OVERVIEW

Before we even try to interpret a text of classical literature, we should ask ourselves how this text has arrived down to us and how much trustworthy it can be. Through which methods and tools can we attempt to access a text that is close to the "original" one with the highest degree of probability? Over time different answers have been given to this question.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide insight into the history of tradition and textual criticism with reference to classical literature; consolidate the knowledge of the methods of classical philology and raise awareness of their historical evolution up to the current debate; favor the acquisition of skills for the philological analysis of fragmentary texts.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aims are: to make students understand the main theoretical and methodological turning points in the history of classical philology and textual criticism, and consider the elements at the core of the current debate; to raise awareness on the issues relating to the traditio and the constitutio of the texts of classical literature; to provide students with the technical and methodological skills to know how to deal with the reading of a critical edition; to encourage the development of active skills for the philological analysis of literary fragments.

At the end of the course the student is expect to have understood the main turning points in the history of classical philology; to be aware of the issues relating to the reliability of ancient texts; to know the terminology of textual criticism; to be able to use a critical edition and understand an apparatus criticus; to know how to use the main tools of the discipline, including the digital tools; to assess the most appropriate methods and tools on the basis of the type and tradition of the text under analysis; to be aware of the specific issues relating to fragmentary texts.

PREREQUISITES

Sound knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin languages and literatures is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Distance teaching in synchronous modality via Microsoft Teams (plus materials in Aulaweb), in a combination of traditional lectures and classroom exercises of philological analysis on fragmentary texts, with the direct involvement of students. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Definition of philology and its relationship with textual criticism; history of the discipline, with particular reference to the theoretical and methodological turning points from Lachmann to the so called New Philology and the elements at the core of the current debate; the specificities of the history of textual tradition for Greek and Latin literatures.

A part of the lectures will be devoted to the philology on fragments, with direct analysis of examples mainly from Greek comedy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recomended handbook:

• P. Chiesa, Elementi di critica testuale, seconda edizione, Pàtron, Bologna, 2012.

A reading to choose from:

• Sebastiano Timpanaro, The Genesis of Lachmann's Method, ed. and transl. by G.W. Most, Chicago - London 2005.
• Paul Maas, Textual Criticism, translated from the German by B. Flower, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1858 (or any other edition of the essay).

Further documents will be provided in class and via AulaWeb

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SERENA PERRONE (President)

LARA PAGANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Monday 21 September 2020

Class schedule

HISTORY AND METHODS OF CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY (LM)

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

As midterm test, students are required to prepare and submit in front of the classroom a 15 minutes oral presentation about an assigned fragments. This test will not be subject to assessment.

The exam is an oral interview to assess the acquisition of the theoretical and methodological aspects of the discipline, the awareness of historical development, and the ability to address the critical reading of given literary fragments (made available via Aulaweb)

Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher (serena.perrone@unige.it).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists of an interview about the theoretical and methodological aspects of the discipline and the ability to apply them to the critical reading of given literary fragments. Clarity and correct use of technical terminology are assessed. In order to reach the basic threshold students should demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical and methodological turning points in the history of classical philology, awareness of the issues posed by the  textual tradition of Greek and Latin literatures, practical skills in reading a critical edition and its apparatus. In order to reach an assessment of excellence, students should demonstrate their ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the philological analysis of Greek and Latin texts, considering the most appropriate methods and tools on the basis of the type and tradition of the text under analysis.

Exam schedule