32589 - Germanic Philology 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student possesses in-depth cognition of the fundamental social institutions of the late antique and medieval Germanic peoples, knowledge that he or she can draw from direct knowledge of the written records that he or she directly enjoys in the original languages, knows and can use practical methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of literary texts through both linguistic and philological methodology.

Course contents

Slaying the Dragon: Sigurðr and Fáfnir

This course examines the Eddic poem Fáfnismál, in which the hero Sigurðr confronts and defeats the dragon that gives the poetic text its name. A conversation, at once prophetic and sapiential, also develops between the two. Of the Fáfnismál, the first 22 stanzas and all the short prose inserts will be analysed in the original language, of which a translation and philological discussion will be provided. The aim of the course is to place the Norse text in the broader context of the Germanic hero's struggle against a dragon, in order to understand its cultural motivations and man's relationship to monstrosity.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students:

- Texts given by the teacher at disposal on Virtuale platform.

- Edda. Die Lieder des Codex Regius nebst verwandten Denkmälern, herausgegeben von Gustav Neckel, Heidelberg, Winter, 1962 (il testo del Fáfnismál)

- Haimerl, Edgar, Sigurðr A Medieval Hero. A Manuscript-Based Interpretation of the 'Young Sigurðr Poems', in Revisiting the Poetic Edda. Essays on Old Norse Heroic Legends, ed. by P. Acker - C. Larrington, New York - London, 2013, pp. 32-52.

- Marcello Meli, Vincere il drago. La sconfitta di Beowulf, in I silenzi dei testi e i silenzi della critica, a cura di C. Locatelli, Trento, Dipartimento di Scienze Filologiche e Storiche, 1996, pp. 251-264.

- Marco Battaglia, Edda poetica, Milano, Meltemi, 2025

Grammar to be consulted:

Michael Barnes, A new Introduction to Old Norse, I, Grammar, London, Viking Society for Northern Research, 2008 (scaricabile online)

Non attending students:

to the previous bibliography it must be added:

-Joseph Harris, Eddic Poetry, in Old Norse-Icelandic Literature. A Critical Guide, ed. by C. J. Clover, J. Lindow, Ithaca - London, 1985, pp. 68-156

- Paul Acker, Dragons in the Eddas and in Early Nordic Art, in Revisiting the Poetic Edda. Essays on Old Norse Heroic Legends, ed. by P. Acker - C. Larrington, New York - London, 2013, pp. 53-75.

- Willem P. Gerritsen - Anthony G. van Melle, Sigfrido, in Id., Miti e personaggi del Medioevo, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 1999, pp. 470-486.

Teaching methods

Lectures with seminar work. Lectures will not be recorded.

Assessment methods

During the examination, a number of textual examples addressed in the lecture will be submitted for oral discussion on the basis of the theoretical knowledge acquired. In fact, the oral interview is intended to assess the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student, who will be invited to confront the texts addressed during the course. Particularly assessed will be the student's ability to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify in them the useful information that will allow him/her to illustrate the cultural aspects and ambits of the discipline. The student's attainment of an organic vision of the themes addressed in the lessons together with their critical utilisation, the demonstration of the possession of a mastery of expression and specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, unarticulated synthesis and analysis skills and/or language that is correct but not always appropriate will lead to fair marks; formative deficiencies and/or inappropriate language - albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the examination material - will lead to marks that do not exceed sufficiency. Formative deficiencies, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographical materials offered during the course will only result in negative marks.

Teaching tools

Multimedia devices.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Zironi