From Boethius to Dante: Literatures in Medieval Italian Society (c. 500-1500) - ENG00069M
- Department: English and Related Literature
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
Medieval Italy has given to world literature many immortal masterpieces: the names of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio are known in the whole world. It is less known that during the Medieval Millennium Italy was a cauldron where different cultures and literatures interacted: a place where the heritage of classical literature met the millenary traditions of Jewish people, the wonders of the French romances, and the Oriental perfumes of Arabic poetry and philosophy. This course will analyse the interaction between these different literary traditions and Italian society during the long centuries of the Middle Ages, aiming to understand how this interaction resulted in the unique culture of Late Medieval and Renaissance Italy. The students will develop their skills in analysing literature in its broader cultural and historical context, and will be encouraged to reflect on literary interactions in multicultural and multilingual societies. The only language required will be English: all the texts will be read in translations.
Module learning outcomes
Subject content
- A knowledge of the history of the different literary traditions in the Italian Middle Ages
- A knowledge of the relationships between literature and society in the Italian Middle Ages
- A theoretic understanding of multicultural and multilingual interaction
- A knowledge of the influence of Medieval Italian Literatures on other European literatures (including English literature), and in particular of the influence of masterpieces of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio
Academic and graduate skills
- read closely and critically, both primary and secondary material, to a high level;
- articulate, orally and in writing, innovative and cogent critical arguments;
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
- You are provided with feedback within the 6-week University deadline.
- You are always welcome to use staff Open Office Hours to discuss essay feedback (Full Time Staff Open Office Hours Autumn 2015 (PDF , 135kb))
For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see section 12 of the department's Guide to Assessment (PDF , 1,244kb).
Indicative reading
Among the key texts we can mention masterpieces such as: Boethius Consolation of Philosophy, the History of the Lombards by Paul the Deacon, poetry from the court of Frederick II, The Travels of Marco Polo, Dantes Inferno, Boccaccios Famous Women.