Dr. Kristin Stasiowski

Discover why Dante's Divine Comedy has inspired writers and readers for nearly 700 years in this engaging, interdisciplinary discussion of some select canti (sections of poems) from the Paradiso. Dante's poetic and moral imagination has inspired generations of writers, thinkers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists. This seminar will explore how and why Dante's influence has endured and what about the Divine Comedy’s last chapter makes it a perennially relevant masterpiece of world literature.
Some of the central topics of the course will include Dante’s unique vision of the heavenly sphere, his relationship to the past and the future, the blessed figures from theology to philosophy that he encounters amongst the stars, and a discussion on a variety of thematic concerns such as Dante’s understanding of poetry, grace, love, and divine justice. We will also discuss how the Divine Comedy’s last chapter offers an enduring message for today with an eye to its enduring relevance to modern-day readers.
This course is open to all and does not require an understanding of the previous chapters of Dante’s Divine Comedy (Inferno and Purgatorio). The course will use John D. Sinclair’s translation of the Divine Comedy.
This three-part seminar will include close readings of the following canti of the Paradiso.

OBJECTIVES:
CULTURE AND HISTORY: Students will develop a deeper appreciation of the historical, literary and theological context of the Divine Comedy.
CRITICAL APPROACH: Students will gain the ability to read works of literary, rhetorical and cultural criticism and will work on their own critical, active reading and writing skills through directed reading.
SENSE OF GENRE: Students will be able to identify formal elements of Dante’s use of language and poetry and how those shape the overall meaning of his poem.
ORAL COMMUNICATION: Students will learn productive and relevant modes of discourse to speak thoughtfully and in an informed way about moral, philosophical, ethical, and theological concerns in the Divine Comedy.

Lecture 1: "An Introduction to Paradise"
This lecture will cover the first few canti of the Paradiso (1-3) and offers an introduction to the major themes and issues of Dante’s idea of Heaven.

Lecture 2: "The Heaven of Mars and Jupiter"
This lecture will offer an in-depth discussion on Canti XIV-XVIII of the Paradiso.

Lecture 3: "A Divine Vision for All"
This lecture will focus on Dante’s examination of Faith, Hope, and Love before moving on to the last canto of the Paradiso whereby we explore Dante’s final vision of the Divine.

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