GERMANIC PHILOLOGY 2 MOD. 2

The module will provide advanced knowledge in Germanic Philology and advanced learning skills that should allow the participants to continue to study in a self-directed or autonomous manner. The module is taught in English.

- To acquire knowledge and understanding in the main topics of historical linguistics, as well as cultural and literary studies by being exposed to both the current theoretical debate and its applications in the field of Germanic Philology. 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.
- To apply their knowledge and understanding, and problem solving abilities in new or unfamiliar environments within broader contexts related to Germanic Comparative Linguistics, as well as Germanic Philology (e.g. textual criticism and literary reading skills applied to Germanic medieval texts).
- 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 philological studies).
- 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 the 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 practice exercises on linguistic theories, models and forms).

No specific pre-requirements, although a previous MA module (6 cfu) of Germanic Philology is recommended. However, the basic notions necessary to tackle the main topics listed in the content section below will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course. In any case, students are reminded that this is an advanced MA module, so the teaching will be organized in regular lectures combined with team as well as independent work.

Old English Elegies: the "Seafarer" and the "Wanderer".

The course will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to read and understand Old English poetical works, specifically those falling under the modern label of elegy. The course is articulated as follows:

1. The historical and socio-cultural context of Old English written tradition.
2. Basics of Old English language.
3. The Exeter Book and the Old English Elegy.
4. Reading, translation and comment of the "Seafarer" and the "Wanderer".

B. Mitchell, F. C. Robinson, A Guide to Old English. Oxford: Blackwell, 2017.

For students who cannot read Italian:
C. Fell, "Perceptions of transience". In The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature, ed. by M. Godden, M. Lapidge, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991, pp. 172-189.
R. D. Fulk, C. M. Cain, A History of Old English Literature. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013, pp. 256-277.
A. Orchard, "Not What it was: The World of Old English Elegy". In The Oxford Handbook of the Elegy, ed. by K. Weisman, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, pp. 101-117.

For students who can read Italian:
M. G. Cammarota, G. Cocco, Le elegie anglosassoni. Voci e volti della sofferenza. Testi del medioevo germanico 2, Milano: Meltemi, 2020.

Further material will be provided during the lectures.

Oral examination

More specifically:
- Knowledge and understanding: checked through content questions;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: checked through a practical exercise, such as discussion of excerpts analyzed during the course;
- Making judgements: checked through methodological questions;
- Communication skills: checked through open questions (whether students communicate their conclusions clearly and unambiguously, as well as the knowledge and rationale underpinning these);
- Learning skills: evaluation of the students' autonomy of judgement.

orale

Lectures, teacher-led discussions, translation exercises.

Students who cannot attend all lectures need to contact the course instructor for further readings.