| |
|
Spring 2002
This information effective
for Spring 2002.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
Spring 2002
Instructor: Professor Margaret Brose
TTh 2:00–3:45 p.m.
Stevenson 175
Sections: TBA
LITPR 183 will offer a close reading of the great Medieval literary work, the Divine Comedy, by the Italian poet, Dante Alighieri (1265–1321). The Divine Comedy consists of three poetic books (each one called a “cantica”); one each devoted to the three great realms of the after-life: Hell, Purgatory, Paradise. Dante’s journey into the after-life is guided by the Latin poet Virgil (of the Aeneid). We will focus on Dante as a love poet, a political poet, a poet writing in exile; we will examine formal, thematic, generic, symbolic, and gender aspects of the work, within its literary and cultural context.
Dante (and we, his readers) awaken in the dark wood of Inferno. We know that we are lost, that we cannot ignore the “beasts” we encounter, but must acknowledge hopelessness, alienation, deceit, and betrayal within ourselves. We are overcome by suffering and a fear “so bitter it is close to death” (“Tant’è amara che poco è più morte.”). We will journey with Dante, struggling to understand the contemporary meaning his journey holds for us, as well as his journey’s significance within the Medieval context
Above the gates of Hell is written: “Leave behind all hope, ye who enter!” (“Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’ entrate”): Read this Medieval classic epic and discover everything you ever wanted to know about sin and its punishments; follow Dante as he is led by Virgil through Hell and Purgatory, and learn about lust, gluttony, anger, betrayal, sodomy, and things unspeakable. Ascend into Paradise and behold the rewards of the virtuous. Experience first hand this master of poetic imagery and verse; learn why Dante continues to influence so many writers and thinkers. Why does Dante put his mentors and teachers into Hell and Purgatory? Learn why we use the term “poetic justice” to describe Dante’s vivid imagination of how the punishment fits the crime in a Hell which is always of our own making.
LTPR 183 REQUIRES NO KNOWLEDGE OF ITALIAN. WE USE BILINGUAL TEXTS; COURSE TAUGHT
IN ENGLISH. RECOMMENDED FOR UPPER-DIVISION STUDENTS.
STUDENTS WHO WANT CREDIT IN ITALIAN LITERATURE, ITALIAN STUDIES, OR LANGUAGE STUDIES SHOULD ENROLL IN LTPR 183 and attend all LTPR 183 lectures and a required discussion section. They will meet individually with the professor to select paper topics and critical essays in Italian; their papers will analyze the original Italian text of the Divine Comedy.
LTPR 183 satisfies the “Pre-1750” and the “Poetry” Literature Major requirements.
Readings:
Selections from Medieval
Love Lyrics (Provençal, Old French, Italian)
The Vita Nuova, Dante’s youthful autobiography about his love for
Beatrice
Dante’s youthful erotic poems, “The Stony-poems” (not written
for Beatrice!)
Dante’s Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, selected “canti”
from Paradiso
Virgil Aeneid, Books 1–6
St. Augustine, Confessions, Books 1–8
Ovid, Metamorphoses, selected myths
We will also read selected critical essays; there will be several quest lecturers and presentations on Medieval art.
Class requirements:
(1) Faithful attendance at all lectures, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at the weekly discussion section meetings.
(2) Two papers: one short (4–5 pages); and one longer (8–10) pages, with a research component (consultation and discussion of at least one critical essay).
(3) Final examination, written.
For further information,
contact Professor Margaret Brose
E-mail: mbrose@cats.ucsc.edu
227 Cowell
phone: X 9-4575