28878 - Medieval Italian Literature (LM) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course,  students should master the most sgnificant areas of interaction among the major authors in Italian literature of the Middle Ages, in terms of their poetics and the historical and cultural framework.

Course contents

The six-month course consists in a monographic part, led by the Professor (“The Middle Ages and Italian literature between the Mediterranean and Europe”) and a general part, to be prepared by the student as individual study (concerning mainly the reading of texts from the origin to the XIV Century). Classes will cover in detail the historical and literary outline of the monographic subject, with readings from authors included in the programme.

Readings/Bibliography

The students must demonstrate their knowledge of the main features of medieval literature from its origin to the XIV Century, with the aid of a good textbook on the history of Italian literature. Students must also be prepared on G.M.Anselmi, Letteratura e civiltà tra Medioevo e Umanesimo, Carocci, Roma (at least 6 chapters); vol. I of Mappe della letteratura europea e mediterranea, edited by G.M. Anselmi, Bruno Mondadori, Milano; G.M. Anselmi, Narrare Storia e storie. Narrare il mondo, FrancoAngeli, Milano (at least 6 chapters); S. Carrai-G. Inglese, Letteratura italiana medievale, Carocci, Roma; vol. I of Tempi e immagini della letteratura edited by G.M. Anselmi and E. Raimondi, Edizioni scolastiche Bruno Mondadori, from which students will read a wide choice of literary texts from the origins to the XIV Century. Finally, students must read one among these essays: vol. I (Dalle origini alla fine del Quattrocento) of Manuale di letteratura italiana: storia per generi e problemi, edited by F. Brioschi and C. Di Girolamo, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino (at least 4 chapters); E. Pasquini, Dante e le figure del vero: la fabbrica della Commedia, B. Mondadori, Milano; Petrarca. Profilo e Antologia critica, edited by L. Chines and M.Guerra, Paravia Bruno Mondadori Editori, Milano; one volume of choice from I poeti della scuola siciliana, I Meridiani Mondadori, Milano; one work of choice on medieval subjects by French historian as Jacques Le Goff.

Teaching methods

Frontal classes combined with in-depth study workshops on special aspects of the programme.

Assessment methods

Oral interview on the contents of the course and the textbooks contained in the programme.

Teaching tools

Students will have the opportunity of attending a workshop for in-depth philological study. Furthermore, the course will use traditional paper documents, but also audiovisual aids, and references to specialised websites and to the most important literary databases.

Office hours

See the website of Gian Mario Giusto Anselmi