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2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ITAL3035 Dante: Purgatorio and Paradiso (in translation)

20 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Matthew Treherne
Email: m.treherne@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students must have passed Level 2 with permission to proceed to Level 3. Previous knowledge of Dante (see below) is essential. Ability to speak/read Italian is not required.

Pre-requisites

ITAL3360

Introduction to Dante: Inferno and Vita Nova (in translation

This module is mutually exclusive with

ITAL3020

Dante, Purgatorio and Paradiso

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Dante Alighieri is one of the most important and innovative figures of the European Middle Ages. His Commedia tells the story of the journey to God of a character who is, at one and the same time, both Dante himself and Everyman. This module aims to give students an in-depth knowledge of the Purgatorio and the Paradiso, both in terms of a detailed knowledge of the text of the poem and in terms of the general ideas contained therein. This module will examine Dante's views on politics, religion, poetry and so on, as well as suggesting some of the reasons for his poem's enduring importance in Italian literature. The module will build on the knowledge of Dante and the Commedia already acquired on ITAL3360, which is an essential prerequisite for this module. No knowledge of the Italian language is required.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be:
- able to show an informed understanding of the whole of Dante's Commedia, with particular reference to Purgatorio and Paradiso;
- familiar with the main themes of the text and with its historical, religious and cultural context.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- read, analyse and understand a poem written in medieval Italy, showing understanding of the text's historical, religious, political, and cultural references;;
- gather, evaluate and use information from secondary sources;
- show an awareness of the historical, cultural and linguistic situation of 14th-century Italy;
- communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
- use IT effectively, both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning;
- take personal responsibility for their own learning.

Syllabus

This module aims to give students an in-depth knowledge of the Purgatorio and the Paradiso, both in terms of a detailed knowledge of the text of the poem (in translation) and in terms of the general ideas contained therein. The module will build on the knowledge of Dante and the Commedia already acquired on ITAL3360, and will examine Dante's views on politics, religion, poetry and so on, as well as suggesting some of the reasons for his poem's enduring importance in Italian literature. Seminars will concentrate on a close reading of selected cantos, with student-led presentations. An outline structure is given below:

Week 1:
Lecture: Introduction to Dante's Purgatory
Seminar: Purgatorio I; Independent reading: Purgatorio III-V

Week 2:
Lecture: Pain with a Purpose: The Moral Structure of Dante's Purgatory
Seminar: Purgatorio X and XI; Independent reading: Purgatorio VI-XI

Week 3:
Lecture: Pagans in Purgatory
Seminar: Purgatorio XVI; Independent reading: Purgatorio XII-XVI

Week 4:
Lecture: Poets and Poetry in Purgatory
Seminar: Purgatorio XXI and XXVI; Independent reading: Purgatorio XVII-XXVI

Week 5:
Lecture: Endings and New Beginnings: The Earthly Paradise
Seminar: Purgatorio XXX and XXXIII; Independent reading: Purgatorio XXVI-XXXIII

Week 6:
Lecture: Introduction to Paradiso: Artistic and Intellectual Challenges
Seminar: Paradiso I; Independent reading: Paradiso I-VII

Week 7: Reading Week

Week 8:
Lecture: Theology and the Structures of the Paradiso
Seminar: Paradiso XI and XII; Independent reading: Paradiso VIII-XIII

Week 9:
Lecture: Language and Politics in Paradiso
Seminar: Paradiso XV and XVII; Independent reading: Paradiso XIV-XVIII

Week 10:
Lecture: Justice, Reason and Faith in Paradiso
Seminar: Paradiso XIX; Paradiso XXVII; Independent reading: Paradiso XIX-XXVII

Week 11:
Lecture: The Vision of God and the Problem of Ineffability
Seminar: Paradiso XXX and XXXIII; Independent reading: Paradiso XXVIII-XXXIII

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Independent online learning hours			20.00
Private study hours			160.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- Private study, reading of texts, preparation for general class discussion: 110 hours
- Engagement with online resources for this module (e.g. VLE-based discussion forum; 'Discover Dante' website: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/discoverdante
- Preparation and writing of two assessed essays: 45 hours
- Preparation for class presentation and other classroom roles (e.g. discussion leader/respondent): 5 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored via feedback given on the first essay (which will be returned in good time before the deadline for the second essay) and on the assessed class feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 words	45.00
Essay	2,500 words	45.00
Presentation	1 x 10 minute Verbal Presentation	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students receive a mark for their presentation performance which can be adjusted by +/- 10% depending on their overall performance in seminars.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 05/09/2014

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