92979 - Medieval Latin Hagiography and Biography (1) (Lm)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Philology, Literature and Classical Tradition (cod. 9070)

Learning outcomes

Upon a successful completion of this course, the students have a deep knowledge of the historical and cultural significance of medieval hagiographic texts, also in relationship with biographical texts. They acquire the methodological tools necessary to read hagiographic texts, also about their literary meaning. They possess the philological abilities necessary for the analysis of the texts, for the reconstruction of their manuscript tradition and to realize a critical edition.

Course contents

The holiness of Francis of Assisi. Hagiographic texts of the Minorite tradition

1. Introduction

Tools, historiographic traditions to study Middle-Latin hagiography

Models of holiness. A story

Problems of textual criticism specific to hagiography

Experiences for the critical edition of a medieval hagiographic text


2. Experiments in reading texts: the case of Francis of Assisi

Reading and commentary on texts from the hagiographic tradition dedicated to Francis of Assisi

Readings/Bibliography

 

I Part

1 Claudio Leonardi Agiografie medievali cur. Antonella Degl'Innocenti - Francesco Santi, Firenze, SISMEL. Edizioni del Galluzzo 2011 (Millennio medievale 89. Strumenti e studi 28)

II. Part

One text to be chosen from among these three (with introduction and comment)

Thomas de Celano Vita prima sancti Francisci

Thomas de Celano Vita secunda sancti Francisci

Bonaventura de Balneoregio, Legenda maior santi Francisci

Recommended editions: 1.La letteratura francescana II Le vite antiche di San Francesco cur. Claudio Leonardi, Milano, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla-A. Mondadori 2005 pp. 615 (Scrittori greci e latini);  2. Mauro Donnini (trad.) Daniele Solvi (comm.) La letteratura francescana IV Bonaventura: la leggenda di Francesco cur. Claudio Leonardi, Milano, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla-A. Mondadori 2013 pp. XXI-438 (Scrittori greci e latini)

The teacher will indicate alternative editions during the course and to all those who ask for information.

Students who will not attend the lessons must submit two texts chosen from the following

Teaching methods

1. General presentation of the problems posed by the course

2. Examination of the manuscript tradition of hagiographic texts, in seminar mode.

3. Reading and critical discussion of texts that document the crisis that the experience of Francis of Assisi posed to the culture and to the Middle-Latin hagiographic tradition.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral (thirty minutes). The teacher considers it a moment of evaluation but also a moment of teaching, giving the student the opportunity to present information and thought in an articulated way.

Evaluation criteria.

The interview serves to evaluate:

1. Acquisition of the canon of information useful for orienting oneself in the historical-literary and methodological panorama of the sources that are the subject of the discipline.

2. Familiarity with the elements of reference in the historiographical and methodological framework, showing awareness of the methodological plurality of the approaches to the tested sources, placing this plurality also in relation to general visions (with an international horizon).

3. Ability to react to the problematic elements on the level of the method posed by the sources (also in consideration of their handwritten condition), with the awareness of the reference elements useful for setting the solution of those problems.

4. Ability to interpret and comment on a Latin text from the Middle Ages among those indicated in the exam program.

Teaching tools

Texts

Manuscripts

Electronic data platforms on medieval authors, texts and manuscripts.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Santi