GERMANIC PHILOLOGY 2 MOD. 2

This module is aimed at preparing students in the field of Language Sciences to improve their analytic skills by familiarising themselves with the major characteristics of some Germanic languages as well as with the dynamics of transmission of texts in medieval manuscript culture. The skills are listed below in detail. This module is taught in English.

Student Learning Objectives (SLO):
- to acquire knowledge and understanding in advanced topics of Germanic Philology by being exposed to both the current theoretical debate and its applications to a specific literary genre. This knowledge and understanding will be founded upon and will extend that typically associated with the first cycle; it will also provide a basis for originality in developing and/or applying ideas, often within a research context (see below, under "Contents");
- to apply their knowledge and understanding, as well as problem solving abilities in new or unfamiliar environments within broader contexts related to Germanic Philology with particular reference to textual criticism and advanced reading skills;
- to have the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity, and formulate judgments with incomplete or limited information about their object of study (this is a typical situation in the philological field). The ability to formulate judgements will include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge (e.g. the educational and social impact of scholarly editions);
- to be able to communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously, using the appropriate language register;
- to acquire advanced learning skills that should allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous (e.g. through individual independent reading on philological issues, as well as advanced practice exercises on theories, models and forms).

No specific prerequisites are required. The basic notions necessary to tackle the main topics listed in the content section (see below) will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course. However, students are reminded that this is an advanced MA course, so the teaching will be organized in regular lectures combined with team as well as independent work.

The general topic of the module is "women, childhood, and impairment in Anglo-Saxon England". This topic will be treated through the mediaeval literary, documentary and historical sources (poems and literary texts, law codes, chronicles) also by reading real manuscripts, as well as by considering illuminations and handicrafts.
Some major - though not solely - subjects are:
- Women of power (queens)
- Marriage and motherhood
- Work life
- Widows
- Various kinds of impairment in Anglo-Saxon England and their meaning
- The "voice" of women, children and impaired people in texts and images.

1. Notes taken in class and materials in the Moodle classroom
2. Selected readings from: Fell, Christine E. 1984. Women in Anglo-Saxon England. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
3. Selected readings from: Whitehead, Annie. 2020. Women of power in Anglo-Saxon England. Barnslay: Pen&Sword
4. Selected readings from: Bruce, Karen Anne. 2014. "Unhælu": Anglo-Saxon Conceptions of Impairment and Disability. Ohio State University, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1408645618
Students who are not able to complete their preparation in class are kindly invited to contact the lecturer in order to receive any further bibliographic indications on supplementary materials

The written exam consists in either four (4) or five (5) open questions, and lasts 90 minutes. Open questions allow to test critical thought, as well as the capacity of mastering the subject.
More specifically:
- Knowledge and understanding: checked through content questions;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: checked through practical exercises, such as translations and linguistic manipulations;
- Making judgements: checked through methodological questions;
- Communication skills: checked through open questions (whether students ommunicate their conclusions clearly and unambiguously, as well as the knowledge and rationale underpinning these);
- Learning skills: evaluation of the students' autonomy of judgement.

written

Question 1: Theoretical foundations of analysis of medieval Germanic texts, both poetic and prose - up to 6 points
Question 2: Translation and analysis of a short text related to one or more female figures in Anglo-Saxon England - up to 7 points
Question 3: Translation and analysis of a short text related to the theme of childhood in Anglo-Saxon England - up to 8 points
Question 4: Translation and analysis of a short text related to the theme of disability in Anglo-Saxon England - up to 9 points and honors
The final grade is given by the sum of the partial grades.
Within each question (already weighted in terms of score), the grade is determined by:
- knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks (34%)
- ability to organize information hierarchically (33%)
- use of appropriate technical terminology (33%)

Lectures and teacher-led discussions

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development