This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Students will be introduced to Dante’s literary masterpiece through a selective reading of cantos from each of the three books of the Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise), focusing on the moral theology that informs the work.
Total classes: 6
Prerequisite: The ability to read and enjoy Dante’s Divine Comedy
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested credit: ½ semester Medieval Literature or Literature
Description
Students will be introduced to Dante’s literary masterpiece through a selective reading of cantos from each of the three books of the Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise), focusing on the moral theology that informs the work.
Outline
Week 1: Introducing Dante & The Divine Comedy; Inferno, Cantos 1, 3, 5,
Week 2: Inferno, Cantos 23, 25, 34
Week 3: Purgatory, Cantos 1, 3, 9, 11
Week 4: Purgatory, Cantos 28, 29, 30, 33
Week 5: Paradise, Cantos 10, 11, 12, 13, 19
Week 6: Paradise, Cantos 24, 26, 31, 33
Materials and Homework
Course Materials: We will read selections from Dorothy L. Sayers’ translations. Professor Pearce will refer to her notes and commentaries, so students must purchase or borrow these specific editions:
Dante, The Divine Comedy, Part 1: Hell (Penguin Classics: ISBN #0140440062)
Dante, The Divine Comedy, Part 2: Purgatory (Penguin Classics: ISBN #0140440461)
Dante, The Divine Comedy, Part 3: Paradise (Penguin Classics: ISBN #0140441050)
Homework: The homework for each class will include the reading assignment for the week (approximately 1 hour) and then reviewing for, and taking, the weekly quiz (approximately 1 hour).
