Middle English Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to illustrate the distinguishing features, the main literary genres and the history of medieval English literature. In addition to completing the educational path of the English literature specialists, the course has two further learning objectives: showing the relative and historically determined value of the modern concepts of literature, and providing linguistic and critical competence for dealing with literary texts from pre-modern times. All of this, by keeping in mind the radical otherness and, at the same time, the surprising modernity of medieval literature. These learning objectives are consistent with the general learning objectives of the Study Programme as they help graduates gain extensive and in-depth knowledge and skills in the historical and critical literary field. In particular, the introductory lessons of the course aim to illustrate the very concept of literature that characterizes the medieval world, with the peculiar nature of the manuscript text, the author and the relationship between author and public. The course then develops by presenting some authors (Geoffrey Chaucer in the first place), genres and texts of Middle English literature through a (usually thematic) selection of representative texts, which are included in the framework of the literary tradition of the 12th-15th centuries. Finally, attention is focused on the monographic component of the course, which deals in depth with a topic or text relevant to the literary production of the English Middle Ages.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the literary output in the English Middle Ages; knowledge of the distinguishing features of the medieval literary text; understanding of the evolutionary relationship between medieval and post-medieval literature. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read, translate, and critically interpret and evaluate literary texts of the English Middle Ages; ability to grasp the historical, social and cultural implications of literary texts; increased awareness about the nature of literature.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The title of the course is "Zoomorphic symbolism: animals as characters and motifs in Middle English Literature".
Animals - both wild and tame, both imaginary and real - have always pervaded the life of medieval men. The interest in animals has been voiced in a large literary output that took root in the classical tradition of Greek and Latin literatures but was able to renew and adapt to the new psychological and communicative needs of a complex society like the medieval one.
Medieval men and women used animals and their literary representation as a mirror to look into their own fears and vices, to laugh at their own passions, to exorcise the sorrows and drudgery of daily life.
The course will focus on a series of texts that illustrate the relationship between the world of men and the world of animals in medieval English literature and society.
Animals - both wild and tame, both imaginary and real - have always pervaded the life of medieval men. The interest in animals has been voiced in a large literary output that took root in the classical tradition of Greek and Latin literatures but was able to renew and adapt to the new psychological and communicative needs of a complex society like the medieval one.
Medieval men and women used animals and their literary representation as a mirror to look into their own fears and vices, to laugh at their own passions, to exorcise the sorrows and drudgery of daily life.
The course will focus on a series of texts that illustrate the relationship between the world of men and the world of animals in medieval English literature and society.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is taught in English, the texts read during the classes, and the bibliography for the exam all imply that students should be competent in English (QCER B2+/C1 level). Also, students are expected to be knowledgeable about the English literary canon; some knowledge of the historical development of the English language is useful but not strictly necessary.
Teaching methods
The following teaching methods will be used: lectures (with ample space for discussion and interaction); a number of literary texts will be read aloud, translated into modern English, and commented on from a literary, stylistic, and cultural point of view.
Teaching Resources
1) J.A. Burrow, Medieval Writers and their Work. Middle English Literature 1100-1500, 2nd edn, OUP, Oxford 2008 (required reading);
2) In order to better contextualise the literary texts to be prepared for the exam, one may refer to the histories of Middle English literature to be found in the Anglistica library. Although any will do in order to provide the basic data, Albert C. Baugh, 'The Middle English Period', in A Literary History of England, ed. by A.C. Baugh, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1967, vol.1 is still valuable and very clear; more up-to-date and much richer is David Wallace (ed.), The Cambridge History of Medieval English Literature, CUP, Cambridge 1999;
3) J.A. Burrow & T. Turville-Petre, A book of Middle English, 3rd edn, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2004 may also be useful for the texts in this anthology are very well introduced and commented on;
4) 'Middle English 1100-1550', in Ishtla Singh, The history of English, Hodder Arnold, London, 2005 provides some linguistic information that may be useful for students with no background knowledge in the history of the English language;
5) Prof. Iamartino's handouts and PowerPoint presentations;
6) one's lesson notes;
7) further critical material may be made available during the classes.
2) In order to better contextualise the literary texts to be prepared for the exam, one may refer to the histories of Middle English literature to be found in the Anglistica library. Although any will do in order to provide the basic data, Albert C. Baugh, 'The Middle English Period', in A Literary History of England, ed. by A.C. Baugh, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1967, vol.1 is still valuable and very clear; more up-to-date and much richer is David Wallace (ed.), The Cambridge History of Medieval English Literature, CUP, Cambridge 1999;
3) J.A. Burrow & T. Turville-Petre, A book of Middle English, 3rd edn, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2004 may also be useful for the texts in this anthology are very well introduced and commented on;
4) 'Middle English 1100-1550', in Ishtla Singh, The history of English, Hodder Arnold, London, 2005 provides some linguistic information that may be useful for students with no background knowledge in the history of the English language;
5) Prof. Iamartino's handouts and PowerPoint presentations;
6) one's lesson notes;
7) further critical material may be made available during the classes.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student, and the analysis of and comments on one or more textual excerpts. The interview usually lasts between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on whether the student takes the exams for 6 or 9 credits, and it is carried out in either English or Italian at the student's choice.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the literary facts and phenomena dealt with in the course, the student's ability to contextualize and comment on the literary texts, his/her precision in the use of terminology, and his/her ability to frame the texts under scrutiny in the literary history and in the relevant genre. The final mark is out of 30, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case, it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed on with the teacher, in agreement with the proper Office.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the literary facts and phenomena dealt with in the course, the student's ability to contextualize and comment on the literary texts, his/her precision in the use of terminology, and his/her ability to frame the texts under scrutiny in the literary history and in the relevant genre. The final mark is out of 30, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case, it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed on with the teacher, in agreement with the proper Office.
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Iamartino Giovanni
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
In the afternoons from Monday to Friday, by appointment only, either in person or via Microsoft Teams 6.00-7.30 pm via Microsoft Teams; please make an appointment by email
The English Studies (Anglistica) branch of the Department (Prof. Iamartino's room)