75692 - Sanskrit Language and Literature 2A (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has acquired a first set of intermediate level skills in the Sanskrit language. He knows how to handle the relevant literature and the issues related to it, by referring to the most updated bibliography.

Course contents

The program of the course includes:

1) Exercises on advanced Sanskrit grammar;
2) Reading and translation of Sanskrit texts from the following genres: kāthās; itihāsas and purāṇas; sūtras and śāstras; nāṭya and kāvya;
3) Historical-critical analyses on the translated texts.

The selected texts will change every year.

Warning:
For the students who must take the course "Sanskrit Language and Literature II (LM) - 12 CFU": the course consists of the module 2A, with the program above, and the module 2B (held by Prof. Saverio Marchignoli), with the following program:
- Translation and commentary of Sanskrit texts from different literary genres and an introduction to commentarial and philosophical Sanskrit, with extensive examples drawn from comments to the Bhagavad Gita or other texts, selected according to the needs of the participants.

Students who cannot regularly attend to the lessons will arrange with the lecturer a different set of texts to bring to the exam.

Readings/Bibliography

All Sanskrit texts will be distributed by the teacher in the classroom.

The adopted grammar is: Carlo Della Casa, Corso di sanscrito, 2nd ed., Milano, CLUEB-Unicopli, 1998.

For the history of Sanskrit literature we recommend: G. Boccali, S. Piano, S. Sani, Le letterature dell'India, Torino, UTET, 2000.

We advise students to obtain in good time, before the course, the following dictionary: M. Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Etymologically and Philologically Etymologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages), which can easily be purchased online.

Students who cannot regularly attend to the lessons will arrange with the lecturer a different set of texts to bring to the exam.

Warning:
For students who have to take the course "Sanskrit Language and Literature II (LM) - 12 CFU": the course consists of the module 2A, with the program above, and the module 2B (held by Prof. Saverio Marchignoli), with the following program:
During the lessons, the lecturer will select with the students which Sanskrit texts to read and in which editions.
- Della Casa, C., Corso di sanscrito, 2nd ed., Milano, CLUEB-Unicopli, 1998.
- Coulson, M., Sanskrit: An Introduction to the Classical Language, Sevenoaks: Hodder and Stoughton, 1976 (several editions): the student is invited to study in particular lesson 15.
An essential reference tool is: Tubb, G. A. - Boose, E. R., Scholastic Sanskrit: a handbook for students, New York: American Institute of Buddhist Studies, 2007.

Teaching methods

The teaching method consists in the reading, translation and comment of texts drawn from Sanskrit literature.

The texts will be chosen both to illustrate the grammatical rules learned in the classroom, and to provide students with a wide view on the different styles and genres of the Sanskrit tradition. Particular attention will be given to the correct prosodic reading of the texts in verses.

Multimedia tools will be used during the lessons.

Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

The assessment will be oral and will consist in the translation of excerpts from the texts which were read in the classroom.
During the exam, the student must demonstrate good familiarity with the grammar of the classical language, acquaintance with the linguistic and stylistic features of the chosen texst, and a sound knowledge of Sanskrit literature.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an ability to read the devanagari alphabet with ease, including the rhythmic pattern of the verses.

Warning:
For students who have to take the course "Sanskrit Language and Literature II (LM) - 12 CFU": the course consists of the module 2A, with the program above, and the module 2B (held by Prof. Saverio Marchignoli), with the following program:
The students must demonstrate that they have acquired autonomy in the translation of Sanskrit texts and have achieved, in relation to the agreed upon texts, a high level of knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, style.

Teaching tools

We advise students to obtain in good time, before the course, the following dictionary: M. Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Etymologically and Philologically Etymologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages), which can easily be purchased online.

Office hours

See the website of Svevo D'Onofrio