B1650 - Methodology and Criticism of Medieval Texts (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will acquire skills related to the analysis of medieval Romance texts (French, Occitan, Italian). He/she will know the methods of critical-philological work, starting from the study of manuscripts to the preparation of modern critical editions; he/she will acquire skills in reading, translating and interpreting texts of the European Romance Middle Ages.

Course contents

Romance Philology (LM)

Methodology and Criticism of Medieval Texts

6 cfu

Prof. Giuseppina Brunetti

Course contents

How is a literary text published? What are the differences in the methods of classical and Romance text criticism? On the basis of a selection of specific textual cases and critical contributions, the course (November 8, 2023- December 19, 2023) will prepare the master students for the study of the most significant themes and methods of modern text criticism, with emphasis on the differences between the methods of classical and modern philology.

The course does not require prior knowledge of ancient Romance languages. The texts analysed in class will always be read also in Italian translation; the original French texts will be read with the tutor’s guide and introduced in such a way as to ensure everyone’s understanding. Frequency is strongly recommended. At the end of the course the lecturer offers a guided exercise on the manuscripts in the University Library of Bologna.

• Classes will start on November 8, 2023.

• Course timetable:

Monday, 11:00-13:00, via Zamboni 32, aula I;

Tuesday, 11:00-13:00, via Zamboni 32, aula I;

Wednesday, 11:00-13:00, via Zamboni 32, aula I.

• Syllabus and Course contents:

1. Comparing philologies

Literary excerpts and critical passages will be read and commented on, regarding types of editions, critical apparatus, construction of stemmata codicum, and new publishing methodologies in the field of classical and Romance philology. Particular attention will be paid to the autograph texts of ancient and modern authors (Francis of Assisi, Giovanni Boccaccio, Petrarch, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Giacomo Leopardi, Giuseppe Ungaretti; for France: Frère Angier, Matthew Paris, Jean Gerson and, for modern authors, Stendhal and Proust).

2. Dante’s library in «De vulgari eloquentia»

The demonstrated punctual repetitions of classical and romance texts in Dante’s treatise will be studied. In conclusion, some interpretations of passages from the Comedy will be studied, also in the critical results of newly published editions.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

1. 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 the handout Principi di critica testuale edited by the teacher and available online on Virtuale. Students will also study selected sections (two chapters) from L. Leonardi-L. Minervini-E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. Critica del testo, linguistica, analisi letteraria, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022.

2. Selected excerpts available in the handout, two essays of your choice from those listed in the handout and a chapter of your choice from G. Brunetti, Autografi francesi medievali, Roma, Salerno, 2014.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will prepare:

- part one (complete) and part two (complete) of the handbook L. Leonardi-L. Minervini-E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. Critica del testo, linguistica, analisi letteraria, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022;

- the handout Principi di critica testuale available online on Virtuale;

- three essays of their choice from among those listed in the handouts (available online on Virtuale).

In addition, non-attending students will read in its entirety, in Italian, P. Gresti (ed.), Antologia delle letterature romanze del Medioevo, Bologna, Pàtron, 2006, from which they will also be required to read in ancient French, to comment linguistically and to translate 10 texts (to be chosen from nn. 1-15). The reading, the linguistic commentary and the translation of these texts can be prepared with the support of A. Roncaglia, La lingua dei trovatori, Roma (any reprint).

Students intending to take the examination as non-attenders and Erasmus students are invited to write to the teacher for additional information.

Classes will start on November 8, 2023

Place and course timetable:

Monday, 11:00-13:00, Via Zamboni 32, aula I

Tuesday, 11:00-13:00, Via Zamboni 32, aula I

Wednesday 11:00-13:00, Via Zamboni 32, aula I

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 individual tutoring.

Assessment methods

• Oral examination.
• The student must demonstrate, with correctness and linguistic properties, that 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 has to be able to read, comment philologically and interpret literary texts in the program, with clarity and relevance. The student will be provided with at least two textual examples among those examined during classes.
• Along with the historical understanding of the text and in particular of the literary genre studied, 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.
• If the student has decided to submit a written essay, evaluation will include oral presentation in front of his mates. The Professor will judge the ability of synthesis, the correct use of language, coherence of argument, as well as contents and form of the paper (submitted ten days before the oral presentation)

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 analyse 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. Honours 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.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppina Brunetti