COL234 - Dante and Medieval Culture I

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Academic Year 2001/2002

Dante and Medieval Culture I
COL 234 FA

Crosslistings:
FIST 241

The purpose of this two-semester course is to offer students as complete an immersion in the world of Dante's Divine Comedy as is possible without being able actually to read the poem in its original language. In addition to a careful and thorough line-by-line reading and discussion of the Comedy itself, the course will include attention to the art, architecture, and music of Dante's time, as well as to its history. Philosophical and theological materials relevant to the understanding of Dante's p oetry will also be studied. The two semesters together should provide not only a thorough study of the Comedy, but also a detailed introduction to High Medieval culture.

This is not an "ampersand" course, and students may elect to take either seme ster without the other. However, they should be aware that: 1) students taking the second semester only should have read at least the INFERNO and the first two-thirds of PURGATORY before the beginning of the semester; and 2) the second semester ONLY is a "Permission of Instructor" course, as preference for enrollment in it will be given to students who have satisfactorily completed the first semester.

MAJOR READINGS

Over the course of both semesters we will read Dante's DIVINE COMEDY in its entirety, as well as several of Dante's "minor" works (VITA NUOVA and various lyrics, and perhaps also some excerpts from his philosophical and political writings). In addition, the reading will include selections from late antique and medieval philosophy, medieval theology and patristic literature, poetry by Dante's contemporaries in Italy and by Provencal poets who influenced him, and some historical and critical materials.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

3 papers (probably).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students may be asked to keep a journal.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA COL Grading Mode: Student Option

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Needler,Howard I.

Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: BTFDC210

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 20)

SR. major: 2 Jr. major: 4

SR. non-major: 3 Jr. non-major: 4 SO: 4 FR: 3

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Speaking, Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002