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

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

Part I. Characteristics of Middle Latin hagiography (manualistic introduction)

- Birth of hagiography as a historical-critical discipline.

- Critical methodologies.

- Tools and aids for research.

- Literary genres and main texts from the origin to the 14th century

- From ancient biography to Christian hagiography

- The Passiones of the martyrs.

- The Vitae of the confessors.

- Other literary genres (Translationes, Miracula, hymnography and liturgy).

Part II. Female hagiography in the Middle Ages. Anthological reading of Latin texts, with translation and commentary.

- The martyrs: the Passio of Perpetua and Felicita

- A rewriting: the Vita Mariae neptis Habrahae by Rosvita of Gandersheim

- The mystics of the 13th century: The Legenda of Margaret of Cortona

Readings/Bibliography

Latin texts

- Atti e passioni dei martiri, ed. A. S. R. Bastiaensen et alii, Milano, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla – Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2001, pp. 107-147

- Rosvita. Dialoghi drammatici, ed. F. Bertini, introduction of P. Dronke, Milano, Garzanti, 1986, pp. 154-199

- Iunctae Bevegnatis Legenda de vita et miraculis beatae Margaritae de Cortona, ed. F. Iozzelli, Grottaferrata (Roma), Collegium S. Bonaventurae ad Claras Aquas, 1997

Essays (two of your choice)

- C. Leonardi, Agiografia, in C. Leonardi, Agiografie medievali, ed. A. Degl’Innocenti – F. Santi, Firenze, SISMEL-Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2011 (Millennio Medievale, 89), pp. [31]-[71]

- C. Leonardi, La santità delle donne, in Leonardi, Agiografie medievali, cit., pp. [455]-[469].

- C. Leonardi, Sante donne in Umbria tra secolo XIII e XIV, in Leonardi, Agiografie medievali, cit., pp. [493]-[504]

- A. Bartolomei Romagnoli, Il silenzio e la parola nella mistica femminile del Duecento, in Vita religiosa al femminile (secoli XIII-XIV), Pistoia, 19-21 maggio 2017, Roma, Viella, 2019, pp. 107-128

- E. Menestò, La mistica di Margherita da Cortona, in Temi e problemi nella mistica femminile trecentesca, Todi, 14-17 ottobre 1979, ed. O. Capitani, Todi, Accademia Tudertina, 1983 (Convegni del Centro di Studi sulla Spiritualità Medievale, 20), pp. 181-206

- E. Giannarelli, La biografia femminile: temi e problemi, in La donna nel pensiero cristiano antico, ed. U. Mattioli, Genova, Marietti, 1992, pp. 223-245

- A. Degl’Innocenti, La mistica femminile tra agiografia e auto-agiografia, in L’autobiografia nel Medioevo. Atti del XXXIV Convegno storico internazionale, Todi, 12-15 ottobre 1997, Spoleto, CISAM, 1998, pp. 189-210

Monographies of reference (recommended, one of your choise)

- R. Aigrain, L’hagiographie. Ses sources, ses méthodes, son histoire. Avec un complément bibliographique par Robert Godding, Bruxelles, Société des Bollandistes, 2000 (Subsidia Hagiographica, 80)

- R. Grégoire, Manuale di agiologia: introduzione alla letteratura agiografica, Fabriano, Monastero San Silvestro Abate, 1996

- D. von der Nahmer, Le vite dei santi. Introduzione all’agiografia, Genova, Marietti, 1998

- Forme e modelli della santità in Occidente dal tardo antico al medioevo, ed. M. Bassetti – A. Degl’Innocenti – E. Menestò, Spoleto, CISAM, 2012 (Uomini e mondi medievali, 31)

- G. P. Maggioni, La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Roma, Carocci, 2021

Teaching methods

Digital tools available online will be indicated and used during the lectures. Texts and essays that are difficult to find will be made available on the Virtual Platform.

Assessment methods

The final exam will take place in oral form and will include a test, lasting approximately 30 minutes, on the student's ability to:

- know the characteristics of Middle Latin hagiography, the tools, methods, genres and main texts presented in class (Part I);

- read, translate and comment upon the texts (Part II), referring to the general problems of hagiography;

- presenting and discussing the content of two essays of your choice from the Bibliography.

The assessment will follow this grading:

Insufficient: inability to produce a correct translation of texts and/or serious deficiencies in basic disciplinary knowledge.

Sufficient: correct translation of the texts, but conducted with imprecision and little autonomy, basic disciplinary knowledge.

Fair: correct and autonomous translation of texts, adequate disciplinary knowledge and understanding of critical issues.

Good or excellent: correct, autonomous and punctual translation of the texts, solid literary and disciplinary linguistic knowledge and ability to discuss critical issues.

 

Programme for non-attending students

Non-attending students, who were not able to attend the lectures and could not find the lecture notes, will have to prepare the texts of Part II on their own (they will be made available on Virtual), and replace Part I with a monography and four essays of their choice from the Bibliography. An online meeting will be held in the weeks before the classes start to explain the examination programme to interested students and answer any questions they may have. For specific requirements, please contact the teacher well in advance, at least one month in advance.

 

Students with disability and DSA

All student who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact Prof. Licciardello, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions. Students are also invited to consult the website:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it

Teaching tools

Digital tools available online will be indicated and used during the lectures. Texts and essays that are difficult to find will be made available on the Virtual Platform.

Office hours

See the website of Pierluigi Licciardello