RLS303 Essentials of Medieval Literature

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Petra Mutlová, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Petra Mutlová, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:40 B2.32, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! LJ303 Intro to Medieval Latin Lit.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the basic map of literary genres of medieval Latin literature, its main periods, authors and treatises. Understanding medieval Latin literature and the general knowledge of it is the necessary prerequisite for grasping further cultural developments of particular literatures both medieval and early modern and modern. The course will focus on these connections and will provide general information about the intermediate features of medieval Latin literature.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course students will understand the continuity between the Ancient literary culture and the literary culture of the Middle Ages, or the Modern period. They will grasp the characteristics of this process based on particular medieval literary works (in translations) of both European and Bohemian origin. They will be able to describe basic literary genres of medieval Latin literature and define their main features.
Syllabus
  • 1.-2. Specific features of medieval literature and medieval Latin. Bible as the basic text of medieval literary discourse.
  • 3.-4. Reception of Ancient literature in the Middle Ages. Lae Ancient literature. Transition period (6.-8. cen.).
  • 5.-11. Selected genres of medieval Latin literature (exempla, hagiography, historiography, poetry, epic, mysticism).
  • 12.-13. Medieval returns to the motives of literary tradition of Classical Antiquity.
Literature
    required literature
  • NECHUTOVÁ, Jana and Dana STEHLÍKOVÁ. Stručné dějiny latinské literatury středověku. Edited by Jan Kalivoda. 1. vyd. Praha: Arista, 2013, 309 s. ISBN 9788073401450. info
  • NECHUTOVÁ, Jana. Středověká latina (Medieval Latin). První vyd. Praha: KLP, 2002, 164 pp. 654,2. ISBN 80-85917-82-3. info
    recommended literature
  • CURTIUS, Ernst Robert. Evropská literatura a latinský středověk. Vyd. 1. Praha: Triáda, 1998, 738 s. ISBN 80-86138-07-0. info
  • VIDMANOVÁ, Anežka. Laborintus : latinská literatura středověkých Čech. Vyd. 1. Praha: KLP-Koniasch Latin Press, 1994, 222 s. ISBN 8090150861. info
  • Antika a česká kultura. Edited by Ladislav Varcl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1978, 575 s. URL info
  • Středověká latinská literatura (6.-15. století) : příručka. Edited by Claudio Leonardi. Vydání první. Praha: Academia, 2014, 502 stran. ISBN 9788020023872. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminar discussions, group project, presentation of a selected literary work.
Assessment methods
Regular and active class participation, incl. discussions about continuous reading assignments. Two assignments: 1. presentation of a selected medieval author; 2. written essay on a selected medieval text (in translation). At the end of the course a discussion about the topics covered during the semester will take place.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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