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2022/2023

Medieval Catalan Literature II

Code: 100675 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2501801 Catalan and Spanish Studies OB 2 2
2501902 English and Catalan Studies OB 2 2

Contact

Name:
Josep Pujol Gomez
Email:
josep.pujol@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Teachers

Francesc Josep Gomez Martin

Prerequisites

None. However, students of the degree in Catalan Philology (single honours) are advised to follow the Medieval Catalan Literature (I) course in the first semester of the same academic year.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course is (the second part of) an introduction to the history of medieval Catalan literature within its European backdrop. Students will also be introduced into the practice of reading and interpreting medieval Catalan texts, including works by authors who had a Latin background.

 

At the end of the course, students are expected (a) to have a general knowledge of all the relevant authors and genres, (b) to be able to comment (viva voce) on any of the works included in the syllabus, (c) to write short essays on any of them, and (d) to be able to analyze in detail an aspect of one of the major works.

 

This course leads to special subjects (medieval poetry and prose) that are offered in years 3 and 4 of the degree.

Competences

    Catalan and Spanish Studies
  • Apply concepts, resources and methods of analysis literary Catalan literature considering the context of periodization of Western literary history.
  • Assess so rigorously argued and the main trends and authors and most representative works of Catalan literature.
  • Critically analyze Catalan literature regarding the historical circumstances in which it falls.
  • Develop critical thinking and reasoning and knowing how to communicate effectively both in your mother tongue and in other languages.
  • Develop historical studies on Catalan literary tradition and interpretive analysis on trends, genres and authors of Catalan literature.
  • Interpret literary texts from cross philological bases (stylistic, linguistic, etc.) and comparisons.
  • Respect the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
    English and Catalan Studies
  • Apply concepts, resources and methods of analysis literary Catalan literature considering the context of periodization of Western literary history.
  • Assess so rigorously argued and the main trends and authors and most representative works of Catalan literature.
  • Critically analyze Catalan literature regarding the historical circumstances in which it falls.
  • Develop critical thinking and reasoning and knowing how to communicate effectively both in your mother tongue and in other languages.
  • Develop historical studies on Catalan literary tradition and interpretive analysis on trends, genres and authors of Catalan literature.
  • Interpret literary texts from cross philological bases (stylistic, linguistic, etc.) and comparisons.
  • Respect the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply the tools and know consult the specific documentary sources.
  2. Comment on literary texts, apply the acquired tools and take into account the historical and sociocultural context.
  3. Commenting on literary texts, applying the acquired tools and taking into account the historical and sociocultural context.
  4. Critically interpret literary works take into account the relationships between different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  5. Critically interpreting literary works taking into account the relationships between the different areas of literature and its relationships with human, artistic and social areas.
  6. Demonstrate basic level, knowledge of Catalan medieval, and modern Catalan to write versions of medieval texts.
  7. Describe and interpret the Western cultural tradition of the classical era to the end of the Middle Ages, and recognize text in a medieval traits Western tradition.
  8. Develop critical texts on the trends, authors and works of poetry and prose most significant medieval Catalan literature, write essays and original domain of the relevant literature, authors and works on the medieval period.
  9. Develop effective written work and oral presentations and adapted to the appropriate register.
  10. Explain the context of medieval Catalan literature and literary works related with its historical and cultural context.
  11. Expose knowledge about the history, art and other cultural movements.
  12. Identify the main and secondary ideas and express them with linguistic correctness.
  13. Identify themes and motifs from classical and medieval European tradition in any of their literary and artistic works, and recognize text in Catalan medieval themes and motifs of European tradition.
  14. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  15. Interpret texts in depth and provide arguments for critical analysis.
  16. Maintain an attitude of respect for the opinions, values, behaviors and practices of others.
  17. Strengthen the capacity of reading, interpretation and critical analysis of literary texts and language.
  18. Use information in accordance with scientific ethics.

Content

1. Literary culture in the reigns of Peter III and his sons John I and Martin I (1337-1410). Friars and scholars in the Crown of Aragon. Royal patronage and translations. Historiography at the court of Peter III. Antoni Canals and other university-trained friars (Francesc Eiximenis, Vicent Ferrer)

2. Bernat Metge (1350-1413). Education and Latin background. The Llibre de Fortuna i Prudència (1381). Close reading of Metge's Lo somni(1399): date and political context; literary sources; structure and themes; meaning and intention.

3. The age of the Trastamara dinasty (1412-79). Overview of 15th-century poetry: Jordi de Sant Jordi and Ausiàs March. Overview of chivalric and sentimental prose: Joanot Martorell's Tirant lo Blanc, Joan Roís de Corella's mythological works, Jaume Roig's Espill.

4. Close reading of Curial e Güelfa (1440s): date and cultural context; the author's culture; literary sources: troubadour tradition and chronicles, 15th-century chivalry, classical and Italian culture; interpretation.

 

For further details, see the Guia Docent of De Bernat Metge al Curial e Güelfa (Filologia Catalana: estudis de literatura i lingüística).

Methodology

Lectures will provide students with the historical context of some of the major works of medieval Catalan literature (1399-1490). Classroom seminars are aimed at improving reading skills through the analysis of both the language and the literary contents of medium-sized texts. The students’ oral presentations of one of such texts are meant to promote debate in the classroom. Essays will be guided and chosen to foster in-depth comprehension of a major Catalan work and its relationship with the classical tradition.

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies. 

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures 30 1.2
Seminars (reading and debating) 17.5 0.7
Type: Supervised      
Essay writing and oral delivery 9 0.36
Type: Autonomous      
Research (bibliography) and use of the webpage (Campus Virtual) 10 0.4
Students' own reading of selected texts 30 1.2

Assessment

Students will be assessed by means of (a) written exam, (b) individual essays, and (c) oral presentations (in the classroom). The final qualification will result from the following proportion: (a) 50%, (b) 40%, (c) 10%. All course assignments must be submitted in due time.

Students will receive (via Moddle) prior notice of the date and all relevant information concerning their right to review any assessment item with their teacher.

Submission of an essay and the written exam are required for assessment. The minimum mark to pass is 5. Failure to submit either of the two exercises will result in Not assessable.

Previous evaluation of a set of activities equivalent to two thirds of the total value of the assignments, and a final mark between 3.5 and 4.9 are required to opt for reassessment. Reassessment may include a written exam and/or submitting again an essay which had not reached the pass mark (5). Students who pass the reassessment will obtain a 5.0 mark.

Any impropriety (such as plagiarism) that may be conducive to substantially alter the assessment of any item will result in a 0 mark for any such item, irrespectively of other disciplinary measures. Were such improper practices to take place repeatedly, the final mark for the subject concerned will be 0.

In the event that exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Essay writing 40% 24 0.96 1, 3, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 12, 13, 5, 4, 15, 16, 17, 9, 18
Exams (preparation and actual writing) 50% 28.5 1.14 1, 3, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 12, 13, 5, 4, 15, 16, 17, 9, 18
Oral presentation of a textual commentary 10% 1 0.04 1, 3, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 12, 13, 5, 4, 15, 16, 17, 9, 18

Bibliography

1. Basic bibliography

(a) Literary History

Badia, Lola (dir.), Història de la literatura catalana. Literatura medieval. Vol.I: Dels orígens al segle XIV. Vol. II: Segles XIV i XV. Vol. III: Segle XV (Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana / Barcino / Ajuntament de Barcelona, 2013-2015).

Riquer, Martí de, Història de la literatura catalana: part antiga, 3 vols. (Barcelona: Ariel, 1964); també en 4 vols. (Barcelona: Planeta, 1984). 

 

(b) General works

Badia, Lola, De Bernat Metge a Joan Roís de Corella. Estudis sobre la cultura literària de la tardor medieval catalana (Barcelona: Quaderns Crema, 1988).

Badia, Lola, Tradició i modernitat als segles XIV i XV. Estudis de cultura literària i lectures d'Ausiàs March (València / Barcelona: Institut Interuniversitari de Filologia Valenciana / Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, 1993).

Cabré, Lluís, Alejandro Coroleu, Albert Lloret, Montserrat Ferrer i Josep Pujol, The Classical Tradition in Medieval Catalan, 1300-1500: Translation, Imitation, and Literacy (Woodbridge: Tamesis, 2018).

 

2. Required readings

Bernat Metge, Lo somni, ed. Lola Badia (Barcelona: Quaderns Crema, 1999), with introduction and commentaries.

[Other available editions: (a) critical: ed. Martí de Riquer, Obras de Bernat Metge (Barcelona: UB, 1959); ed. Stefano M. Cingolani (Barcelona: Barcino, 2006); (b) other: ed. Lola Badia i Xavier Lamuela: Bernat Metge, Obra completa (Barcelona: Selecta, 1975); ed. M. Jordà, intr. Giuseppe Tavani (Barcelona: Eds. 62 / "la Caixa", 1989).]

 

Curial e Güelfa, ed. Lola Badia i Jaume Torró (Barcelona:Quaderns Crema, 2011), with introduction and commentaries.

[Other available editions: (a) critical: ed. Ramon Aramon i Serra (1930-33), rev. by Lola Badia i Jaume Torró (Barcelona: Barcino, 2018); (b) other: ed. Marina Gustà, intr. Giuseppe E. Sansone (Barcelona: Eds. 62 / "la Caixa", 1979), reed. with an introduction by Jordi Galves (Barcelona: Eds. 62, 2007).]

 

3. Additional bibliography 

In addition to the corresponding chapters in the basic bibliography, this section offers a selection of editions and studies on the authors and works studied.

 

Francesc Eiximenis

Eiximenis, Francesc, Llibres, mestres i sermons, ed. David Guixeras i Xavier Renedo, estudis introductoris de Xavier Renedo (Barcelona: Barcino, 2005).

Eiximenis, Francesc, Lo Crestià (selecció), ed. d'Albert Hauf (Barcelona: Eds. 62 / "la Caixa",  1983).

Martí, Sadurní, i Xavier Renedo (eds.), Francesc Eiximenis: Vida, obra i transmissió (Girona: Universitat de Girona, 2021).

 

Vicent Ferrer

Ferrer, Sant Vicent, Sermons. Versió a cura de Xavier Renedo i Lluís Cabré (Barcelona: Teide, 1993).

Martínez Romero, Tomàs, Aproximació als sermons de sant Vicent Ferrer (Paiporta: Denes, 2002).

Mira, Joan F., Sant Vicent Ferrer: Vida i llegenda d'un predicador (Alzira: Bromera, 2002).

 

Antoni Canals

Canals, Antoni, Scipió e Aníbal. De providència. De arra de ànima, ed. de Martí de Riquer (Barcelona: Barcino, 1935).

 

Anselm Turmeda

Metge, Bernat, i Anselm Turmeda, Obres menors, ed. de Marçal Olivar (Barcelona:Barcino, 1927).

Turmeda, Anselm, Disputa de l'ase, versió d'Albert Mestres i Marta Marfany (Barcelona: Barcino, 2013).

 

Bernat Metge

Cabré, Lluís, Alejandro Coroleu i Jill Kraye (eds.), Fourteenth-Century Classicism: Petrarch and Bernat Metge (Londres / Torí: The Warburg Institute / Nino Aragno Editore, 2012).

Cingolani, Stefano M., El somni d'una cultura: "Lo somni" de Bernat Metge (Barcelona: Quaderns Crema, 2002).

Metge, Bernat, Llibre de Fortuna i Prudència, ed. crítica de Lluís Cabré (Barcelona: Barcino, 2010).

Riquer, Martí de, Obras de Bernat Metge (Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona, 1959).

 

Fifteenth-Century Poetry

March, Ausiàs, Poesies, ed. de Pere Bohigas, revisada per Amadeu-J. Soberanas i Noemí Espinàs (Barcelona: Barcino, 2005; 1st ed. in 5 vols. 1952-1959).

March, Ausiàs, Per haver d'amor vida. Antologia comentada, ed. de Francesc J. Gómez i Josep Pujol (Barcelona: Barcino, 2018; 1st ed. 2018).

 

Fifteenth-Century Novel

Martorell, Joanot, Tirant lo Blanc, edició, introducció i notes de Josep Pujol (Barcelona: Barcino, 2021).

Roig, Jaume, Espill, ed. d'Antònia Carré (Barcelona: Quaderns Crema, 2006).

Roís de Corella, Joan, "Tragèdia de Caldesa" i altres proses, ed. de Marina Gustà, pròleg de Francisco Rico (Barcelona: Eds. 62 / "la Caixa", 1980).

  

4. Anthology of medieval Catalan texts 

Web de Literatura Catalana Medieval (Campus Virtual) (texts, maps, pictures and music). Additional resources in the course folder in the Campus Virtual.

 

5. Links

For the study of medieval literature and culture, see <www.narpan.net>.

All the medieval Catalan poetry has been compiled in the Repertorio Informatizzato dell’Antica Letteratura Catalana (RIALC): <www.rialc.unina.it>

Software

None.