Winter 2000
This information effective for Winter 2000.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes..
Professor: Margaret Brose
Mon, Wed, Friday
11:00 AM -12:10 PM
College VIII, room 240
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.
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; 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 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 WILL ENROLL IN LTIT 130A (they will attend LTPR 183 lectures, sections, and also meet with the professor to work on selected canti in Italian).
LTPR 183 satisfies the "Pre-1750" and the "Poetry" Literature Major requirements.
Readings:
Selections from Medieval Love Lyrics (Provencal, 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; quest lecture presentation on Medieval art.
Class requirements:
(1) Faithful attendance at all lectures, Mon, Wed, Friday, and at the weekly discussion section meetings.
(2) Two papers: one short (5 pages); and one longer (8-10) pages, with a research component.
(3) Final examination, written.
For further information, contact Professor Margaret Brose
227 Cowell
phone: X9-4575 (messages (X9-2609)
Email: mbrose@cats.ucsc.edu