This course on the Divine Comedy will be a reading of the entire text in the light of what it purports to be – a journey toward the vision of God. This approach does not mean dissolving the narrative in allegory or ignoring literary considerations in favor of Christian theology: it means taking full account of the poem as a path with a divine destination. Special interest will be paid to how Dante transforms his pagan sources, how deeply he assimilates the Bible and its interpretative traditions, and how boldly he attempts to establish his own text as a "sacred poem."
We will be using the bilingual edition of the Commedia by Durling-Martinez, Inferno. Please bring this text to class. We will also read selections from Virgil's Aeneid in Robert Fagles' 2006 translation. Other readings, indicated with [pdf] will be made available via the class Dropbox.
Week One
Introduction to the course
Week Two
Entering the Dark Wood, Inf. 1–2
Additional Reading
Pertile, L.“Introduction to Inferno” CCD (2nd ed.), 67-90 [pdf]
Durling, “Introduction,” pp. 3–24
Note 1
Hawkins, P. “Dante’s Life and Works” and “Dante’s Journey to God” [pdf]
Virgil’s Aeneid, Books 1-4
Focus on Dido in Books 1 and 4
Week Three
Virgil’s Aeneid, Books 5-6
Focus on Book 6, the descent to the underworld.
The Christian Afterlife
Additional reading
The Revelation according to John (Douai-Rheims version is 1610 English trans. of Dante’s Vulgate, available here
Vision of Tundale [pdf]
Vision of Thurkill [pdf]
Gardiner, “Introduction,” in Visions of Heaven and Hell before Dante [pdf]
Week Four
Virgil's Inferno, Inf. 3–4
Additional Reading
Reread Note 1
Hawkins, P. , “Descendit ad inferos” [pdf]
Brownlee, K. “Dante and the Classical Poets,” CCD, 141-160. [pdf]
Schildgen, B. “Philosophers, Theologians, and Islamic Legacy in Dante” [pdf]
Amor, amor, amor Inf. 5
Intensive reading of a single canto. Pay particular attention to Francesca’s speeches in vv. 100–108 and 121–142.
Week Five
Virgil's Authority: Rise and Fall, Inf. 6–9
Discussion foci, Filippo Argento, canto 8, the impasse before the Gates of Dis in cantos 8–9
Politics and Vocation: Farinata and Cavalcanti, Inf. 10–11
Additional Reading
Notes 2–5
Najemy, “Dante and Florence,” CCD, 236-256 [pdf]
Week Six
Politics and Vocation: Farinata and Cavalcanti, Inf. 10–11
Additional Reading
Notes 2–5
Najemy, “Dante and Florence,” CCD, 236-256 [pdf]
Pilgrim and Pope Inf. 16.90-20
Additional Reading
Dante, “Epistle to the Italian Cardinals”[pdf]
Hawkins, P. “The Scriptural Self”[pdf]
Week Seven
Pandemonium: Demonic low comedy in the Commedia, Inf. 21-23
Breaking Boundaries: Ulysses, Inf. 24-26
Additional Reading
Notes 10–11;
Week Eight
no classes
Week Nine
Deep Malebolgia, Inf. 27-31
Notes 12, 13.
Mallette, K. “Muhammad in Hell” [pdf]
Traitors: Ugolino and Cardinal Ruggieri, Inf. 32-33a
Additional Reading
Notes 14, 15, 16
Week Ten
Bottom of the Universe, Inf. 33b-34a: Fra Alberigo
Week Eleven
Bottom of the Universe, Inf. 33b-34a: Fra Alberigo
Week Twelve
Purgatory: Catholic Tradition and Dantean Invention, Inf. 34b, Purg. 1
Additional Reading
Note 1
“St. Patrick’s Purgatory”[pdf]
Schnapp, J. “Introduction to Purgatorio,” CCD, 91-106 [pdf]
Casella’s Song, Cato’s Rebuke, Purg. 2
Note 2
Dante, Convivio readings [pdf]
Week Thirteen
Trauma and Transfiguration, Purg. 3-5
Additional Reading
Notes 3, 4
Ante-Purgatory,Purg. 6–8
Hawkins, P. ,“Crossing Over: Dante and Pilgrimage”[pdf]
Note 5
Week Fourteen
reading period
Week Fourteen
Threshold Crossing: Dreams and Doors, Purg. 9
Terrace of Pride, Purg. 10-12
Additional Reading
Note 6-8
Week Fifteen
Terrace of Pride, Purg. 10-12
Vickers, N. “Seeing is Believing” [pdf]