B1649 - Tradition of the Classics in the Romanca Middle Ages (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will acquire knowledge about the origins of Romance languages and literatures; he/she will possess skills related to critical methods and philological-literary and linguistic analysis of medieval texts, with special attention to cases of reworking, translation and exegesis of classical masterpieces in the Romance setting.

Course contents

• Surviving. Where and How Are the Classics Read?

Through a carefully selected corpus of literary texts, which will be read in Italian and discussed in class by the teacher, the course will examine the reception and reworking of Classical forms and texts in the Middle Ages, with particular attention to the Pharsalia, the Aeneid, Seneca’s tragedies, as well as the works of Statius, Livy, Homer, and Boethius, culminating in Dante and Boccaccio.

Focusing on the transmission of the Classics in the medieval Romance world, the course will explore, through textual analysis and a series of case studies, their reinterpretation in twelfth-century France and by Italian writers of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It will investigate the survival of major ancient texts and include a philological study of the genesis, transmission, and reception of themes whose influence extends into contemporary literature.

The course (September 14, 2026-October 19, 2026) will be conducted in a seminar format and aims to prepare master students of the

- LM14 Italianistics and European Literary Cultures and of the

- LM15 Philology, Literature and Classical Tradition.

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 ancient texts will be read with the teacher’s guide and introduced in such a way as to ensure everyone’s understanding.

Attendance is strongly recommended. At the end of the course the teacher offers a guided exercise on the manuscripts in the University Library of Bologna (or, subject to available funding, from other prestigious libraries, notably the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Mediceo Laurenziana Library of Florence, the Marciana Library of Venice).

When? Where?

• Classes will start on September 14, 2026.

• Course timetable:

Monday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., aula Emilio Pasquini, via Zamboni 32 (first floor);

Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., aula Emilio Pasquini, via Zamboni 32 (first floor);

Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., aula Emilio Pasquini, via Zamboni 32 (first floor).

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

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 teacher, from the beginning of the course available online on Virtuale.

Students will also study (only selected sections):

- Il Medioevo degli antichi: i romanzi francesi della triade classica, a cura di Alfonso D’Agostino, Milano, Mimesis, 2013 (online);

- 1 essay of their choice from those listed in the handouts.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will prepare:

- L. Leonardi-L. Minervini-E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. Critica del testo, linguistica, analisi letteraria, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022 (complete);

- P. Gresti (edited by), Antologia delle letterature romanze del Medioevo, Bologna, Pàtron, 2006 (complete reading in Italian) from which will also be required the reading in ancient French, the linguistic commentary and the translation of 10 texts of their choice that students can prepare with the support of A. Roncaglia, La lingua d’oïl. Profilo di grammatica storica, Roma (any edition).

- two essays from among those listed in the handouts (available online on Virtuale);

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

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 teacher in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

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).
• Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the teacher, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

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.

Teaching tools

slides ppt

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppina Brunetti