31219 - Germanic Philology 1 (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will possess a solid grounding in the theoretical and practical tools necessary for the study of the languages, literatures (understood as textual corpora regardless of their literary status), and cultures developed by the Germanic peoples from prehistory onward. The course focuses specifically on the medieval period, during which the shared Germanic cultural matrix is most clearly identifiable, owing to the abundance of sources and documentation preserved in early Germanic languages and the literary traditions they produced. Through the acquisition of these competences, students will be able to translate and provide philological and linguistic commentary on selected passages from texts written in an early Germanic language.

Course contents

Module A (30hrs): Fundamentals of Germanic Philology

The cultural peculiarities of the Germanic tribes will be taken into account, i.d.: the oral transmission of knowledge, law, religion, social structure and the role of women. Part of the module will be dedicated to the analysis of medieval Germanic literary genres (heroic poetry, sagas, skaldic poetry, and religious poetry). During the course some primary sources will be read and examined in Italian translation. Particular attention will be paid to the literary and documental production of the medieval period, presenting the main philological methodologies of text reconstruction.

Module B (30hrs): Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Heroines of the North: The Poetic Edda

Alongside Snorri Sturluson’s Edda, the Eddic poems (commonly known as the Poetic Edda) constitute one of the most important sources on Norse mythology, pagan religion, and the events related to the Nibelungs' heroic cycle. The Poetic Edda consists of twenty-nine lays, some of them with a very long oral tradition, and includes some of the best-known and most studied texts of the Norse world such as Völuspá (“Prophecy of the Seer”), Fáfnismál (“Lay of Fáfnir”), and Atlakviða (“Lay of Attila”). While providing a general overview of the entire poetic collection, this course module invites students to read, examine, and discuss the most significant compositions in class.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Module A:

Teaching materials on Virtuale; 

Alessandro Zironi, Filologia Germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi, Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2022 (selection indicated in class).

Module B:

Teaching materials on Virtuale;

Scardigli, Piergiuseppe (ed.), Il Canzoniere eddico, Milano, Garzanti, any edition;

Battaglia, Marco, Edda poetica. Mito, eroismo e tragedia nel Medioevo scandinavo, Milano, Meltemi, (in uscita a settembre/ottobre 2025).

Non-attending students:

Students who cannot attend the lectures are invited to contact Prof. Bertagnolli at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

The lectures will be held in presence, without recordings.

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral examination on both modules, which cannot be separated. 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

Multimedial material.

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 Davide Bertagnolli