Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

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Programme

The aim of this course is to provide an overall introduction to medieval and humanistic Latin literature. The main focus will be on centuries VI-IX and on the historiographical and biographical genres, in order to outline a general framework on European history during the Early Middle Ages. Particular attention will be paid to the phenomena of preservation and rediscovery of the classics, both on a material level (copying and circulation of manuscripts) and from a literary perspective (imitation of the classics in newly composed works). The reading and analysis of a number of representative texts – in Latin (read and commented on in class, in their entirety) and in English translation – will allow a more in-depth analysis of some relevant topics for the study of early medieval Latin literature.

The course will begin with a general introduction to the European history of centuries VI-IX and to the Latin literature of the same age. We will then read and analyze (from a morphological, syntactic and literary point of view) the following Latin texts, all available on Moodle in the form of a Reader:
- Cassiodorus, Institutiones, praef. 1
- Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, IV 9 (letter by Gregory the Great to Queen Theudelinda)
- Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum, II 30-31 (conversion and baptism of King Clovis)
- Einhard, Vita Karoli, excerpts (chapters 1, 6, 25)

We will also read and analyze the following texts in English translation (also included in the Reader): Cassiodorus, Institutiones (complete praefatio; I 30); Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum (I 25; III 30 and 35); Gregory the Great, Dialogi (II 1-2); Einhard, Vita Karoli (chapters 16-18); Lupus of Ferrières, Epistulae (ep. 1 to Einhard).

Students are also required to read two introductory essays (by J. J. Contreni and J.M. Ziolkowski), also available on Moodle.

Adopted texts

1) All the Latin texts and the English translations included in this syllabus are available in the form of a Reader on Moodle. The translations and reference commentaries included in the Reader are the following:
- Cassiodorus, Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning and On the Soul, translated by J.W. Halporn with an Introduction by M. Vessey, Liverpool 2004, pp. 105-106 (praefatio); 163-165 (ch. I 30);
- K. P. Harrington, Medieval Latin. Second edition, revised by J. Pucci, Chicago 1997, pp. 155-157 (II 30-31); History of the Franks. Gregory bishop of Tours, Selection translated with notes by E. Brehaut, New York - London 1969, pp. 39-41 (II 30-31);
- Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues, translated by O.H. Zimmerman, Washington 1959, pp. 55-60 (II 1-2);
- Paul the Deacon, History of the Lombards, translated by W.D. Foulke, ed. by E. Peters, Philadelphia 2003 (19071), pp. 45-47 (I 25); 137-141 (III 30); 148-150 (III 35); 156-158 (IV 9);
- Einhard, Vita Karoli (ch. 1, 6, 16-18, 25): Charlemagne’s courtier. The complete Einhard, edited and translated by P.E. Dutton (Readings in medieval Civilizations and Cultures, 3), Toronto 1998, pp. 16-17 (Vita Karoli, ch. 1), 19-20 (ch. 6), 25-28 (ch. 16-18), 32 (ch. 25); 166-168 (Lupus of Ferrières, Epist. 1)

2) Students are also required to read the following two introductory essays, also available on Moodle:
J. J. Contreni, The Carolingian Renaissance: Education and literary Culture, in The new Cambridge Medieval History. Volume II c. 700-900, edited by R. McKitterick, Cambridge 1995 (20065), pp. 709-757;
J. M. Ziolkowski, Towards a History of Medieval Latin Literature, in Medieval Latin: an Introduction and bibliographical Guide, edited by F. A. C. Mantello and A. G. Rigg, Washington 1996, pp. 505-536.

Bibliography

K. Sidwell, Reading Medieval Latin, Cambridge 1995. The Oxford Handbook of Medieval Latin Literature, edited by R. J. Hexter and D. Townsend, Oxford 2012. Medieval Latin: an introduction and bibliographical guide, edited by F.A.C. Mantello and A.G. Rigg, Washington 1996. P. Chiesa, Medieval Latin Philology. An overview through case-studies, Firenze 2019.

Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of Latin language.

Study modes

2 hours: introduction to the course and to the suggested bibliography 22 hours: reading and analysis of the selected Latin texts (from Cassiodorus, Paul the Deacon, Gregory of Tours, and Einhard), with focus on Latin morphology, syntax, literature, and history 18 hours: reading and analysis of the selected texts in English translation (from Cassiodorus, Paul the Deacon, Gregory the Great, Einhard, and Lupus of Ferrières)

Frequency modes

Attending is not mandatory, but highly recommended. All texts included in the syllabus will be read and analyzed in class. For the history of Latin literature in centuries VI-IX (which will be addressed during the course), non-attending students may refer to K. Sidwell manual (Reading Medieval Latin: see “further readings”), pp. 1-171.

Exam modes

Oral exam. Students will be asked to read, translate and analyze a passage from the Latin texts listed above; to comment on a short text among those read in English translation; to discuss the two introductory essays included in the syllabus.
The exam will assess the students’ linguistic and critical analysis skills. Students are also expected to answer questions about the main features of Medieval Latin literature, as well as to make connections between authors, literary genres and the different forms of written production of the Latin Middle Ages.