Medieval Latin Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a basic grounding in Middle Latin literature and to guide them in the critical analysis of works produced in this field, also by means of anthological readings of texts. To this end, attention will also be paid to the philological perspective, so as to develop awareness of the problems and techniques of the critical reconstruction of the texts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge - At the end of the course, students will know the fundamental aspects and issues of Medieval Latin literature from the 6th to the 14th century, with its main genres, themes, authors and works, and will understand its relationship with the respective contexts of genesis and fruition.
Skills - At the end of the course, the student should be able to analyse and critically interpret medieval Latin texts. The student will also acquire a basic competence in the use of the essential bibliographical tools in this field. Furthermore, the student should be able to consciously and appropriately use the fundamental concepts and terms of the technical lexicon of philology and to distinguish the level of reliability of the available editions of a text, according to the different methodological lines followed in their preparation.
Skills - At the end of the course, the student should be able to analyse and critically interpret medieval Latin texts. The student will also acquire a basic competence in the use of the essential bibliographical tools in this field. Furthermore, the student should be able to consciously and appropriately use the fundamental concepts and terms of the technical lexicon of philology and to distinguish the level of reliability of the available editions of a text, according to the different methodological lines followed in their preparation.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The part of the course addressed to all students (6 ECTS) will be devoted to the presentation of the history of Latin medieval literature, from the 6th to the 14th century: main genres (from the roots in Late Antiquity, when appropriate), authors and works major or representative of important cultural phenomena. The historical profile will be constantly accompanied by anthological readings, proposed in Italian translation with Latin original in front. A part of the lectures will be devoted to an introduction to the principles of textual criticism, with specific attention to its application to mediolatin texts.
The part for further 3 ECTS (addressed to interested students, who can choose it as an optional complement) consists of a study of a genre or a text, with specific readings also in Latin. The subject of this year will be the 'Policraticus' of John of Salisbury, the most important political treatise of the 12th century. Three points of special interest will be addressed: author variants, visible on early manuscripts; the use of classical sources; and the topic of the licitness of tyrannicide.
The part for further 3 ECTS (addressed to interested students, who can choose it as an optional complement) consists of a study of a genre or a text, with specific readings also in Latin. The subject of this year will be the 'Policraticus' of John of Salisbury, the most important political treatise of the 12th century. Three points of special interest will be addressed: author variants, visible on early manuscripts; the use of classical sources; and the topic of the licitness of tyrannicide.
Prerequisites for admission
The course of Medieval Latin Literature involves the study of the outlines of medieval literary history, with constant reference to the historical context that expresses it and to the antecedents on which it rests (classical civilization and Jewish-Christian tradition): it is therefore appropriate to address it with at least a basic knowledge of medieval history and ancient cultures (although notions in both fields will be provided in the course itself and in the handbook). To attend the course and take the exam for 6 ECTS, no knowledge of Latin is required; this is instead required for attending and taking the exam for 9 ECTS.
Teaching methods
The course will be carried out mainly in the form of lectures.
The course uses teaching material on the Ariel platform of the discipline: a booklet containing a general anthology of texts in original and in translation (part for 6 ECTS); a booklet with complementary materials specific to part for optional 3 ECTS; other materials (diagrams, examples, images) that will be presented in class.
Attendance is not mandatory, but recommended.
The course uses teaching material on the Ariel platform of the discipline: a booklet containing a general anthology of texts in original and in translation (part for 6 ECTS); a booklet with complementary materials specific to part for optional 3 ECTS; other materials (diagrams, examples, images) that will be presented in class.
Attendance is not mandatory, but recommended.
Teaching Resources
Part for 6 ECTS (both for attending and non-attending students):
1) P. Chiesa, Elementi di critica testuale, second edition, Pàtron, Bologna, 2012, only chapters I, II and IV.
2) P. Chiesa, La letteratura latina del medioevo. Un profilo storico, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
3) Booklet: Antologia di testi (available from the beginning of February 2025 on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin literature on the Ariel website, http://ariel.unimi.it/User/Default.aspx).
4) reading in Italian of one of the following works or parts of works in the recommended edition; a part of the preparation is the study of the introduction to the work - or of the part of the introduction indicated - and of the footnotes and/or comments following the text.
Please note: it is possible that some editions may be out of print because not all are reprinted frequently, but other editions are not adequate and will not be able to be used. However, all those indicated are accessible in our library.
- Beda, Storia ecclesiastica degli Angli, eds. M. Lapidge - P. Chiesa, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2008-10: one book chosen from the five work consists of; only pp. I-LXIX of the introduction
- Navigatio sancti Brendani, eds. G. Orlandi - R. Guglielmetti, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014: the whole text; only pp. XI-LXXVIII, CII-CXXXII of the introduction
- Paolo Diacono, Storia dei Longobardi, ed. L. Capo, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1995: one book chosen from the six work the work consists of
- Valafrido Strabone, Visione di Vetti, a cura di F. Stella, Pisa, Pacini 2009: the whole text
- Eginardo, Vita Karoli, ed. P. Chiesa, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014: the whole text; only pp. VII-XVII, XCVII-CXLII, CLXXIII-CLXXVII of the introduction
- Abbone di Saint-Germain, L'assedio di Parigi, a cura di D. Manzoli, Pisa, Pacini 2012: the whole text
- Liutprando di Cremona, Antapodosis, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2015: one book chosen from the first five of the work [you can request it through https://air.unimi.it/ in pdf format, if not available for sale]
- Pietro Alfonsi, Disciplina clericalis, ed. C. Leone, Roma, Salerno, 2010, or ed. E. D'Angelo, Pisa, Pacini 2009; the whole text
- Visio Godeschalci. Il mondo e l'altro mondo di un contadino tedesco del XII secolo, a cura di R. Guglielmetti e G. Puleio, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo 2021; the whole text [also available at https://air.unimi.it/ in pdf format]
- Carmina Burana, ed. P.V. Rossi, Milano, Bompiani, 1989 [or subsequent reprints]
- Guglielmo di Rubruk, Viaggio in Mongolia, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2011: chapters 1-26; only pp. XI-LVI of the introduction
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: A pdf is available in Ariel, which contains guidance on how to approach the programme and the texts in individual study.
ATTENTION - for those who take or have taken the exam of Humanistic Philology
The bibliography of Medieval Latin Literature and Humanistic Philology overlap for the part concerning the introduction to philology: students who take both exams must replace, in one of the two, the common part with a supplementary program. Those who have already taken Humanistic Philology will therefore have to replace Elementi di critica testuale with: 1) reading in Italian translation of a work chosen among those listed below in the programme for non-attending students - part for further 3 ECTS, point 1 (accompanied by the related introduction and notes); and 2) one of the three essays from the Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo listed at point 2.
Part for further 3 ECTS (attending students):
2) G. Garfagnini, Legittima potestas e tirannide nel Policraticus di Giovanni di Salisbury. Riflessioni sulla sensibilità di un clericus per i problemi storico-politici, in «Critica storica» 14 (1977), pp. 575-610 [pdf available on www.academia.edu]
3) R. Guglielmetti, I ripensamenti di Giovanni di Salisbury: varianti d'autore nel Policraticus, in «Studi medievali» 3a ser. 59 (2018), pp. 539-570 [the pdf will be made available at the beginning of the course]
Knowledge of the excerpts proposed in the booklet with Latin reading, translation and commentary on the basis of the lectures and the two articles indicated will be required.
Part for further 3 ECTS (non-attending students):
1) full reading in Italian of two of the following works (other than the one already chosen in the program for 6 ECTS), accompanied by the introduction and the comments in the recommended edition; only one of the two selected works must also be read in Latin, in full or in part, according to the indications provided below:
- Boezio, De consolatione philosophiae (ed. O. Dallera, Milano, Rizzoli, 1977 and reprints) [in Latin: one book of students' choice]
- Gregorio Magno, Dialogi (Gregorio Magno, Storie di santi e di diavoli, eds. S. Pricoco e M. Simonetti, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2005-2006) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Beda, Storia ecclesiastica degli Angli (eds. M. Lapidge - P. Chiesa, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2008-10) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Navigatio sancti Brendani (eds. G. Orlandi - R. Guglielmetti, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014) [in Latin the whole text; only pp. XI-LXXVIII, CII-CXXXII of the introduction]
- Paolo Diacono, Storia dei Longobardi (ed. L. Capo, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1995) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Valafrido Strabone, Visione di Vetti, a cura di F. Stella, Pisa, Pacini 2009 [in Latin the whole text]
- Eginardo, Vita di Carlo Magno (ed. P. Chiesa, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014) [in Latin the whole text]
- Abbone di Saint-Germain, L'assedio di Parigi, a cura di D. Manzoli, Pisa, Pacini 2012 [in Latin the whole text]
- Liutprando di Cremona, Antapodosis (ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2015) [in Latin: a book chosen from the first five of the work]
- Rosvita, Dialoghi drammatici (ed. F. Bertini, Milano, Rizzoli, 2000 [in Latin: three dialogues]
- Waltharius (ed. E. D'Angelo, Milano-Trento, Luni Editrice, 1998) [in Latin: at least 400 consecutive verses]
- Rodolfo il Glabro, Storie (Rodolfo il Glabro, Cronache dell'anno Mille, eds. G. Cavallo - G. Orlandi, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1989 [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Abelardo, Historia calamitatum mearum (Abelardo e Eloisa, Epistolario, ed. I. Pagani, Torino, UTET 2004 and reprints) [in Latin the whole text]
- Pietro Alfonsi, Disciplina clericalis, a cura di C. Leone, Roma, Salerno, 2010 or a cura di E. D'Angelo, Pisa, Pacini 2009 [in Latin: the whole text]
- Visio Godeschalci. Il mondo e l'altro mondo di un contadino tedesco del XII secolo, a cura di R. Guglielmetti e G. Puleio, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo 2021 [in Latin: the whole text]
- Carmina Burana (ed. P.V. Rossi, Milano, Bompiani, 1989) [in Latin: a group of carmina chosen by the candidate (who must present a special list), for no less than 400 verses]
- Guglielmo di Rubruk, Itinerarium (Guglielmo di Rubruk, Viaggio in Mongolia, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2011) [in Latin: chapters 1-18].
- Bonvesin da la Riva, De magnalibus Mediolani (ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2009) [in Latin: four consecutive chapters of the eight of the work]
2) reading of the following three essays included in the volume Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo, 1: Il medioevo latino, vol. I, 2, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1993: D. Schaller, La poesia epica, pp. 9-42; J. Mann, La poesia satirica e goliardica, pp. 73-109; G. Arnaldi, Annali, cronache, storie, pp. 463-513.
1) P. Chiesa, Elementi di critica testuale, second edition, Pàtron, Bologna, 2012, only chapters I, II and IV.
2) P. Chiesa, La letteratura latina del medioevo. Un profilo storico, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
3) Booklet: Antologia di testi (available from the beginning of February 2025 on the page dedicated to Medieval Latin literature on the Ariel website, http://ariel.unimi.it/User/Default.aspx).
4) reading in Italian of one of the following works or parts of works in the recommended edition; a part of the preparation is the study of the introduction to the work - or of the part of the introduction indicated - and of the footnotes and/or comments following the text.
Please note: it is possible that some editions may be out of print because not all are reprinted frequently, but other editions are not adequate and will not be able to be used. However, all those indicated are accessible in our library.
- Beda, Storia ecclesiastica degli Angli, eds. M. Lapidge - P. Chiesa, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2008-10: one book chosen from the five work consists of; only pp. I-LXIX of the introduction
- Navigatio sancti Brendani, eds. G. Orlandi - R. Guglielmetti, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014: the whole text; only pp. XI-LXXVIII, CII-CXXXII of the introduction
- Paolo Diacono, Storia dei Longobardi, ed. L. Capo, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1995: one book chosen from the six work the work consists of
- Valafrido Strabone, Visione di Vetti, a cura di F. Stella, Pisa, Pacini 2009: the whole text
- Eginardo, Vita Karoli, ed. P. Chiesa, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014: the whole text; only pp. VII-XVII, XCVII-CXLII, CLXXIII-CLXXVII of the introduction
- Abbone di Saint-Germain, L'assedio di Parigi, a cura di D. Manzoli, Pisa, Pacini 2012: the whole text
- Liutprando di Cremona, Antapodosis, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2015: one book chosen from the first five of the work [you can request it through https://air.unimi.it/ in pdf format, if not available for sale]
- Pietro Alfonsi, Disciplina clericalis, ed. C. Leone, Roma, Salerno, 2010, or ed. E. D'Angelo, Pisa, Pacini 2009; the whole text
- Visio Godeschalci. Il mondo e l'altro mondo di un contadino tedesco del XII secolo, a cura di R. Guglielmetti e G. Puleio, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo 2021; the whole text [also available at https://air.unimi.it/ in pdf format]
- Carmina Burana, ed. P.V. Rossi, Milano, Bompiani, 1989 [or subsequent reprints]
- Guglielmo di Rubruk, Viaggio in Mongolia, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2011: chapters 1-26; only pp. XI-LVI of the introduction
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: A pdf is available in Ariel, which contains guidance on how to approach the programme and the texts in individual study.
ATTENTION - for those who take or have taken the exam of Humanistic Philology
The bibliography of Medieval Latin Literature and Humanistic Philology overlap for the part concerning the introduction to philology: students who take both exams must replace, in one of the two, the common part with a supplementary program. Those who have already taken Humanistic Philology will therefore have to replace Elementi di critica testuale with: 1) reading in Italian translation of a work chosen among those listed below in the programme for non-attending students - part for further 3 ECTS, point 1 (accompanied by the related introduction and notes); and 2) one of the three essays from the Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo listed at point 2.
Part for further 3 ECTS (attending students):
2) G. Garfagnini, Legittima potestas e tirannide nel Policraticus di Giovanni di Salisbury. Riflessioni sulla sensibilità di un clericus per i problemi storico-politici, in «Critica storica» 14 (1977), pp. 575-610 [pdf available on www.academia.edu]
3) R. Guglielmetti, I ripensamenti di Giovanni di Salisbury: varianti d'autore nel Policraticus, in «Studi medievali» 3a ser. 59 (2018), pp. 539-570 [the pdf will be made available at the beginning of the course]
Knowledge of the excerpts proposed in the booklet with Latin reading, translation and commentary on the basis of the lectures and the two articles indicated will be required.
Part for further 3 ECTS (non-attending students):
1) full reading in Italian of two of the following works (other than the one already chosen in the program for 6 ECTS), accompanied by the introduction and the comments in the recommended edition; only one of the two selected works must also be read in Latin, in full or in part, according to the indications provided below:
- Boezio, De consolatione philosophiae (ed. O. Dallera, Milano, Rizzoli, 1977 and reprints) [in Latin: one book of students' choice]
- Gregorio Magno, Dialogi (Gregorio Magno, Storie di santi e di diavoli, eds. S. Pricoco e M. Simonetti, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2005-2006) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Beda, Storia ecclesiastica degli Angli (eds. M. Lapidge - P. Chiesa, 2 vol., Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2008-10) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Navigatio sancti Brendani (eds. G. Orlandi - R. Guglielmetti, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014) [in Latin the whole text; only pp. XI-LXXVIII, CII-CXXXII of the introduction]
- Paolo Diacono, Storia dei Longobardi (ed. L. Capo, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1995) [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Valafrido Strabone, Visione di Vetti, a cura di F. Stella, Pisa, Pacini 2009 [in Latin the whole text]
- Eginardo, Vita di Carlo Magno (ed. P. Chiesa, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo, 2014) [in Latin the whole text]
- Abbone di Saint-Germain, L'assedio di Parigi, a cura di D. Manzoli, Pisa, Pacini 2012 [in Latin the whole text]
- Liutprando di Cremona, Antapodosis (ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2015) [in Latin: a book chosen from the first five of the work]
- Rosvita, Dialoghi drammatici (ed. F. Bertini, Milano, Rizzoli, 2000 [in Latin: three dialogues]
- Waltharius (ed. E. D'Angelo, Milano-Trento, Luni Editrice, 1998) [in Latin: at least 400 consecutive verses]
- Rodolfo il Glabro, Storie (Rodolfo il Glabro, Cronache dell'anno Mille, eds. G. Cavallo - G. Orlandi, Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 1989 [in Latin: a book of students's choice]
- Abelardo, Historia calamitatum mearum (Abelardo e Eloisa, Epistolario, ed. I. Pagani, Torino, UTET 2004 and reprints) [in Latin the whole text]
- Pietro Alfonsi, Disciplina clericalis, a cura di C. Leone, Roma, Salerno, 2010 or a cura di E. D'Angelo, Pisa, Pacini 2009 [in Latin: the whole text]
- Visio Godeschalci. Il mondo e l'altro mondo di un contadino tedesco del XII secolo, a cura di R. Guglielmetti e G. Puleio, Firenze, SISMEL - Ed. del Galluzzo 2021 [in Latin: the whole text]
- Carmina Burana (ed. P.V. Rossi, Milano, Bompiani, 1989) [in Latin: a group of carmina chosen by the candidate (who must present a special list), for no less than 400 verses]
- Guglielmo di Rubruk, Itinerarium (Guglielmo di Rubruk, Viaggio in Mongolia, ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2011) [in Latin: chapters 1-18].
- Bonvesin da la Riva, De magnalibus Mediolani (ed. P. Chiesa, Roma-Milano, Fondazione Valla - Mondadori, 2009) [in Latin: four consecutive chapters of the eight of the work]
2) reading of the following three essays included in the volume Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo, 1: Il medioevo latino, vol. I, 2, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 1993: D. Schaller, La poesia epica, pp. 9-42; J. Mann, La poesia satirica e goliardica, pp. 73-109; G. Arnaldi, Annali, cronache, storie, pp. 463-513.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test: an interview on the programme topics, aimed at ascertaining students' acquisition of the basics related to medieval Latin literature, the main texts and authors, as well as the fundamental problems of philological method applied in particular to the Latin texts of the Middle Ages. Knowledge of the texts contained in the anthological booklet will be required, with appropriate contextualization; the student can be asked to comment a specifical section from one of these texts. For the 3 further optional ECTS, the reading and translation of a work or an anthology of extracts in Latin and the knowledge of the relative historical-literary framework is foreseen.
The ability to organize knowledge discursively and critically, the quality of the exposure and the competence in the use of the specialized vocabulary of the discipline contribute to the evaluation. The grade is expressed in 30ths and the minimum grade to pass the exam is 18.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also SLD should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
The ability to organize knowledge discursively and critically, the quality of the exposure and the competence in the use of the specialized vocabulary of the discipline contribute to the evaluation. The grade is expressed in 30ths and the minimum grade to pass the exam is 18.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also SLD should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/08 - MEDIEVAL AND HUMANISTIC LATIN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
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