Modern Philology

Course title: Romance narrative traditions between literary rewritings and oral storytelling The course offers a reading and linguistic and philological analysis of several literary rewritings of the same story, which has also been widely circulated in oral tradition. During the lessons, excerpts from texts in Old French, Italian and modern French will be read and translated. The aim is to study the texts in question and to explore the dynamics that govern the oral circulation and literary rewritings of certain Romance narrative traditions over a long period of time. The programme consists of four parts, which correspond to the exam bibliography: 1) Texts to be read (all must be read in full; all except "Silence" will be provided in a handout): "Grisandole" (translated and commented in class); "Roman de Silence" (Heldris di Cornovaglia, Il Romanzo di Silence, Carocci, Rome 2005); “favola” of Costanza from Giovan Francesco Straparola, "Le piacevoli notti", ed. Pirovano); the Breton tale, in French, Capitaine Lixur ou Le Satyr. 2) Critical essays (provided in the handout): N. Pasero, Livelli du cultura e sistema letterario (1999), C. Donà, Dal mito alla letteratura e ritorno: dalla parte del mito (2010); N. Pasero, Tradizioni testuali e immaginario folkorico (2010); 3) For literary history: E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. 3. Analisi letteraria, Le Monnier Università, Florence 2022. 4) For aspects of linguistic history and historical grammar: Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua d’oïl, Profilo di grammatica storica del francese antico, Ist. Editoriali e Poligrafici, Pisa – Rome 1995.

Cultural prerequisites: ability to read modern French. Curricular prerequisites: for students of Modern Philology (not Historical Sciences): it is necessary to have passed at least one exam in Romance Philology in the three-year degree programme.

The list of texts to be studied is as follows: 1) Texts to be read (all must be read in full; all except Silence will be provided in a handout): Grisandole (translated and annotated by the lecturer during the course); Roman de Silence (Heldris of Cornwall, Il Romanzo di Silence, Carocci, Rome 2005); “favola” of Costanza from Giovan Francesco Straparola, Le piacevoli notti, ed. Pirovano); the Breton tale, in French, Capitaine Lixur ou Le Satyr. 2) Critical essays (provided in the handout): N. Pasero, Livelli du cultura e sistema letterario (1999), C. Donà, Dal mito alla letteratura e ritorno: dalla parte del mito (2010); N. Pasero, Tradizioni testuali e immaginario folkorico (2010); 3) For literary history: E. Burgio, Filologia romanza. 3. Analisi letteraria, Le Monnier Università, Florence 2022. 4) For aspects of linguistic history and historical grammar: Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua d’oïl, Profilo di grammatica storica del francese antico, Ist. Editoriali e Poligrafici, Pisa – Rome 1995.

Attendance is highly recommended, especially in order to learn some basics of translation and textual analysis.

The examination is written and consists of four open-ended questions on the four parts of the programme. The question relating to part 4 includes the translation and commentary of a passage in Old French.

See above.

The course includes lectures and translation exercises with student participation.