31219 - Germanic Philology 1 (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will possess the theoretical and material fundamentals in order to understand the Germanix languages, literatures and cultures (which must be intended like corpora indipendently from their literary value) from their proto-historical past to the end of the Middle Ages, in other words the cultures that Germanic peoples starting from the prehistorical period. The Middle Ages will be at the centre of investigation because in that period the common Germanic cultural milieu is more evident through the large number of sources and documentation in Old Germanic languages and literatures. The student will be able to read, translate and give a philological and linguistic comment to a short passage in an Old Germanic language

Course contents

Students of the 9 CFU (60hrs) course:

Module A (30hrs):

Fondamentals of Germanic Philology

The cultural peculiarities of the Germanic peoples will be taken into account: the oral transmission of knowledge, law, religion, social structure and the role of women. Part of the module will analyze the literary genres of the Germanic literature of the Middle Ages (heroic poetry, sagas, skaldic poetry, religious poetry). The themes of the module will be analyzed by reading and commenting some primary sources in Italian translation. A particular care will be devoted to the literary and documental production of the medieval period. The main philological methodologies of texs reconstruction will be presented during the course.

Module B (30hrs):

Nibelungs' Lay: Kriemhild's role

The Nibelungelied, one of the most important heoric poems of the Middle Ages, will be the theme of this module. It was written on parchment at the beginning of 13th century and mirrors the deep social changement: the age of heroes is changing into the courtly society. The poem compares these two worlds questioning about what kind of those two models is the best. At the centre of the Nibelungenlied is Kriemhild, the Burgundian princess who change from a naive damsel into a terrible revenger. In this way she remarks her rights and her woman's role in a men's society which wants to relegate her in subordinate positions. During the module, the poem will be presented and commented anthologically and in Italian language, perusing the main aspects which allow to understand Kriemhild's person.

 

Students of the 6 CFU (30 hrs) course:

Module A or B (at choice)

Readings/Bibliography

Module A:

Teaching materials on disposal on the web page of the course;

Marco Battaglia, I Germani. Genesi di una cultura europea, Roma, Carocci, 2013, pp. 109-112, 117-124; 131-147; 149-181; 199-213; 249-262; 282-294; 317-326.

Modulo B:

Teaching materials on disposal on the web page of the course;

I Nibelunghi, a cura di Laura Mancinelli, Torino, Einaudi tascabili (qualunque edizione).

Ehrismann, Otfird, "ze stücken was gehouwen dô das edele wîp": The Reception of Kriemhild , in A Companion to the Nibelungenlied, ed. by Winder McConnell, Columbia S.C., Camden House, 1998, pp. 18-41.

Gentry, Francis, Key Concepts in the Nibelungenlied, in A Companion to the Nibelungenlied, ed. by Winder McConnell, Columbia S.C., Camden House, 1998, pp.66-78.

Haymes, Edward R., Heroic, Chivalric, and Aristocratic Ethos in the Nibelungenlied, in A Companion to the Nibelungenlied, ed. by Winder McConnell, Columbia S.C., Camden House, 1998, pp.94-104.

no-attending students:

Module A:

Marco Battaglia, I Germani. Genesi di una cultura europea, Roma, Carocci, 2013.

Module B:

I Nibelunghi, a cura di Laura Mancinelli, Torino, Einaudi tascabili (qualunque edizione).

A Companion to the Nibelungenlied, ed. by Winder McConnell, Columbia S.C., Camden House, 1998

Teaching methods

Front lessons with multimedia instruments

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral interview on both modules, which can not be shared into separated moments. During the interview the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student will be evaluated . The student will be invited to discuss the texts covered during the course and to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify in them the useful information that will enable to illustrate the similarities and cultural areas of the discipline. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the classes and their critical use, which demonstrate ownership of a mastery of expression and specific language, will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of matter, synthesis and analysis of non-articulating and / or correct language but not always appropriate will lead to discrete assessments; training gaps and / or inappropriate language - although in a context of minimal knowledge of the material - will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the reference materials offered during the course will lead to failed assessments.

Teaching tools

Video and audio materials in internet, lectures notes provided by the teacher.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Zironi