A part of the course is dedicated to the fundamentals of the discipline, therefore to the birth and differentiation of the Romance languages and to the origins of the literature written in those languages. During the lectures a general overview of the historical-cultural and linguistic processes that led to the birth and development of Romance languages and literatures is provided and some ancient testimonies are analyzed from a historical and linguistic point of view. Particular attention is paid to the genetic relationships between the various languages and to the factors that determined their progressive differentiation. A minor part of the course is devoted to the reception and fortune of the poetry in langue d'oc and to its diffusion in medieval Europe also through the analysis of some novels in verse. From a literary historical point of view, some poetic texts of the most important poets and some novels in Provençal and Old French are analyzed from a thematic, linguistic and formal point of view. EXPECTED RESULTS: At the end of the course students will learn about the history of Romance language formation and the birth of literature written in those languages, the main linguistic changes that characterize the transition from spoken Latin to Romance languages and some of the distinctive features that identify them, the elements that characterize romance poetry with respect to the tradition of classical and medieval latin poetry; moreover they will know how to orient themselves in the thematic, linguistic and formal analysis of a medieval text.

1. Lorenzo Renzi - Alvise Andreose, Manuale di linguistica e filologia romanza, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003 (o ed. successive).
** A digital version of the volume is available for a fee on the publisher's website: https://www.pandoracampus.it/store/10.978.8815/325884

2. One to choose from: Aurelio Roncaglia, Le origini della lingua e letteratura italiana, Torino, Utet, 2006; Luciano Formisano, La lirica romanza nel Medioevo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012; Alberto Limentani - Marco Infurna, L'epica romanza nel medioevo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007.
** Those who have difficulty finding these materials can contact the teacher directly.

3. In addition FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS: handouts and texts provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course.

4. In addition FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: handouts and materials available on Moodle "Lecture notes for non-attending students".

IT IS SUGGESTED TO ALL NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE TEACHER BEFORE THE EXAM.