We will be using the bilingual editions of the Commedia by Durling-Martinez, Purgatorio and Paradiso
We will also read Virginia Jewiss's translation of Dante's Vita Nuova in the bilingual edition (Penguin 2022) and Bonaventure's Itinerarium mentis in deum in the bilingual edition and translation by Regis J. Armstrong, Into God: Itinerarium Mentis in Deum of Saint Bonaventure (Catholic University of America Press 2020). Additional readings will be uploaded to the class dropbox and appear as [pdf] here.
Week One
(Re)Introduction to the Course: refresh your understanding of the canticle and of Dante's version of Purgatory
Additional Reading
Schnapp, J. "Introduction to Purgatory" [pdf]
Morgan, "The Mountain of Purgatory" [pdf]
Envy: Purgatory 13-15
Additional Reading
Hawkins, P. "Divide and Conquer: Augustine in the Comedy" [pdf]
Week Two
Wrath and Sloth, Center of the Commedia: Purg. 16-18
Additional Reading
Note 9
Avarice and Prodigality, Meeting with Statius, Purg. 19-22
Additional Reading
Vergil, Eclogue IV (Durling-Martinez, 584-587)
Week Three
Gluttony and Lust, 'Sweet New Style,' Purg. 24-26
Additional Reading
Notes 10, 11
Barolini, T. "Dante and the Lyric Past" [pdf]
Entering Eden, Purg 27-28
Additional Reading
Notes 12, 13
Hawkins, P. "Watching Matelda" [pdf]
Guido Cavalcanti's Pastorella (Durling-Martinez, 588-589)
Week Four
Vernacular Love Lyrics
Additional Reading
Valency, M. "New Life" [pdf]
Italian love lyrics [pdf]
Vita Nuova
Additional Reading
Introduction to Vita Nuova
Week Five
holiday
Additional Reading
Dante's Vita Nuova
for context you may want to watch Prof. Giuseppe Mazzotta's lecture on the Vita Nuova
Departure of Virgil, Advent of Beatrice, Purg. 29-30a
Additional Reading
Note 14
Hawkins, P. "Dido, Beatrice, Signs of Ancient Love" [pdf]
Jacoff, R. "Purgatorio 30" [pdf]
Week Six
Judgment Day, Purg. 30b-31
Paper # 1 due
Additional Reading
Note 15
Hawkins, P. "Dante's Beatrice" [pdf]
Apocalypse Now, Purg. 32-33
Additional Reading
Note 15
Hawkins, P. "Transfiguring the Text" [pdf]
Week Seven
Bonaventure, Itinerarium mentis in deum
Paradiso 1-2, Trasumanare
Additional Reading
Hawkins, P. "Augustine, Dante, and the Dialectic of Ineffability" [pdf]
Jacoff, R. "Shadowy Prefaces: An Introduction to the Paradiso" [pdf]
Newman, F. "St. Augustine's Three Visions and the Structure of the Commedia" [pdf]
Ovid, Metamorphoses, 6.383- Marsyus
Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.917-959, Glaucus
Week Eight
Moon, Par. 3-5, Dante's Questions and Beatrice's Answers
Additional Reading
Dante, Letter to Can Grande [pdf]
Mercury and Venus, Par. 6-9
Additional Reading
Hawkins, P. "All Smiles" [pdf]
Anselm, Cur Deus homo
Week Nine
Spring Break
Week Ten
Sun, Par. 10-14a Like Clockwork
Additional Reading
Moevs, C. "Miraculous Syllogisms: Clocks, Faith and Reason in Paradiso 10 and 24" [pdf]
Williams, A.N. "The Theology of the Comedy" [pdf]
Mars, Par. 14b-18a Cacciaguida: Dante's past and future
Week Eleven
Jupiter, Par. 18b-20, Eagle of Justice
Additional Reading
Ripheus! (canto 20)
Saturn, Par. 21-23, Contemplatives and First Vision of City of God
Week Twelve
Fixed Stars, Par. 24-27, Theological Examination: Dante 'star' pupil
Primum Mobile, Par.28-30a, Entering the Empyrean
Week Thirteen
Paper #2 due
Empyrean, Par. 3b-32, Celestial Rose
Empyrean, Par. 33, Final Visions
Week Fourteen
One single spaced page (and no more) reflection on what the experience of reading the Comedy has meant to and for you. To be shared in final class, so please bring a hard copy.
Week Fifteen
In class final exam