Aims

To acquaint students with the main classification methods for ancient manuscripts in view of the elaboration of a critical edition. To reveal through examples the important principles of the history of texts and textual criticism.

Main themes

The aim of the course is to give students the most exact knowledge possible, through theoretical presentations and, more importantly, practical applications of the important methods of manuscript classification and stemma elaboration, specifically for Medieval or Renaissance manuscripts, referring to historical methods only in so far as they are of current practical use. The critical principles of restoration are studied, most often through chosen applications. The course is thus more like a guided seminar than a theoretical lecture course.

Content and teaching methods

- The heuristics of manuscript sources; - internal and external criticism; - ecdotic methods; - elaboration of a critical edition (establishing the text, critical apparatus, multiple versions…); - the choice of versions and textual criticism; - Introduction to computer methods.
Practical examples are chosen, for the most part, from among Ancient and Medieval Latin texts.

Other credits in programs