00381 - Romance Philology (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course the student has the knowledge of the Romance literatures (especially of the Middle Ages) and the Romance languages (from the origins to the present day) learned in a comparative perspective. The student also acquires notions about the position of Italian among the Romance languages and their expansion in Europe and worldwide, as well as textual philology issues, including the literary communication and semiotics. He also develops the ability to make use of the tools of the discipline (dictionaries, grammars, databases, etc.), to read the sources (through ancient manuscripts and critical editions) and to apply them to the analysis of texts.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules for a total of 60 hours and of 12 credits.

Classes will start on January 31, 2022.

Course timetable: Monday, 15:00-17:00, via Zamboni 38, aula VI; Tuesday, 15:00-17:00, via Zamboni 38, aula VI; Wednesday, 13:00-15:00, via Zamboni 38, aula VI.

Students who choose the 6 credits course can attend the first part of the classes, Module 1 (February 31, 2022-March 2, 2022).

At the end of the course the student, through the philological reading of some significant texts, has a good knowledge of the main methods and themes of the philology of Romance languages and literatures, achieves the comparative study of at least one literary genre and a linguistic variety, as well as an adequate development of the critical sense and tools of the editorial practice of modern literary texts.

Syllabus and Course contents

The course does not require prior knowledge of ancient Romance languages. The texts analyzed in class will always be read also in Italian translation; the original ancient texts will be read with the professor’s guide and introduced in such a way as to ensure everyone’s understanding. Frequency is strongly recommended.

Module 1.

1A. Fundamentals of Romance Philology.

In the first introductory part, the Professor will provide the notions of the discipline’s foundation (modern philology, vulgar Latin, history and evolution of Italian and Romance languages, reading and commentary of some of the oldest texts, comparative method) along with rudiments of linguistics, metrics and rhetoric.

1B. 12^th and 13^th Centuries Romance Literatures: texts, genres, authors

In the second part, based on the philological reading of selected texts, some of the masterpieces of Romance literature of modern Europe will be studied, with special attention for the troubadour poetry and Old French narrative genres. Lessons will illustrate circulation and fortune of some themes and characters of Medieval Literature, in particular those related to epic and chivalric French tradition (Roland, the Grail, the Knights of the Round Table), not only in Medieval Europe, but also in Modern and Contemporary era.

Module 2.

2A. Romance short narrative genre: from Marie de France until Boccaccio

This part of the course will be dedicated to the origins and development of short tales genre in romance languages, since earlier Old French attestations until the Decameron. Lessons will focus on reading and analysis of some of Marie de France’s Lais, one of the masterpieces of courtly narrative genre in the XII century; the Lais are an Old French rewriting of Celtic legends and tales.

B2. Textual criticism and Medieval texts.

The second part of the module will be dedicated to textual criticism and methods for critical editions of Medieval Romance texts, focusing on Marie de France’s Lais, but also on the works of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio.

At the end of the course, there will be the possibility of practicing on manuscripts of University Library of Bologna, under the professor’s supervision.

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1

Attending students

1A. For attending students, the notes of the lessons will be the essential basis for the preparation of the exam. In relation to the parts developed during the course, attending students will study a collection of handouts edited by the professor available online on Virtuale. Attending students will also study P. Beltrami, La filologia romanza, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017.

1B. The essay of Cesare Segre, Schemi narrativi nella “Chanson de Roland”, in the volume of the same author, La tradizione della «Chanson de Roland», Milano-Napoli, Ricciardi, 1974, p. 3-13 (the professor will provide Italian translation of Old French passages quoted in the essay).

Module 2

Attending students

Students will prepare:

- notes and handouts;

- the texts commented in class from the volume Maria di Francia, Lais, a cura di Giovanna Angeli, Carocci;

- the Lais will be read and translated with the aid of Au. Roncaglia, La lingua d’oil (any reprint);

- five essays (articles, chapters of books) chosen by students from those listed by the professor.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will prepare the final exam following the previous bibliography with the support of these additional readings:

- M. Barbato, Le lingue romanze. Profilo storico-comparativo, Bari, Laterza, 2017.

- P. Gresti (a cura di), Antologia delle letterature romanze del Medioevo, Bologna, Pàtron, 2011 (entirely)

Teaching methods

- Lectures and seminars;

- Philological reading and commentary of texts, investigated in their historical genesis and transmission;

- Discussion of the methods, assumptions and different interpretations of the main critical lines;

- Students can apply for specific bibliographies and specially set up laboratories. There will be the possibility of individual tutoring.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

The student must demonstrate, with correctness and linguistic properties, that s/he has studied all parts of the program.

In the interview, the professor will assess the learning outcomes and the critical capacity of the student. The student must be able to provide reading, philological comment and literary interpretation of texts in the program, with clarity and relevance. At least one textual example among those examined during classes will be submitted to the student.

Along with the historical understanding of the text and in particular of the literary genre, the student will have to demonstrate competence in methods and problems of romance philology, comparative argumentation skills, and good command of the specific vocabulary of modern editorial practice.

The oral exam will be divided in: 1. Development of a topic covered in the A sections (Fundamentals of Romance Philology); 2. Reading and commenting of one or two texts studied in class; 3. Development of a topic covered in B sections (Textual Criticism with discussion of the chosen essays).

Evaluation parameters:

• Insufficient vote: absence or strong lack of basic knowledge and lack of the ability to read and analyze texts;
• Sufficient vote (18): possession of basic notions and sufficient understanding of the texts;
• Positive vote (from 19 to 25): possession of intermediate level of knowledge; correct but not thorough ability in reading texts, sufficient capacity of connection between the different contents, essentially correct expression but with some imprecisions;
• More than positive vote (from 26 to 28): possessing good and articulated knowledge; correct language; discrete critical ability;
• Excellent vote (from 29 to 30L): possessing more than good knowledge; precision, maturity of expression and in-depth analysis; great autonomy in data re-elaboration and the ability to connect content; critical ability and mastery in reading, translation and philological commentary texts. Honors will be given only to students who will demonstrate a complete and solid knowledge of the program, critical ability, autonomy and brilliant and organic exposure of acquired knowledge.

Teaching tools

Texts, documents, maps, images and video will be shared with students on the Virtuale platform and shown during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Di Sabatino