OVERVIEW

Major texts of byzantine literature will be read: students will start from manuscripts and they will be guided to the elaboration of a philological literary commentary.

A good knowledge of ancient Greek is required.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational objectives aim at the acquisition of the following knowledges, skills and abilities: - know through direct reading of the texts the main genres of the Byzantine literature through their diachronic development and the contribution of each author; - lead a philological, linguistic, stylistic and historical-literary exegesis of the texts belonging to the Byzantine literary culture; - contextualize the texts both in their relationship with the Attic and Christian cultural heritage, and in the specific literary and cultural configuration of the Greek Middle Ages; - identify the role of individual texts and authors in the Nachleben of literary and ideological themes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Catharsis in events: aspects of dramatic historiography in Byzantium.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The reading list for this course, together with the lecturer's suggestions and instructions are available on the Italian version of the web page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LIA RAFFAELLA CRESCI (President)

SERENA PERRONE (President)

FRANCESCA GAZZANO

LARA PAGANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 18, 2017

Class schedule

BYZANTINE LITERATURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral test: students will be asked to read, translate and provide a historical, literary, philological, linguistic commentaries of texts analyzed during the course, in order to assess their knowledge of the language, literary genre and tradition of each text.
Students will have to present the laboratory activity conducted on the text, form manuscript to the elaboration of a commentary.
Written test: students will submit a report on a critical reading suggested by the professor; the aim is to assess their level of proficiency in text analysis and synthesis.

Minimum 'pass' requirements are: being able to read the manuscript analyzed in class, being able to translate and to comment texts by outlining the major linguistic, literary and philological features of such texts. Minimum 'pass' requirements for the written test are: ability to present the major contents of the critical text and to write in good Italian.

'Excellence' requirements are: being able to confidently read manuscripts, to translate and comment texts accurately by making connections with Byzantine literary context; being able to point out accurately all aspects of texts: linguistic, historical, literary and philological aspects. 'Excellence' requirements for the written test are: writing an effective, well-argumented report on the critical text, by underlining its strengths and weaknesses.

Exam schedule