GERMANIC PHILOLOGY 2 MOD. 1

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.

Introduction to the study of Old Norse language and literature

1. Old Norse and the other Germanic languages: brief historical oveview
2. Major linguistic features of Old Norse (phonology - morphology - syntax)
3. Medieval Scandinavia: a brief historical and socio-cultural background
4. The literary corpus in Old Norse: genres and modes

During the course, excerpts from the following genres and modes of Old Norse literary production will be read and analyzed:

- eddic poetry (Völuspá; Fafnismál)
- skaldic poetry (a selection of skaldic stanzas)
- Prose Edda (various excepts from Gylfaginning)
- sagas (Egils saga Skalla-Grimssonar; Njals saga; Orvar Odds saga; Volsunga saga; Ívens saga)

1. The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas, ed. Armann and Sverrir Jakobsson, London-New York 2017 (only the following chapters: Genre; Dating and Origins; Literacy; Indigenous and Latin Literature; Style; Space; Time)
2.Margaret Clunies Ross, The Cambridge Introduction to the Old Norse-Icelandic Saga, Cambridge 2010
3. A Handbook to Eddic Poetry. Myths and Legends of Early Scandinavia, ed. Carolyne Larrington, Judy Quinn, and Brittany Schorn, Cambridge 2016

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.

Lectures, teacher-led discussions, practical exercises in class ("hands-on training").

English

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

oral