OVERVIEW

Already a unicum by definition, ancient Christian literature is characterised not only by the language used but also by the contents: ‘Christian’ as an expression of a supranational religion, and ‘ancient’ because of its introduction in the classical period. Students will be guided in the reading of texts from some Christian authors to understand the new expressive code in a constant weaving with the biblical word. Students must have an inclination for analysis of historical and literary phenomena. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the ability to:

- acquire the correct methodological approach for understanding the discipline;

- understand the religious identity of Christian literature and its functional character;

- to know the literary developments in relation to the history of Christianity and of the Church;

- read and understand a literary text between classical tradition and biblical symbolism;

- acquire knowledge of the influence of Christian exegesis on sacred art;

 - to achieve the ability to analyze Christian roots in medieval and European literature.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

Use of aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Between Heaven and Earth. The struggle against capital vices from monastic asceticism to the visions of the afterlife

Monasticism is a phenomenon that arises as a reaction to the secularization of the Church to which it opposes the achievement of perfect life according to the primitive evangelical vision, through spiritual combat. The theme of the struggle against passions, or vices, runs through monastic literature (readings chosen from the Desert Fathers up to Gregory and the Cassian Rules). The infernal punishments proportionate to the typology of vices are illustrated in the apocryphal Apocalypses and in the literature about the visions of the afterlife (readings from the Visio Pauli).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Critical edition texts and other bibliographic material will be available on the aulaweb

Recommended readings

S. PRICOCO, Il monachesimo, Laterza 2003.

A. LENZUNI (a cura di), Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento, EDB, 2004.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SANDRA ISETTA (President)

MARIA ROSARIA PUGLIARELLO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Class schedule

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

oral question

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment of acquisition of fundamental notions of ancient christian literature.

Assessment of understanding of specific characteristics about Apocryphal and Monastic literature

Exam schedule