusader kingdoms beyond the sea) to the West (Castile and Aragon).
The examination awards a total of 9 CFU; those wishing to obtain only six CFU will sit section A + B.
NB: Students may take the examination on this programme by the January-February 2028 session, after which the programme will cease to be valid.
Prerequisites for admission
The course presupposes the competences in comparative historical grammar of the Romance languages, in history of medieval Romance literatures and text criticism which are provided by the courses of Romance Philology (basic and advanced) of the three-year degree. Students of the degree programme European and extra European languages and literatures who intend to follow it can contact the teacher for some additional bibliography.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; translation, commentary and critical discussion of texts; direct, even autonomous, examination of digital reproductions of documents by students, medieval manuscripts and prints, with their decorative apparatus, made available through the course website on the Ariel online educational platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=7619); since both materials are complex subjects of study, written in different languages, attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Part A+B:
- Personal class notes;
- Latini, Brunetto, a c. di Giorgio Inglese, nel Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, 64 (2005);
- Iolanda Ventura, L'iconografia letteraria di Brunetto Latini, «Studi medievali», 38 (1997), pp. 499-528;
- Gianluca Briguglia, Brunetto Latini. Pensare il comune, in Id., Il pensiero politico medievale, Torino, Einaudi, 2018, pp. 34-54;
- Rita Librandi, La didattica fondante di Brunetto Latini. Una lettura del Tesoretto, «Cahiers de Recherches Médiévales et Humanistes», 23 (2012), pp. 156-172;
- Sergio Lubello, Brunetto Latini. «S'eo son distretto inamoratamente (V 181): tra lettori antichi e moderni, in A scuola con ser Brunetto. La ricezione di Brunetto Latini dal medioevo al rinascimento. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi (Basilea, 8-10 giugno 2006), a c. di Irene Maffia Scariati, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, pp. 515-534;
- Selene Sarteschi, Inferno XV: l'incontro fra Dante e Brunetto, in «Rassegna Europea di Letteratura Italiana» 29-30 (2007), pp. 33-59.
- to read the «Tesoretto» and the «Favolello» it's possible to refer to "Poeti del Duecento", a c. di Gianfranco Contini, Milano-Napoli, II, 1960, pp. 169-284, or to Brunetto Latini, Poesie, a c. di Stefano Carrai, Torino, Einaudi, 2016, where we found also the 'canzone' «S'eo son distretto inamoratamente».
- introduction to Brunetto Latini, Tresor, dir. da Pietro Beltrami, Torino, 2007, pp. VII-XXVI;
- Pietro G. Beltrami, Tre schede sul Tresor, «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa», serie III, 23 (1993), pp. 133-190, in particular pp. 133-150;
- Francis J. Carmody, Latin Sources of Brunetto Latini's World History, in «Speculum» 11, No. 3 (1936), pp. 359-370;
- Id., Brunetto Latini's Tresor: Latin Sources on Natural Science, in «Speculum» 12, No. 3 (Jul., 1937), pp. 359-366;
- a digital booklet containing the sections of the «Tresor» that will be read, translated and commented during the lessons, which will be available before classes of this section start on the MyAriel site of the course;
- other learning materials available on the MyAriel site of the course.
Part C
- personal class notes;
- Francis J. Carmody, Brunetto Latini's Tresor. A Genealogy of 43 Manuscripts, in «Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie», LVI, 1936, pp. 93-99;
- Id., Genealogy of the MSS of the «Trésor», in «Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie», LX, 1940, pp. 78-81;
- Pietro G. Beltrami, Per il testo del "Tresor": appunti sull'edizione di F.J. Carmody, in «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. Classe di Lettere e Filosofia», Serie III, Vol. 18, No. 3 (1988), pp. 961-1009;
- Id., Tre schede sul Tresor, in «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa», serie III, 23 (1993), pp. 133-190, in particolare le pp. 150-190;
Id., Appunti su vicende del Tresor: composizione, letture, riscritture, in L'enciclopedismo medievale, a c. di Michelangelo Picone, Ravenna, Longo, 1994, pp. 318-28;
- Id., Nota al testo e alla traduzione, in Brunetto Latini, Tresor, dir. da Pietro Beltrami, Torino, 2007, pp. XXVII-XXXIII;
- Maurizio Perugi, «La parleüre plus delitable»: osservazioni sulla lingua del «Tresor», in A scuola con ser Brunetto. La ricezione di Brunetto Latini dal medioevo al rinascimento. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi (Basilea, 8-10 giugno 2006), a c. di Irene Maffia Scariati, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, pp. 493-513;
- Fabio Zinelli, «Tradizione 'mediterranea' e tradizione italiana del Livre dou tresor», in Irene Maffia Scariati (ed.), A scuola con ser Brunetto, cit., pp. 35-88;
- Luca Sacchi, Risalendo la corrente: il Libro del Tesoro castigliano e la sua fonte, in Isabel de Riquer, Dominique Billy, Giovanni Palumbo (éd.), Actes du XXVIIe Congrès international de linguistique et de philologie romanes (Nancy, 15-20 juillet 2013). Section 14: Littératures médiévales, Nancy, ATILF, 2017, pp. 195-206, in linea, disponibile nell'archivio AIR dell'Università degli studi di Milano.
There are no differences in the reference material for non-attending students.
- Personal class notes;
- Latini, Brunetto, a c. di Giorgio Inglese, nel Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, 64 (2005);
- Iolanda Ventura, L'iconografia letteraria di Brunetto Latini, «Studi medievali», 38 (1997), pp. 499-528;
- Gianluca Briguglia, Brunetto Latini. Pensare il comune, in Id., Il pensiero politico medievale, Torino, Einaudi, 2018, pp. 34-54;
- Rita Librandi, La didattica fondante di Brunetto Latini. Una lettura del Tesoretto, «Cahiers de Recherches Médiévales et Humanistes», 23 (2012), pp. 156-172;
- Sergio Lubello, Brunetto Latini. «S'eo son distretto inamoratamente (V 181): tra lettori antichi e moderni, in A scuola con ser Brunetto. La ricezione di Brunetto Latini dal medioevo al rinascimento. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi (Basilea, 8-10 giugno 2006), a c. di Irene Maffia Scariati, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, pp. 515-534;
- Selene Sarteschi, Inferno XV: l'incontro fra Dante e Brunetto, in «Rassegna Europea di Letteratura Italiana» 29-30 (2007), pp. 33-59.
- to read the «Tesoretto» and the «Favolello» it's possible to refer to "Poeti del Duecento", a c. di Gianfranco Contini, Milano-Napoli, II, 1960, pp. 169-284, or to Brunetto Latini, Poesie, a c. di Stefano Carrai, Torino, Einaudi, 2016, where we found also the 'canzone' «S'eo son distretto inamoratamente».
- introduction to Brunetto Latini, Tresor, dir. da Pietro Beltrami, Torino, 2007, pp. VII-XXVI;
- Pietro G. Beltrami, Tre schede sul Tresor, «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa», serie III, 23 (1993), pp. 133-190, in particular pp. 133-150;
- Francis J. Carmody, Latin Sources of Brunetto Latini's World History, in «Speculum» 11, No. 3 (1936), pp. 359-370;
- Id., Brunetto Latini's Tresor: Latin Sources on Natural Science, in «Speculum» 12, No. 3 (Jul., 1937), pp. 359-366;
- a digital booklet containing the sections of the «Tresor» that will be read, translated and commented during the lessons, which will be available before classes of this section start on the MyAriel site of the course;
- other learning materials available on the MyAriel site of the course.
Part C
- personal class notes;
- Francis J. Carmody, Brunetto Latini's Tresor. A Genealogy of 43 Manuscripts, in «Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie», LVI, 1936, pp. 93-99;
- Id., Genealogy of the MSS of the «Trésor», in «Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie», LX, 1940, pp. 78-81;
- Pietro G. Beltrami, Per il testo del "Tresor": appunti sull'edizione di F.J. Carmody, in «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. Classe di Lettere e Filosofia», Serie III, Vol. 18, No. 3 (1988), pp. 961-1009;
- Id., Tre schede sul Tresor, in «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa», serie III, 23 (1993), pp. 133-190, in particolare le pp. 150-190;
Id., Appunti su vicende del Tresor: composizione, letture, riscritture, in L'enciclopedismo medievale, a c. di Michelangelo Picone, Ravenna, Longo, 1994, pp. 318-28;
- Id., Nota al testo e alla traduzione, in Brunetto Latini, Tresor, dir. da Pietro Beltrami, Torino, 2007, pp. XXVII-XXXIII;
- Maurizio Perugi, «La parleüre plus delitable»: osservazioni sulla lingua del «Tresor», in A scuola con ser Brunetto. La ricezione di Brunetto Latini dal medioevo al rinascimento. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi (Basilea, 8-10 giugno 2006), a c. di Irene Maffia Scariati, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, pp. 493-513;
- Fabio Zinelli, «Tradizione 'mediterranea' e tradizione italiana del Livre dou tresor», in Irene Maffia Scariati (ed.), A scuola con ser Brunetto, cit., pp. 35-88;
- Luca Sacchi, Risalendo la corrente: il Libro del Tesoro castigliano e la sua fonte, in Isabel de Riquer, Dominique Billy, Giovanni Palumbo (éd.), Actes du XXVIIe Congrès international de linguistique et de philologie romanes (Nancy, 15-20 juillet 2013). Section 14: Littératures médiévales, Nancy, ATILF, 2017, pp. 195-206, in linea, disponibile nell'archivio AIR dell'Università degli studi di Milano.
There are no differences in the reference material for non-attending students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is individual, and includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and student, and the translation and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works read during the lectures. The interview has a variable duration depending on the number of parts taken by the student; it aims to verify the knowledge relating to the historical-cultural context, the history of the works and their manuscript and printed tradition, as well as the ability to translate (or paraphrase) and comment on the texts read, as well as the ability to expose, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. Marks are out of 30, and the student has the right to refuse the proposed mark (in this case it will be verbalized as «withdrawn»).
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher early. The assessment procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be discussed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher early. The assessment procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be discussed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
FLMR-01/B - Romance Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
FLMR-01/B - Romance Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment only, wednesday 10.00-13.00
Teams class "Ricevimento Luca Sacchi"