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 Purgatorio (Purgatory). We will delve deep into the fantastical world of Dante's second realm of the imagined afterlife and discuss his writing not only in its medieval context but also with an eye to its enduring relevance to modern-day readers. Close readings of select canti will explore the literary, political, theological, and philosophical concerns of the Purgatorio to understand Dante's thematic concerns within the wider intellectual and poetic goals of the whole Comedy.

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: "The Mountain of Purgatory and the Salvation of Cato."
This lecture will cover the first few canti of the Purgatorio and offers an introduction to the major themes and issues of the historical and theological idea of Purgatory.

Lecture 2: "The Poetry of Purgation and the Art of Love."
This lecture will offer an in-depth discussion on the way Dante imagines the Divine Art of God and the role of the imagination in Love.

Lecture 3: "A Ring of Fire, Virgil's Long Goodbye, and Beatrice."
This lecture will discuss the final canti of the Purgatorio including Virgil's farewell to Dante and Dante's fateful meeting with Beatrice. In addition, we will meet many poets of Dante's Purgatory and discover the ways that art and literature inform, and free, the soul.

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