2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MEDV5120M Palaeography: Reading Medieval Manuscripts

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Charles Roe
Email: C.H.Roe@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Before the development of printing in the fifteenth century textual material in medieval Western Europe was all handwritten. Knowing how to decipher the wide range of scripts and abbreviations used between c.600 and c.1500 is essential for reading hitherto unpublished texts and important for evaluating editions. Many collections of manuscripts have been digitised and provide a great range of materials to explore. The module provides practical training in reading and transcribing medieval manuscripts.

Objectives

The module aims to teach you the practical skills of deciphering and transcribing medieval handwritings, as well as to you awareness of different styles of writing and of chronological changes in writing styles.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Read a variety of western European hands
2. Recognise and expand symbols of abbreviation.
3. Transcribe manuscripts accurately.

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Skill in reading historical handwritings.
5. Appraise and use digital resources.

Syllabus

The module focuses on palaeographical training, familiarising students with a range of scripts used in different kinds of documents from Carolingian to late medieval times. After an introductory class the module will essentially follow a chronological sequence. The examples to be used can include formal European and English book-hands, a variety of cursive documentary hands, and cursive book-hands. The languages in which the scripts are written normally include Latin, French and English. There will also be consideration of contextual issues, including the techniques and materials of medieval writing, literacy and the politics of script, and the idea of forgery.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			128.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Ahead of the two summative coursework assignments, students will undertake a formative assignment consisting of 4 transcription exercises for which they will receive written feedback, to allow them to build up confidence in reading medieval handwritings and in presenting their transcriptions appropriately.
Students will also receive written feedback on the two summative exercises, and in addition progress can be monitored by observing their work on transcription in class.
Written feedback on the formative and the two summative assessments will consist of a detailed letter by letter correction of errors in the students’ transcriptions.

In all, students will complete three written assignments, one formative and two summative, with each assignment consisting of four transcription passages of about 150 words each.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	4 transcription exercises	50.00
Assignment	4 transcription exercises	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

ACWEach transcription exercise will consist of one short passage of about 150 words. The first summative coursework assignment will provide a variety of scripts from the earlier and central middle ages. The second summative coursework assignment will provide a variety of scripts from the later middle ages, which can be hard to read; the process is made easier if skills in reading hands from the earlier and central middle ages are acquired first.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/10/2024

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