Learning objectives
The course of medieval Latin literature provides specific knowledge of both language and literature of the Middle Ages and of Renaissance humanism, allowing students to acquire advanced skills as well as substantial and methodological critical understanding of literary texts in Latin. Knowledge and skills will be developed through classes homework and any reports on specific topics. Students must be able to work on selected authors applying methodological tools provided during lessons to other contexts and literary texts. They must also be able to examine and critically interpret texts and philological, linguistic and literary issues so to be able to express personal hypotheses on both content and socio-cultural context issues. Students must be able to present trough proper scientific language, the results of their research to fellow students. The study of Medieval literature and language provides methodological, analytical and critical skills necessary in the final stages of the students' carrer (creation of repotrs etc.) and possibly helpful in the transition towards their futur jobs (i. e. as teachers).
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The course will be structured as follows:
a) Medieval Latin Literature: context and overview;
b) The gardens in the Middle Ages
Full programme
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Bibliography
Edoardo D'Angelo, La letteratura latina medievale: una storia per generi, Roma 2009 (una selezione di autori).
Teaching methods
The didactic activities alternate frontal lessons at in-depth seminars. In addition to a literary historical overview of the medieval age, the techniques of cultivating medieval gardens, especially those attached to monasteries, in which hortus was designed according to ancient principles, will be illustrated, preferring certain types of plants that were placed according to a well-established scheme accurate. This is why Valafrido Strabone and his poem De Cultura hortorum will be referred to as some of the most precious plants of significance in the Middle Ages. The course will include individual students' insights that will produce their own works on selected topics or bio-bibliographic sheets. The slides used to support lessons will be uploaded to the Elly platform. Slides are considered an integral part of teaching material.
Assessment methods and criteria
The student's work will be evaluated on the basis of:
-Papers presented during classes,
-Papers presented at the final exam, where general knowledge of medieval and humanistic literature wil be evaluated, so as the comprehension of the latin text (context, content and meanin) wil be tested.
Students will be assessed on:
oral proficiency; correct use of language; personal reinterpretation of contents; ability to make inter-disciplinary connections; proper use of specialist language; ability to give proper answers to given questions.
Students will have to score a minimum of 60 percent or better of the given question to get a pass grade.
The final score will be calculated by the arithmetic mean of the partial scores of the two courses.
Other information
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