ID:
13291
Dettaglio:
SSD: Germanic Philology
Duration: 54
CFU: 9
Located in:
BERGAMO
Url:
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - 13-270/LINGUISTICO-LETTERARIO Year: 3
Year:
2026
Overview
Date/time interval
Annuale (21/09/2026 - 04/06/2027)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course offers an introduction to the languages and literatures of the ancient Germanic peoples, with particular emphasis on the origins of English and German, providing students with tools to understand their historical and cultural development
Course Prerequisites
NO prerequisites are required. Students are NOT expected to have any knowledge of Modern German or to be studying it at university
Teaching Methods
Lectures with exercises and readings throughout the course. Most of the topics from the texts listed in the bibliography will be analyzed in class (the remainder is part of the student’s individual study responsibilities). The reader may propose activities and/or presentations and/or projects for individuals or small groups
Assessment Methods
Learning assessment is based on written tests (midterm assessments) held during the teaching period or just at the end of the course only. The format of all assessments will be made clear from the classroom exercises onwards, both for any midterm written tests and for the final oral examination.
During the official sessions exams are held only as an oral examination.
Learning assessment includes a written partial-exam (mid-term) or just at the end of the course, while the regular session exams are always oral. The format of the assessments will always be made clear from the classroom exercises onwards, both for any written midterm tests and for the final oral examination.
During the course, guidance is provided on exam procedures, with reflections on content and strategies. The instructor also shares a detailed evaluation rubric that clearly explains the examination methods.
For a passing grade, students must demonstrate knowledge of the main course contents;
For a more than satisfactory grade, they should be able to create connections between the linguistic and cultural phenomena studied and place events, works, and figures in their chronological context;
For an excellent grade, students must show an in-depth understanding of the topics and present them with expressive mastery.
Evaluation will be divided into 5 bands and will take into account both the knowledge of course contents:
(30 cum laude) – excellent; precise, correct, and appropriate
(30-27) – very good; correct
(26-24) – good; mostly correct
(23-18) – acceptable; with some occasional mistakes
(below 18) – partial and/or superficial; with numerous errors
Contents
A) Origins and evolution of the ancient Germanic languages (from Proto-Indoeuropean to Proto-Germanic); Major linguistic developments and etymological analysis of selected nouns (from Proto-Indoeuropean to Proto-Germanic and from Proto-Germanic to individual Germanic languages)
B) Sources, institutions, mythology, and religion of the Germanic peoples
Old Norse myths
Runic writing system
From oral tradition to manuscript culture (medieval scriptoria and libraries)
Analysis of material evidence (weapons, runestones, grave slabs, and other artifacts), and ancient texts
C) Reading of texts (with the original language alongside the English translation) from the Old English, Old High German, Middle High German, and Old Norse traditions on [T1] creation and the end of the world; [T2] love and longing, with particular reference to the Old English elegies, Eddic poetry, the Nibelung–Völsung tradition, and the lyric poetry by selected Minnesänger.
D) Reinterpretations and rewritings of medieval Germanic culture (selected case studies)
JRR Tolkien’s reception of Germanic myths
Re-use of historical and mythological sources in TV series (“Vikings”, “Ragnarok”), manga (“Vinland Saga”), and videogames (“God of War”; “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla”), and music
More information
All presentations and didactic materials will be regularly uploaded on the course’s e-learning platform (Moodle).
Lecture notes and materials uploaded on Moodle DO NOT replace the study of the Leganto reading list.
• selected pages from Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica: Lingua, storia, cultura, testi, Le Monnier (from p. 1 to p. 9; from p. 114 to p. 297), see Leganto
• course’s handouts provided by the instructor (Germanic linguistics handout + handout with all texts analysed in class – with translation)
• lecture notes
Lecture notes and materials uploaded on Moodle DO NOT replace the study of the Leganto reading list.
• selected pages from Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica: Lingua, storia, cultura, testi, Le Monnier (from p. 1 to p. 9; from p. 114 to p. 297), see Leganto
• course’s handouts provided by the instructor (Germanic linguistics handout + handout with all texts analysed in class – with translation)
• lecture notes
Degrees
Degrees
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - 13-270
Bachelor's Degree
3 years
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People
People (3)
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Other
Main module
GERMANIC PHILOLOGY