GERMANIC PHILOLOGY 2 MOD. 2

This module is aimed at preparing students to acquire advanced knowledge in Germanic Philology and advanced learning skills that should allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous. Those skills are listed below in detail. 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 prerequisites are required, 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.

Vernacular manuscript miscellanies in the medieval Germanic-speaking world

This course is meant to provide students with the necessary tools to study vernacular manuscript miscellanies in the Germanic-speaking world. The course is articulated as follows:

1. How do we study manuscripts?
2. Why do we study vernacular manuscript miscellanies?
3. Intertexual readings within manuscript miscellanies
4. Examples of miscellanies (from medieval Britain, Scandinavia and Germany)

O. Da Rold - E. Trehairne (eds), The Cambridge Companion to Medieval British Manuscripts (Cambridge: CUP 2021)
M. Connolly - R. Radulescu (eds), Insular Books. Vernacular Manuscript Miscellanies in Late Medieval Britain (Oxford: OUP 2015)
K- Pratt - B. Besamusca - M Meyer - A. Putter (eds), The Dynamics of the Medieval Manuscript. Text Collections from an European Perspective (Göttingen: V&R unipress 2017)

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.

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Lectures, teacher-led discussions

Further bibliographical references will be given during the course.
Students who cannot attend all lectures need to contact the course instructor for further readings.