Philology and Germanic Literatures
A.Y. 2026/2027
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 "Juridical Sources in the Ancient Germanic Languages" and consists of the following three parts:
Part A: Principles and methods of textual criticism.
Part B: The Germanic juridical system and its sources in the German, Saxon, Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian areas.
Part C: An in-depth study of the ecdotic and linguistic aspects of the texts covered in Part B.
The course provides 6/9 ECTS credits. Students wishing to acquire 6 ECTS should follow the syllabus for Parts A and B; students wishing to acquire 9 ECTS should follow the full syllabus (Parts A, B and C).
Part A covers the principles and methods of textual criticism, from Lachmann to New Philology. Students are also introduced to palaeography and codicology so that they can approach the text starting from the manuscript.
Part B explores the Germanic juridical tradition, from the earliest Latin sources to the most advanced law codes. Legal texts are analysed from historical-cultural, lexical, stylistic and ecdotic perspectives.
In Part C, the methodologies and ecdotic tools learnt in Part A are applied, and a deeper analysis of the juridical sources studied in Part B is provided, with the aim of preparing a presentation of their manuscript tradition - from the codices to their editions - to be made available on a website.
The course programme is valid until September 2028. Starting from the Winter session of 2027, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2027-2028.
Part A: Principles and methods of textual criticism.
Part B: The Germanic juridical system and its sources in the German, Saxon, Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian areas.
Part C: An in-depth study of the ecdotic and linguistic aspects of the texts covered in Part B.
The course provides 6/9 ECTS credits. Students wishing to acquire 6 ECTS should follow the syllabus for Parts A and B; students wishing to acquire 9 ECTS should follow the full syllabus (Parts A, B and C).
Part A covers the principles and methods of textual criticism, from Lachmann to New Philology. Students are also introduced to palaeography and codicology so that they can approach the text starting from the manuscript.
Part B explores the Germanic juridical tradition, from the earliest Latin sources to the most advanced law codes. Legal texts are analysed from historical-cultural, lexical, stylistic and ecdotic perspectives.
In Part C, the methodologies and ecdotic tools learnt in Part A are applied, and a deeper analysis of the juridical sources studied in Part B is provided, with the aim of preparing a presentation of their manuscript tradition - from the codices to their editions - to be made available on a website.
The course programme is valid until September 2028. Starting from the Winter session of 2027, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2027-2028.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held entirely in Italian, the materials, and the examination readings require good knowledge of Germanism and sound skills in the historical-comparative linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages; to take the examination in Philology and Germanic literatures, students must therefore have already passed an exam in Germanic Philology during the bachelor's or master's programme.
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 2026. Please check whether any changes have been made before the start of the course.
The course has a website on the online teaching platform MyAriel (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=13430), to which reference should be made for lesson notes and other materials provided by the professor.
The following readings will be studied:
Part A:
- Booklet "Elementi di ecdotica, paleografia e codicologia dell'area germanica antica 2026-2027" (available in MyAriel);
- 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", Turnhout: Brepols 2016.
- Anglicists: K. O'Brien O'Keeffe (ed), "Reading Old English Texts", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1997.
- Germanists: Martin-Dietrich Gleßgen, Franz Lebsanft (eds), "Alte und neue Philologie", Tübingen: Niemeyer 1997.
Part B:
- Maurizio Lupoi, "Alle radici del mondo giuridico europeo: saggio storico-comparativo", Roma: Ist. Poligr. e Zecca dello Stato 1994 (available in libraries), or in the English translation by Adrian Belton, "The origins of the European legal order", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2000 (to download from Minerva).
- Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in MyAriel at the end of the course);
- Anthology of the texts (available in MyAriel).
Part C:
Independent work to be agreed with the professor for the preparation of the website.
Examination programme for non-attending students:
Part A: programme identical to that for attending students.
Part B: lecture notes or alternative readings to be agreed upon.
Part C: assignment of a task equivalent to that of attending students, to be agreed upon well 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 online teaching platform MyAriel (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=13430), to which reference should be made for lesson notes and other materials provided by the professor.
The following readings will be studied:
Part A:
- Booklet "Elementi di ecdotica, paleografia e codicologia dell'area germanica antica 2026-2027" (available in MyAriel);
- 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", Turnhout: Brepols 2016.
- Anglicists: K. O'Brien O'Keeffe (ed), "Reading Old English Texts", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1997.
- Germanists: Martin-Dietrich Gleßgen, Franz Lebsanft (eds), "Alte und neue Philologie", Tübingen: Niemeyer 1997.
Part B:
- Maurizio Lupoi, "Alle radici del mondo giuridico europeo: saggio storico-comparativo", Roma: Ist. Poligr. e Zecca dello Stato 1994 (available in libraries), or in the English translation by Adrian Belton, "The origins of the European legal order", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2000 (to download from Minerva).
- Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in MyAriel at the end of the course);
- Anthology of the texts (available in MyAriel).
Part C:
Independent work to be agreed with the professor for the preparation of the website.
Examination programme for non-attending students:
Part A: programme identical to that for attending students.
Part B: lecture notes or alternative readings to be agreed upon.
Part C: assignment of a task equivalent to that of attending students, to be agreed upon well 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 examination is held in Italian and consists of an individual interview, which includes questions posed by the professor and interactions between the professor and the student, about the contents of Parts A and B. Students acquiring 9 cfu will have the opportunity to present and discuss the in-depth studies carried out for Part C.
During the exam, the following will be assessed:
-the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of Parts A and B;
-the level of independence 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 independence and the ability to deepen and apply ecdotic methods in the agreed-upon work for Part C.
The final mark is expressed out of thirty, and students have 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 promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with specific LD must be agreed with the teacher, in consultation with the relevant office.
During the exam, the following will be assessed:
-the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of Parts A and B;
-the level of independence 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 independence and the ability to deepen and apply ecdotic methods in the agreed-upon work for Part C.
The final mark is expressed out of thirty, and students have 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 promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with specific LD must be agreed with the teacher, in consultation with the relevant office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
GERM-01/A - Germanic Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Di Venosa Elena Angela
Part C
GERM-01/A - Germanic Philology and Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Di Venosa Elena Angela
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment always; during the semester outside the classroom at the end of class.
Germanistica (floor -1, stairs in front of A4)