84042 - Italian Literature Preserved in a Manuscript Tradition

Learning outcomes

The course aims to deepen the knowledge of Italian literature transmitted in manuscript form, from medieval codices prior to the age of printing to subsequent manuscripts, up to the letters and diaries of modern and contemporary writers, preserved in libraries or in public and private archives. At the end of the course, the student knows the literary sources in relation to the production methods; acquires fundamental tools for deciphering, transcribing, and analysing the literary manuscripts of our tradition.

Course contents

The course is divided up into two parts

A. GENERAL: Introduction to Italian philology 

The first part of the course will discuss the main notions related to the textual trasmission of literary texts.

B. FOCUSED: The textual trasmission of Dante Alighieri's Vita nova

The second part of the course will discuss a specific case of textual trasmission in manuscript, focusing on Dante Alighieri's Vita nova.

Readings/Bibliography

A. GENERAL:

Alfredo Stussi, Introduzione agli studi di filologia italiana, Bologna, il Mulino, 2015.

N.B. Alongside the manual, students who will not attend classes will be asked to study also the volume Alberto Varvaro, Prima lezione di filologia, Bari, Laterza, 2012.

B. FOCUSED:Manuscript trasmission of Dante Alighieri's Vita nova

Text

Dante Alighieri, Vita nova

Recommended edition: a cura di Stefano Carrai, Milano, Rizzoli-BUR, 2009 (o successive ristampe);alternatively, students can use also one of the following editions: a cura di Luca Carlo Rossi, Milano, Mondadori, 1999 (o successive ristampe); a cura di Guglielmo Gorni, in Dante Alighieri, Opere, edizione diretta da Marco Santagata, vol. I, Milano, Mondadori, 2011.

N.B. please do get in touch with the Tutor should you wish to use an edition of the Vita nova different from those outlined above.

Background reading

Macro Grimaldi, Filologia dantesca: un'introduzione, Roma, Carocci, 2021.

Teaching methods

- Lectures with readings and comments on prescribed texts

- Hisotorical contextualization of literary texts, also in their relationships with other arts

- Discussion of critical hypothesis

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of one oral exam; specific diets will be announced on Almaesami. The oral exam entails the knowledge of texts prescribed in both the general and the focused part of the syllabus, and aims at evaluating 1) the understanding of topics covered in the general part of the syllabus; 2) the capacity to understand the problems discussed in class and on the prescribed texts; 3) the knowledge of Italian Literature in its diachronic development; 4) the capacity to contextualize texts and problems within their cultural background as well as to critically discuss them; 5) the quality of both written and oral skills as well as the capacity of develop a convincingly argued line of reasoning. Students can enrol onto the diet for the oral exam through the dedicated page on Almaesami, and must study the entire syllabus. Students who have studied only one of the two parts of the syllabus will not be allowed to sit the exam.

The final mark will be awarded according to the following marking scheme: 1) non-sufficient: lack of understanding of the basic notions and lack of capacity to correctly discuss texts and problems; 2) sufficient: positive understanding of the basic notions; adequate discussion of texts and problems, but lacking of precision and over-relying on lecture notes; 3) good: positive understanding of intermediate notions; correct discussion of text and problems, but at times not completely precise and over-relying on lecture notes; 4) excellent: full understanding of topics covered; discussion of texts and problems not only correct but also developed autonomously and precisely. Excellent oral skills.

Teaching tools

Slides

CD

DVD

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Nicolò Maldina