Medieval French Literature

A.Y. 2021/2022
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-LIN/03
Language
French
Learning objectives
The course aims to:
- introduce students to medieval French literature and its peculiarities;
- provide the tools for reading and studying literary texts in Ancient and Middle French;
- acquire awareness of the peculiarities related to the handwritten and printed transmission of medieval works.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: to know the medieval production of collections of fairy tales, their transmission and reception.
Skills: to be able to read and understand the original texts presented in class and to comment on linguistic and stylistic aspects, as well as their literary and cultural value.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
The course, entitled "Fables du Moyen Âge français: un patrimoine à découvrir", is aimed at students of the Master's degree; it includes three units and it is held in the first semester.

Part A (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Fables françaises du Moyen Âge - ancien français"
Part B (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Fables françaises du Moyen Âge - moyen français"
Part C (20 hours, 3 ECTS): "Fables françaises du Moyen Âge - français de la Renaissance"

Students interested in acquiring 6 ECTS will adhere to the program of parts A + B or A + C; students interested in acquiring 9 ECTS will follow the full program.


Part A constitutes an introduction to the collections of French fairy tales, through some representative texts and authors, including Marie de France.
Part B will focus on texts in Middle-French, in particular on a rich collection of the fifteenth century, Le Dialogue des créatures.
Part C will concern two authors of fables of the early 16th century, Pierre Sala and Gilles Corrozet.

The course programme is valid until February 2023.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held in French, as well as examination materials and bibliography presuppose a solid language proficiency in French.
Teaching methods
The schedule of lessons, their modalities and any updates will be published in the website Ariel.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website Ariel, which can be consulted for information and teaching materials.

Bibliography (all the texts, except Fables françaises du Moyen Âge, will be made available on Ariel):
Part A
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 9-117
Fables françaises du moyen âge (Edition bilingue). Traduction, présentation et notes de Jeanne-Marie Boivin et Laurence Harf-Lancner, Paris, GF, 1996, « Introduction », p. 11-40 + the fables read during the course

Part B
Michel Zink, Le Moyen Âge - Littérature française, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1990, p. 81-156
Dialogue des créatures : Colard Mansion's translation: éd. Pierre Ruelle, Bruxelles, 1985 ; anonymous translation: ed. in progress by Maria Colombo (fables read during the course)
Nora Viet, « Une morale pour plaire ? Docere et delectare dans les recueils de récits brefs de la première Renaissance (1485-1521) », Paroles dégelées. Propos de l'Atelier XVIe siècle, Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2016, p. 713-732

Part C
Gianni Mombello, « La fable des XVe et XVIe siècles : un genre littéraire humaniste en train de se populariser », in Bulletin de l'Association d'étude sur l'humanisme, la réforme et la renaissance, 11, 1980, p. 118-125
Paola Cifarelli, « Fable et nouvelle à la Renaissance », in Reinardus, 11, 1998, p. 37-51
Paola Cifarelli, « Pierre Sala et ses Fables », in Les fables avant La Fontaine, Genève, Droz, 2011, p. 335-352
Pierre Sala, Fables en quatrains: Yves Giraud, « Un album de fables au temps de François Ier », in Le Fablier, 13, 2001, p. 69-78 (fables read during the course)
Gilles Corrozet, Second livre des fables d'Esope, éd. Paola Cifarelli, Genève - Paris, Slatkine, 1992 (fables read during the course)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will take place in oral form. It will consist of an individual assessment, which includes questions about the contents of the course, reading, translation, linguistic, stylistic and literary commentary of one or more passages from the texts in the program. The assessment will be held in French for students of the Master's Degree in languages, in Italian or in French for students of the other Master's Degree Courses.

Non-attending students, international students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the lecturer. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the lecturer, in agreement with the relevant office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/03 - FRENCH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9,30-10,30, by appointment
Platforms: Skype, Zoom, Times.