Cultures and Texts of the European Middle Ages
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course is primarily designed to provide students with the analytical tools necessary to develop a comprehensive understanding of medieval literature, moving beyond the confines of any single linguistic domain. Emphasis is therefore placed on processes of interaction, circulation, and dialogue among texts within the medieval cultural sphere, with a focus on works composed in Latin and in the Romance vernaculars. In addition, the course seeks to foster students' awareness of the international dimension of medieval philology by offering an overview of the principal lines of research currently pursued abroad and in other Italian academic institutions.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- describe the development, over the course of the Middle Ages, of a given literary genre or theme through the analysis of texts drawn from different linguistic and cultural contexts;
- read, translate, and provide critical commentary on medieval texts in their original languages (Latin and at least two Romance vernaculars);
- apply the methods of literary criticism and textual criticism to Medieval Latin and Romance works within a comparative framework;
- employ accurately the technical vocabulary of literary criticism and philology, with particular attention to interlinguistic traditions and themes that cut across different literary cultures;
- compare works belonging to the same genre but originating in different linguistic traditions, identifying analogies, divergences, reciprocal influences, and processes of formal and thematic hybridization;
- present and discuss the methods, issues, and current directions of philological research on medieval texts, with reference to ongoing projects and international scholarly initiatives.
- describe the development, over the course of the Middle Ages, of a given literary genre or theme through the analysis of texts drawn from different linguistic and cultural contexts;
- read, translate, and provide critical commentary on medieval texts in their original languages (Latin and at least two Romance vernaculars);
- apply the methods of literary criticism and textual criticism to Medieval Latin and Romance works within a comparative framework;
- employ accurately the technical vocabulary of literary criticism and philology, with particular attention to interlinguistic traditions and themes that cut across different literary cultures;
- compare works belonging to the same genre but originating in different linguistic traditions, identifying analogies, divergences, reciprocal influences, and processes of formal and thematic hybridization;
- present and discuss the methods, issues, and current directions of philological research on medieval texts, with reference to ongoing projects and international scholarly initiatives.
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, entitled "The Legacy of the Classics in Medieval Culture: The Case of Myth," is divided into three parts:
Part A. The Abduction of Proserpina in Medieval Culture (Prof. Marina Giani)
Part B. The Myth of Narcissus in Medieval Culture (Prof. Roberto Tagliani)
Part C. Jacopo Passavanti's Antiquarian Commentary on Augustine's De civitate Dei (Prof. Marina Giani)
Part A opens with a general introduction to the reception of the classical tradition in the Latin Middle Ages and includes the reading and discussion of selected passages that reinterpret the myth of Proserpina. The texts will be examined from both literary and philological perspectives, with particular attention to intertextuality.
Part B explores the dialogue between the medieval Romance world and the legacy of classical antiquity and Latin culture as transmitted through the body of medieval knowledge expressed in Latin. Taking the myth of Narcissus as its starting point, this section includes a philological, literary, and linguistic analysis of selected Romance texts that are relevant to the course theme.
Part C is conducted in seminar format and focuses on an unpublished text: the Additiones by Jacopo Passavanti, a mythographical commentary on Augustine's De civitate Dei. In addition to providing a general introduction to the work and its historical and intellectual context, the seminars will examine the manuscript tradition and the sources of the commentary.
Part A. The Abduction of Proserpina in Medieval Culture (Prof. Marina Giani)
Part B. The Myth of Narcissus in Medieval Culture (Prof. Roberto Tagliani)
Part C. Jacopo Passavanti's Antiquarian Commentary on Augustine's De civitate Dei (Prof. Marina Giani)
Part A opens with a general introduction to the reception of the classical tradition in the Latin Middle Ages and includes the reading and discussion of selected passages that reinterpret the myth of Proserpina. The texts will be examined from both literary and philological perspectives, with particular attention to intertextuality.
Part B explores the dialogue between the medieval Romance world and the legacy of classical antiquity and Latin culture as transmitted through the body of medieval knowledge expressed in Latin. Taking the myth of Narcissus as its starting point, this section includes a philological, literary, and linguistic analysis of selected Romance texts that are relevant to the course theme.
Part C is conducted in seminar format and focuses on an unpublished text: the Additiones by Jacopo Passavanti, a mythographical commentary on Augustine's De civitate Dei. In addition to providing a general introduction to the work and its historical and intellectual context, the seminars will examine the manuscript tradition and the sources of the commentary.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites are required
Teaching methods
The course is a conventional type alpha course and consists of 40 hours (6 ECTS credits) or 60 hours (9 ECTS credits) of face-to-face teaching. Classes also include text analysis, oral presentations of case studies, and written assignments. Students taking the 6 ECTS version of the course are required to prepare Parts A and B of the syllabus. Students taking the 9 ECTS version are also required to complete Part C, which involves conducting a small-scale research project on the course topic and presenting the results in written and/or oral form. The course is supported by e-learning materials available on the dedicated MyAriel course website.
Attendance is strongly recommended, as the course is conducted in a seminar format.
Attendance is strongly recommended, as the course is conducted in a seminar format.
Teaching Resources
Students taking the course for 6 ECTS are required to prepare the following:
- E.R. Curtius, Letteratura europea e Medio Evo latino, edited by R. Antonelli, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2022, limited to the following sections:
1. R. Antonelli's introductions "Trent'anni dopo" and "Filologia e modernità" (pp. VII-LII);
2. Chapters I. Letteratura europea (pp. 11-29); II. Medio Evo latino (pp. 31-55); III. Letteratura e istruzione (pp. 57-90); XIV. Classicità (pp. 347-380); XVIII. Epilogo (pp. 531-560);
3. One additional chapter of the student's choice from Chapters IV-XIII or XV-XVII (pp. 91-345 and 381-530);
Two excursus of the student's choice from I-XXV (pp. 563-837).
In addition, students are required to prepare:
- notes taken in class;
- an anthology of texts for Part A and another for Part B, which will be made available on MyAriel 2.0 at the beginning of the course;
- an anthology of scholarly readings for Part A and another for Part B, which will be made available on MyAriel 2.0 at the beginning of the course.
Students taking the course for 9 ECTS are required to prepare the same material as students taking the 6 ECTS examination, plus:
- notes taken in class for Part C;
- B. Smalley, English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century, Oxford, 1960, limited to pp. 1-132.
Students who do not attend classes are expected to obtain comprehensive lecture notes from classmates who attend regularly. They are strongly advised to rely on accurate and complete notes and to arrange a meeting with the course instructors well in advance in order to receive guidance on the examination syllabus and preparation.
Non-attending students taking the 6 ECTS examination are required to prepare:
E.R. Curtius, Letteratura europea e Medio Evo latino, edited by R. Antonelli, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2022: the two introductions and the five compulsory chapters listed above (I. Letteratura europea; II. Medio Evo latino; III. Letteratura e istruzione; XIV. Classicità; XVIII. Epilogo), together with three additional chapters of the student's choice (from IV-XIII or XV-XVII) and four excursus of the student's choice (from I-XXV);
all the scholarly readings included in the course materials uploaded to MyAriel 2.0.
Non-attending students taking the 9 ECTS examination are required to prepare, in addition to the material listed above:
B. Smalley, English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century, Oxford, 1960, in its entirety.
- E.R. Curtius, Letteratura europea e Medio Evo latino, edited by R. Antonelli, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2022, limited to the following sections:
1. R. Antonelli's introductions "Trent'anni dopo" and "Filologia e modernità" (pp. VII-LII);
2. Chapters I. Letteratura europea (pp. 11-29); II. Medio Evo latino (pp. 31-55); III. Letteratura e istruzione (pp. 57-90); XIV. Classicità (pp. 347-380); XVIII. Epilogo (pp. 531-560);
3. One additional chapter of the student's choice from Chapters IV-XIII or XV-XVII (pp. 91-345 and 381-530);
Two excursus of the student's choice from I-XXV (pp. 563-837).
In addition, students are required to prepare:
- notes taken in class;
- an anthology of texts for Part A and another for Part B, which will be made available on MyAriel 2.0 at the beginning of the course;
- an anthology of scholarly readings for Part A and another for Part B, which will be made available on MyAriel 2.0 at the beginning of the course.
Students taking the course for 9 ECTS are required to prepare the same material as students taking the 6 ECTS examination, plus:
- notes taken in class for Part C;
- B. Smalley, English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century, Oxford, 1960, limited to pp. 1-132.
Students who do not attend classes are expected to obtain comprehensive lecture notes from classmates who attend regularly. They are strongly advised to rely on accurate and complete notes and to arrange a meeting with the course instructors well in advance in order to receive guidance on the examination syllabus and preparation.
Non-attending students taking the 6 ECTS examination are required to prepare:
E.R. Curtius, Letteratura europea e Medio Evo latino, edited by R. Antonelli, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2022: the two introductions and the five compulsory chapters listed above (I. Letteratura europea; II. Medio Evo latino; III. Letteratura e istruzione; XIV. Classicità; XVIII. Epilogo), together with three additional chapters of the student's choice (from IV-XIII or XV-XVII) and four excursus of the student's choice (from I-XXV);
all the scholarly readings included in the course materials uploaded to MyAriel 2.0.
Non-attending students taking the 9 ECTS examination are required to prepare, in addition to the material listed above:
B. Smalley, English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century, Oxford, 1960, in its entirety.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment consists of a single oral examination. The final grade is awarded on a 30-point scale, and the minimum passing grade is 18/30.
The oral examination is designed to assess:
1) knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course syllabus;
2) the ability to think critically and to apply the analytical methods presented during the course;
3) the clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of the student's presentation;
4) proficiency in the use of appropriate disciplinary terminology.
As noted above, students who do not attend classes are strongly advised to contact the instructor well in advance before beginning their exam preparation.
International and incoming Erasmus students are also encouraged to contact the course instructor as early as possible.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) will be agreed upon with the course instructor in consultation with the relevant University Office.
The oral examination is designed to assess:
1) knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course syllabus;
2) the ability to think critically and to apply the analytical methods presented during the course;
3) the clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of the student's presentation;
4) proficiency in the use of appropriate disciplinary terminology.
As noted above, students who do not attend classes are strongly advised to contact the instructor well in advance before beginning their exam preparation.
International and incoming Erasmus students are also encouraged to contact the course instructor as early as possible.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) will be agreed upon with the course instructor in consultation with the relevant University Office.
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
FLMR-01/A - Medieval and Humanistic Latin Literature - University credits: 3
FLMR-01/B - Romance Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 3
FLMR-01/B - Romance Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Giani Marina, Tagliani Roberto
Parte C
FLMR-01/A - Medieval and Humanistic Latin Literature - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Giani Marina
Professor(s)
Reception:
Student reception is suspended from 28 July to 28 August 2026. From 31 August 2026, it will be available only by appointment, in the professor's office. Please contact by email [email protected]
Department of Literary, Philological and Linguistic Studies, Modernistic section - Entrance B, 1st floor, room n. 1062