ROMANCE PHILOLOGY

Metamorphosis (12th-13th centuries): the werewolf between vernacular literature and anthropology.
The werewolf is at the centre of one of the mythical (narrative) constructions characteristic of "traditional" cultures that passed from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, and which the medieval imagination bequeathed to the disenchanted Modernity. Beginning with Marie de France's "Lai de Bisclavret" (which will be the subject of an annotated reading in its entirety), and extending to other texts (Latin and vernacular, medieval and modern), the course aims to explore the components of this cultural construction.
The course is connected with the annual seminar 'Metamorphosis'.

Knowledge
- Minimal passive knowledge of Old French and Latin
Skills
- Strengthening passive competence in ancient French (morphosyntax, prose stylistics) and active competence in comparative analysis of Romance languages and textual analysis (with particular reference to the modes of argumentative rhetoric).

Basic knowledge of Old French, Latin and Medieval History.

Theory of intertextuality; cultural history of the Italian and French Late Middle Ages; comparative reading of Italian and French texts.

Texts and bibliography will be provided during the lessons, and made available on the Moodle platform.
Mandatory reference text (not provided in class): 'Loups-garous du Moyen Age', ed. by Corinne Pierreville, Paris, Champion, 2024 (in bookstores and available on all online bookstore platforms).

The learning assessment will take place through an oral test, based on translation and commentary of texts

oral

Complete and accurate answers to all questions; very good accuracy in technical language; absolute correctness in reading and translating Old French texts: 30/30lode
Complete and accurate answers to all questions; more than good accuracy in technical language; good accuracy in reading and translating Old French texts: 27/29 out of 30
Complete and accurate answer to at least 2 questions; good accuracy in technical language; fair accuracy in reading and translating Old French texts: 25/26
Complete and accurate answer to at least 2 questions; acceptable accuracy in technical language; sufficient accuracy in reading and translating Old French texts: 23/24
Complete and accurate answer to at least 1 question; sufficient accuracy in technical language; sufficient accuracy in reading and translating Old French texts: 18/22

Translation exercises; stylistic and anthropological structure analysis.

During the year, there will be a seminar open to students on the three-year course, students on the specialisation course and anyone else interested in the subject: 'Metamorphosis in popular literature: from Ovid to fairy tales'. The seminar will be divided into two modules, each lasting one semester; active participation (translation exercises, seminar lectures) in each module will entitle the student to 3 CFUs of activity equivalent to an internship. Information on dates and times will be provided at the beginning of the 2025-2026 courses.