Ateneo - UPO

"Another Man’s Woman": Stories of Love and Betrayal

The teacher will provide guidance in class regarding which titles to study. Non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Texts: • A booklet of texts will be distributed in class and uploaded to the course webpage. • Joseph Bédier, Le roman de Tristan et Iseut [Paris 1900, with numerous later editions]; Italian translation: Il romanzo di Tristano e Isotta, any edition. For language study: • Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua dei trovatori. Profilo di grammatica storica del provenzale antico, Pisa-Rome, F. Serra, 2019. • Aurelio Roncaglia, La lingua d’oïl. Profilo di grammatica storica del francese antico, Pisa-Rome, Istituti editoriali e poligrafici internazionali, 2005. For in-depth study: • Erich Köhler, Sociologia della fin’amor. Saggi trobadorici, trans. M. Mancini, Padua, Liviana, 1976. • Erich Köhler, Ideal und Wirklichkeit in der höfischen Epik. Studien zur Form der frühen Artus- und Graldichtung, Berlin, De Gruyter, 2002³. • Valeria Russo, Archéologie du discours amoureux. Prototypes et régimes de l’amour littéraire dans les traditions galloromanes, Geneva, Droz, 2024. Literary histories: • A. Vitale-Brovarone, La civiltà letteraria francese nei secoli medievali, in L. Sozzi (ed.), Storia della civiltà letteraria francese, Turin, UTET, 1993, vol. I, pp. 1–200. • Jacqueline Cerquiglini-Toulet, Le Moyen Âge, in Martine Reid (ed.), Femmes et littérature. Une histoire culturelle, Paris, Gallimard, 2020, vol. I, pp. 21–217. • L. Lazzerini, Letteratura medievale in lingua d’oc, Modena, Mucci, 2001 (2nd ed. 2020).

Knowledge: • Knowledge of the main phonetic and morphological features of Old Italian, Old French, and Old Provençal necessary for reading the texts; • Basic knowledge of the key periods and structures of medieval Romance literary history; • Basic knowledge of the development of narrative and lyric genres in French and Provençal literature; • Basic knowledge of the texts analyzed in class. Skills: • Ability to approach the reading of a medieval Romance-language text; • Ability to identify the specific features—metrical, linguistic, stylistic, and thematic—of a medieval Romance-language text. Transversal abilities: • Ability to develop a personal argument based on topics covered in class and studied independently; • Refinement of the ability to clearly present topics addressed in class and through independent study.

Basic knowledge provided by secondary school and the early years of university studies. The course is intended as a continuation of the Romance Philology A module, which students must therefore have attended or attend concurrently. It is not necessary to have already passed the exam for that module.

Lectures and seminars, individual study.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and tools by contacting the Career Development and Student Services Staff and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentidisabilie-dsa. Once they have contacted the University Staff, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN must then get in touch with the course teacher to arrange the exam modalities at least 15 days before the exam date; some of these arrangements must be approved in advance by the teacher. The final assessment consists of an oral exam lasting 30–40 minutes, during which the knowledge listed under the course objectives and learning outcomes will be evaluated. The exam is divided into three sections: 1. Assessment of literary history knowledge, acquired through individual study of the assigned textbook; 2. Assessment of basic linguistic and metrical knowledge, through the reading and translation of one or more excerpts discussed in class; 3. Assessment of the student’s ability to develop a broader literary argument, starting from the commentary on a passage studied in class and the analysis of an academic article agreed upon with the teacher. Each of the three sections will contribute one-third to the final grade. Honors ("cum laude") will be awarded based on the depth, insight, and originality of the student’s responses. Students will also be required to prepare a short written report (2 pages) to explore one of the course topics. Submission of this report is a prerequisite for taking the oral exam.

The final assessment consists of an oral exam lasting 30–40 minutes, during which the knowledge listed under the course objectives and learning outcomes will be evaluated. The exam is divided into three sections: 1. Assessment of literary history knowledge, acquired through individual study of the assigned textbook; 2. Assessment of basic linguistic and metrical knowledge, through the reading and translation of one or more excerpts discussed in class; 3. Assessment of the student’s ability to develop a broader literary argument, starting from the commentary on a passage studied in class and the analysis of an academic article agreed upon with the instructor. Each of the three sections will contribute one-third to the final grade. Honors ("cum laude") will be awarded based on the depth, insight, and originality of the student’s responses. Students will also be required to prepare a short written report (2 pages) to explore one of the course topics. Submission of this report is a prerequisite for taking the oral exam.

During this monographic course in Romance Philology, we will explore one of the most productive and rich themes of medieval Romance literature: love, and in particular, adulterous love. The course will unfold through a range of texts—French, Provençal, and Italian—and across multiple genres, including verse narratives (verse romance, fabliau), prose romance, and lyric poetry. Among others, we will examine the figures of Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot and Guinevere, the bourgeoise d’Orléans, Flamenca, the Chastelaine of Vergy, and the lyrical voices of William IX and Jaufre Rudel. The texts will be read in their original languages, translated, and commented on by the teacher, following a historical-literary introduction to the authors within the broader medieval literary context. Their reading will also serve as an opportunity to introduce elements of historical grammar from the various Romance languages studied. The course will include contributions from internationally recognized scholars in the field of love in medieval Romance literatures, who will participate during the month of April. Given the course's partially seminar-based structure, regular attendance and active participation are expected of students, including the weekly reading of the texts discussed in class. At the end of the first week, attending students will agree with the teacher on a topic for a written report. Non-attending students will arrange an alternative program with the teacher.

In order to achieve the basic level of knowledge, skills, and competencies, the student is expected to demonstrate the ability to: • (Knowledge and understanding): Have acquired a fundamental understanding of the texts and topics covered in the course, as well as those assigned for independent study through the bibliography; • (Ability to apply knowledge and understanding): Be able to recognize a linguistic phenomenon or literary element studied and situate it within the broader context of medieval Romance-language literary production; • (Judgment and critical thinking): Be able to discuss topics and themes addressed in class or studied independently; • (Communication skills): Be able to present acquired knowledge in Italian, using appropriate disciplinary language, both from class and independent study; • (Learning skills): Be able to use the methodological tools provided in class or developed through independent study. To achieve an advanced level, the student is expected to demonstrate the ability to: • (Knowledge and understanding): Have in-depth and accurate knowledge of all texts and topics covered in class or assigned for independent study; • (Ability to apply knowledge and understanding): Be able to situate the linguistic and literary phenomena studied within a broader historical and cultural context; • (Judgment and critical thinking): Be able to independently discuss linguistic and literary topics, as well as the critical positions presented by the teacher or found in independent readings; • (Communication skills): Present topics clearly and coherently, demonstrating synthesis skills and mastery of appropriate, including specialized, terminology; • (Learning skills): Be able to independently make meaningful connections between topics. These learning outcomes are consistent with the requirements set out in the SUA of the Degree Program.