Department of French and Italian

Like a dwarf perched on the shoulders of a giant”: Classical Reception in Italian Medieval Literature

The reception of Classical literature in the Latin and vernacular literary production of Italy in the 13^th and 14^th centuries was a complex and creative process of not only transmitting but also adapting and interpreting Greek and Roman texts and ideas. 

The relationship between Classical and Medieval texts was symbiotic: Classical authors informed the thinking and writing of Italian Medieval authors, who simultaneously used the ancient texts to support their political and ideological views.

This creative and symbiotic relationship took different forms. Some Classical texts were reinterpreted allegorically, while others were used as justification and support for local city-state rulers. Some Medieval authors approached the ancient texts philologically with the intent of restoring the Classical texts to their original state, while still other Medieval authors translated (and readapted) the ancient texts into vernacular Italian (volgarizzamenti).

We will explore all these modes of the Classical reception starting from the poets of the Sicilian School, Brunetto Latini, and other authors of the 13^th century, before examining Dante, Petrarca, and Boccaccio. We will focus on the reception of five Latin authors, namely Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, Statius, and Orosius, and one historical figure, Alexander the Great.

The course will be taught in English; no reading knowledge of Italian or Latin is required. All materials will be available on Canvas.

FRIT-M 503    # 23138       Th           2:20P–4:20P        Prof. Davide Salvo