Course syllabus
Italian 711 Dante 2016
Lecturer: Franco Manai: Ext. 87139
f.manai@auckland.ac.nz
Lectures: Wed 3-5 room 260 307;
Tutorials: Fridays 12-1 pm room 206 214
Points: 30 points
Restrictions: ITALIAN 302
Course description – Aims and Objectives
This course is an introduction to Dante Alighieri’s poem La divina commedia, The Divine Comedy, the founding text of Italian literature and one of the canonical books of Western culture. This book is a summa of medieval learning and we will study its historical context of the late Middle Ages but will also discuss its relevance today. The poem narrates Dante’s imaginary journey in the afterlife world which he divides in Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory) and Paradiso (Paradise). We will undertake close readings in English of selected cantos from the original text in Italian. Students are expected to produce well researched and well referenced essays.
Students will hone their critical thinking skills while developing the skills necessary for perceptive literary and cultural analysis.
Required Text: La divina commedia.
There will be a Talis list of required critical material
Assessment: Two essays of about 3000 words, each worth 30% of the final mark; one essay of about 4000 words worth 40%. No final exam.
First essay due on Aug 20th
Second essay due on Sept 23rd
Third essay due on Oct 28th
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Italian 711 Dante 2016
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Lecture’s title |
Readings |
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20 July |
Introduction to the course. Dante’s reception history from the early Renaissance to the present. Dante’s life and literary production |
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22July |
Europe at the time of Dante. Empire and Papacy
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http://etcweb.princeton.edu/dante/index.html Read info on Dante’s biography and get acquainted with his works in the Dante’s project of Princeton University |
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27 July |
Introduction to the Divine Comedy Description of the work. The divisions of the book. The symbolic use of the numbers. |
Inferno: Canto 1 |
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29 July |
The story and its sources. The journey in the world of the dead. |
Inferno: Cantos 2-6 (Limbo, Lustful, Gluttons) |
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3 Aug |
The protagonist: Dante as author and Dante as character |
Inferno: Cantos 7-9 (Avaricious & Prodigal, Wrathful & Sullen) |
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5 Aug |
The fundamental allegory |
Inferno: Cantos 10-12 (Heretics, Murderers)
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10 Aug |
The poem’s subject matter |
Inferno: Cantos 13-16 (Suicides, Blasphemers, Sodomites) |
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12 Aug |
The division of the subject matter |
Inferno: Cantos 19-23 (Simonists, Soothsayers, Grafters, Hypocrites) |
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17 Aug |
The cultural model of the poem |
Inferno: Cantos 24-26 (Thieves, Evil Counselors)
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19 Aug |
Dante’s Cosmos |
Inferno: Cantos 27-30 (Evil Counselors, Schismatics, Falsifiers) Inferno: Cantos 31-34 (Giants, Traitors)
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24 Aug |
Astronomy and Theology in the poem |
Purgatorio 1-4 (Cato, Casella, Manfred, Belacqua) |
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26 Aug |
History in the poem |
Purgatorio 25-27 (Guinizzelli, Daniel); Vita Nuova pp. 46-64
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14 Sept |
The ethical-religious system |
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16 Sept |
The figural reading of the poem |
Purgatorio 28-33 (Matelda, Beatrice)
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21 Sept |
The economy of the poetic language of the Commedia |
Paradiso 1-4 (Moon) |
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23 Sept |
Theory of society in the Commedia: Carlo Martello d’Angiò |
Paradiso 5-9 (Moon, Mercury, Venus)
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28 Sept |
The terza rima as a form of reasoning |
Paradiso 31-33 (Empyrean)
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30 Sept |
The Commedia as a dream |
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5 Oct |
The influence of Dante on Italian language |
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7 Oct |
Dante and his relationship with political power |
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12 Oct |
Dante: the poet becomes prophet |
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14 Oct |
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19 Oct |
Conclusion |
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21 Oct |
Conclusion |
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Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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