Principles of Medieval Literature Studies in Lviv in the Context of Modern Germanic Medieval Studies

Abstract

The report noted the important scientific contribution of the World Literature Department of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in medieval literature studies. It is emphasized that although the relevant literary school was not created, but there a serious foundation for literary phenomena of Western European Middle Ages research was laid, which was further developed. It is also indicated that primarily the publication of the textbooks The History of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance by M. S. Shapovalova, H. L. Rubanova and V. A. Motornyi, and The History of World literature. Western European Middle Ages (3rd – 14th cc.) by H. L. Rubanova contributed to this development. These textbooks are not only the source of information and guidance in the learning process, but also they convincingly demonstrated their scientific potential. The conception of the textbooks was analyzed, basing on the idea of comparative studies of Western medieval literature and the theory of historical anthropology, which developed under the influence of the Russian school recognized by western science. In relation with this complex and important area of interest for the department a number of current issues related to the latest medieval studies were outlined, which can be considered as vectors of investigation, namely the definition of historical knowledge, the understanding of otherness and modernity of medieval literature, highlighting the changing image of the Middle Ages within the great time, the interpretation of medieval culture world depiction. The analysis involved a review of known medievalist and literary critic I. Kachurovsky, who draws special attention to the need for providing the course in the history of Western medieval literature with relevant Ukrainian language materials, referring to the translation of the oldest monuments of Germanic poetry by Ivan Franko. The need for particular careful attention to the accumulated material for further development of this important field of literary research is ascertained.