Introduction to Germanic Philology (2016/2017)

Learning outcomes

A Medieval Graphic Novel: Text and Illuminations in Cgm 51 of Gottfried's Tristan

The thirteenth century represents the emergence of new narrative genres and of new kinds of illuminated books in western Europe. The course will discuss the relationships between written text and illustrations in Cgm 51 of Gottfried's of Strasbourg Tristan.

It will be introduced by preliminarily overviewing some interdisciplinary issues of Germanic Philology, concerning both historical linguistics and the science of book

1. a short overview of history and common features of the so-called Germanic languages; 2. the growth of literacy and written traditions in the Germanic-speaking countries, from the early Middle Ages to the modern epoch; 3. the interplay between literary genres and the audience; 4. an outline of medieval text publishing (touching the topics of textual criticism, paleography, codicology, book-production and library history)

Therefore the course will be divided into two parts.

First part (= 5 weeks, = 20 hours)

Introduction to Germanic Philology, Historical Linguistics (Germanic isoglosses), vernacular written Traditions in the German-speaking countries and literary genres, introduction to the history of textual criticism; introduction to Paleography, Codicology and Library History; introduction to the Digital Editing and its applications to medieval manuscript corpora
Questa parte del corso prevede una visita guidata presso la Biblioteca Civica di Verona

A guided visit to the Biblioteca Civica is scheduled.


Second part (= 4 weeks, = 16 hours)

A Medieval Graphic Novel: Text and Illuminations in Cgm 51 of Gottfried's Tristan

Introduction to the Tristan Legend and its Literary Witnesses; Tristan Books in France, England and Germany; an overview of Illustrated Tristan Books

A Medieval Graphic Novel: Text and Illuminations in Cgm 51 of Gottfried's Tristan

Syllabus

I Part of the course:


Historical Linguistics

Leonardi, Simona, and Elda Morlicchio. 2009, La filologia germanica e le lingue moderne, Bologna, Il mulino


Vernacular written traditions of the Middle Ages (Codicology, Paleography)

Luiselli Fadda, Anna Maria, 1994. Tradizioni manoscritte e critica del testo nel Medioevo germanico, Roma-Bari, Laterza (pp. 21-83, 113-179, 243-253)


Introduction to the History of Publishing

Cursi, Marco, 2016, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il mulino


II Part of the course: Introduction to the Tristan Legend and its Literary Witnesses; Tristan Books in France, England and Germany; an overview of Illustrated Tristan Books

Cgm 51
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0008/bsb00088332/images/index.html?id=00088332&groesser=&fip=193.174.98.30&no=&seite=1

Oral exam; midterm test (after the 5th week of the course) on the first part and on the related bibliography.
Suggestions for further readings and other bibliographical materials will be published on the e-learning page

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2016/2017