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96019 - Romance Philology - Iberian Course

Academic Year 2025/2026

                
                        Docente:
                        Giovanni Borriero
                    
                        Credits:
                        9
                    
                        SSD:
                        L-FIL-LET/09
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Teaching Mode:
                        Traditional lectures
                        
                            Campus:
                            Bologna
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Foreign Languages and Literature (cod. 0979)

                                    Course Timetable
                                
from Sep 29, 2025 to Dec 17, 2025

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will acquire knowledge of the romance languages and literatures of the Middle Ages and their formation, with particular regard to Spanish, Portuguese and Galician. The student will acquire the skills for adopting the instruments of textual criticism, in order to be aware of the transformations of texts and languages through the centuries.

Course contents

I. Linguistics

1. From Latin to the Romance languages

2. Romance languages in space and time

3. The Ibero-Romance domain: introduction to language history and foundations of historical grammar

II. Textual criticism

1. The concept of tradition

2. The manuscript

3. Fundamentals of ecdotics

III. History of literature

1. Geography and history of Romance origins

2. A history by genres

3. Introduction to the Ibero-Romance literature

IV. Textual analysis: medieval Castilian literature

1. The earliest texts of the Ibero-Romance domain

2. The age of epic

3. Didactic-narrative poetry and theatre

Readings/Bibliography

L. Leonardi - L. Minervini - E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. Critica del testo, linguistica, analisi letteraria, Milano, Mondadori Education, 2022.

C. Alvar, La letteratura castigliana medievale, in V. Bertolucci - C. Alvar - S. Asperti, Le letterature medievali romanze d’area iberica, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1999, pp. 97-324.

Further bibliographical details will be provided during the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures. Seminar sessions are planned, allowing for open discussion and group in-depth analysis of the topics covered.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Teaching tools

Some study materials (maps, manuscript reproductions, text editions, etc.) will be uploaded to the Virtuale platform. 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-edsa/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 Giovanni Borriero