BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Course Prerequisites
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
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
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 selected texts on the theme of travel in the Old English, Old High-German, and Old Norse traditions (materials will be provided both in translation and in the original language).
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