Dante's Divine Comedy (275-0-20)

Topic

The Good of Intellect

Instructors

Paola Nasti

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-435: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

At once an extraordinary adventure and an ambitious reflection on the political, social, religious, philosophical, and theological landscape of the early fourteenth century, Dante Alighieri's (1265-1321) Divine Comedy stands as one of the foundational texts of European literature and thought. Refashioning the conventions of poetry, Dante transforms the account of his visionary journey through the three realms of the Christian afterlife - Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise - into a profound meditation on the human condition at the close of the Middle Ages.
This course examines the Comedy within its cultural, social, and political contexts. We will explore how Dante redefined the relationships between the human and the divine, justice and peace, love and hatred, will and reason, happiness and knowledge, literature and Scripture. The poem will serve as a framework to discuss how literature, grounded in ethical and rational thought, responds to political turmoil, philosophical debate, and religious conflict to reimagine a just, peaceful, and lawful world.
Taught in English. No prerequisites in Italian.

Evaluation Method

Written assignments, creative projects, participation

Class Materials (Required)

Dante Alighieri, 'Divine Comedy', 3 vols, translated by Robert and Jean Hollander, edited by Robert Hollander, New York: Doubleday 2002. 2004, 2007.
Dante's text is available on line (with various commentaries). Buying the first volume, ‘Inferno', is highly advised.
Any other edition is allowed as long as it includes a footnotes and commentary.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area