SMC358F: Syllabus Dr Alison More

SMC 358S
The Mediaeval Book

Alison More | Queen’s Park Building (59 Queen’s Park Crescent) Office: 47 |
Office Hours: By appointment| alison.more@utoronto.ca
Class Location: Online | Thursday 11:00-13:00 |

Description:
This course examines aspects of mediaeval manuscript culture. We will study, first, how the parchment
for books was folded, pricked, ruled, and bound, and second, what scripts were employed in the different
codices. We will also examine the various types of books made in the Middle Ages and the challenges
they pose to modern scholars.

Recommended Preparation: LAT100Y/LAT102H1; SMC210H/SMC212H1 or a course in mediaeval

history.

Outcomes
On completion of the course, students will have:
• An understanding of the principles of book production in the mediaeval period
• A familiarity with various scripts and written materials through 1450
• A working knowledge of the elements of a medieval codex
• An understanding of the ways in which scholars use manuscripts

Expectations of students

Students are expected to attend all classes, to read the assigned material each week, to contribute to
classroom discussion and debate, and to hand in assignments on time (note that some assignments are
held in class).

Class schedule

Week 1 Introduction and Context

Parchment and its Production
January 14
Week 2 Text and Decoration
January 21

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Week 3 Overview of Scripts

January 28
Quiz One
Week 4 Monastic Scriptoria
February 4 Quiz Two
Week 5 Universities and Commercial Books
February 11 Quiz Three
Week ********Reading Week********
February 18
Week 7 Preaching
February 25 Quiz Four
Week 7 Biblical and Parabiblical Literature
March 4 Quiz Five
Books of Hours and Liturgical Texts
Week 8
Quiz Six
March 11
Folio description due
Week 9 Miscellanies and Fragments
March 18 Quiz Seven
Week 10 From Codex to Book
March 25 Quiz Eight
Week 11 Digitisation
April 1
Week 12 Facsimiles
April 8 Final test available. You have two weeks to complete it.

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Assignments and grading

Type Weight Description

Attendance and 10% Attendance, evidence of preparation, discussion or contribution to

Participation classroom activities and discussion.

Quizzes 40% There will be eight short quizzes. Grades will be taken from the top four.

Folio Description 30% Students are required to write an 6-8 page description and
contextualisation of a particular manuscript folio. Attention should be given
to features discussed in class. Choices will be made available on Quercus.
Due Week 8.

Final Test 20% Questions will be distributed in class. Students will have two weeks to
complete the assignment.

Course materials
Course readings and the manuscript samples are available on Quercus. These should be studied weekly
as part of class preparation.

On-line resources

• Cappelli, A., Dizionario di abbreviature latine ed italiane (1990).

• http://www.hist.msu.ru/Departments/Medieval/Cappelli/index.html

On-line Collections

• http://www.utm.edu/staff/bobp/vlibrary/mdmss.shtml

• http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/welcome.htm

NB – There are many collections of digitised manuscripts available online. A simple

Google search turns up hundreds of examples. If there is a particular collection you
are interested in or there is something you need help locating, please send the
instructor an email.

On-line Exercises:

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• http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/
• http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/
Late submission
The penalty for late submission of essays is -3% per day with a maximum of -15% per week. Please
contact me if you have any difficulties meeting deadlines. Covid has made things difficult for all of us
and it is necessary to make necessary accommodations.

E-mail
Students should not expect an immediate response to queries via e-mail. The course instructor will make
every effort to give a prompt response to e-mails received between 9:00-16.00 (Mon-Fri). Queries of a
more complex nature may be better dealt with at a meeting during office hours or an appointment.

Academic integrity and plagiarism

Students are expected to read and to adhere to the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on
Academic Matters (www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm). Presenting another’s
work as one’s own is a serious offence and is dealt with accordingly. If you have questions or concerns
about what constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods,
you are expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from
other institutional resources (see http://academicintegrity.utoronto.ca/).

Academic support
For general academic advising and problem-solving, please contact the St. Michael’s Registrar’s Office
at ask.smc@utoronto.ca or 416-926-7117.

Accessibility and disability issues

The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the
terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process that
acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that both meets the
needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the University’s courses and
programs. For more information on services and resources available to instructors and students, please
contact Tanya Lewis, Director of Academic Success and Accessibility Services, at 416-978-6268 or
tanya.lewis@utoronto.ca.

Recording classes and copyright

If a student wishes to tape-record, photograph, video-record or otherwise reproduce lecture
presentations, course notes or other similar materials provided by instructors, he or she must obtain the
instructor’s written consent beforehand. Otherwise all such reproduction is an infringement of copyright
and is absolutely prohibited.

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Class cancellation policy

If for an unforeseen reason the course instructor must cancel a class, students will be notified by email
and an announcement will be posted to Quercus.