RL 680 - Dante and His Times
Course Description
The seminar Dante and His Times will focus on some of Dante’s major works while looking attentively at the times in which he was writing. Such times are among the most relevant in our history. Dante’s work is the culmination of Medieval thought and already the beginning of what will develop later. Humanism, Renaissance, Baroque and the Modern will look to the thought, rhetoric, and theory of language of Dante. In Italy and outside of Italy Petrarch and Boccaccio carried Dante’s legacy. England, France, and Spain will assimilate Italian culture and will deal with Dante both directly and indirectly.
It is the aim of this course to examine Dante’s work in detail while considering his relevance for other major European thinkers and writers.
Students will take a final examination, and write a research paper in addition to several class presentations.