29217 - Dante's Literature and Criticism (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has a critical knowledge of Dante's works, especially of the Comedy; he has a good training for the reading and analysis of literary texts .

Course contents

An Introduction to the Reading of Dante's «Comedy»

Readings/Bibliography

Texts:

Dante Alighieri, Commedia.

The student will study the prescribed cantos in one of the following recommended commented editions: A.M. Chiavacci Leonardi (Bologna, Zanichelli); E. Pasquini-A.E. Quaglio (Milano, Garzanti); U. Bosco- G. Reggio (Firenze, Le Monnier); N. Sapegno (Firenze, La Nuova Italia); R. Merlante-S. Prandi (Brescia, La Scuola); G. Inglese (Roma, Carocci); S. Bellomo (Torino, Einaudi: only the Inferno)

A complete reading and a general knowledge of the Comedy is required.

The following cantos must be studied with special attention in one of the recommended commented editions:

Inf. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 26, 30, 32, 34;

Purg. 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 17, 19, 22, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33;

Par . 1, 2 (vv. 1-45), 3, 4 (vv. 1-63), 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 30, 31, 33.

Foreign students will study the following cantos:

Inf. 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 17, 26, 34; Purg. 1, 3, 9, 17, 30; Par. 1, 4 (vv. 1-63), 17, 30, 33.

Critical Literature

G. Ledda, Leggere la «Commedia», Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016 (compulsary reading).

- Four articles or book chapters chosen among the following

(Students who cannot attend the course will read six articles; they are also requested to contact the teacher for further information)

(N.B.: foreign students will read only two articles):

- M. Ariani, I «metaphorismi» di Dante, in La metafora in Dante, a cura di M. Ariani, Firenze, Olschki, 2009, pp. 1-57.

- E. Auerbach, Studi su Dante, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1984 (the chapter: Sacrae Scripturae sermo humilis; or the chapter: Figura).

- Z. Baranski, Dante e i segni, Napoli, Liguori, 2000 (chapter V, Segni e struttura: Inferno XI, pp. 127-146).

- T. Barolini, La «Commedia» senza Dio. Dante e la creazione di una realtà virtuale, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2003 (chapter 1, Dante e la creazione di una realtà virtuale, pp. 11-35).

- A. Battistini, La retorica della salvezza, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016 (chapter 1, pp. 17-41).

- A.M. Chiavacci Leonardi, Le beatitudini e la struttura poetica del «Purgatorio», «Giornale storico della letteratura italiana», 161, 1984, pp. 1-29.

- G. Contini, Un'idea di Dante. Saggi danteschi, Torino, Einaudi, 1976 (the chapter: Dante come personaggio-poeta della «Commedia», pp. 33-62).

- R. Hollander, Il Virgilio dantesco: tragedia nella «Commedia», Firenze, Olschki, 1983 (chapter III, Tragedia nella «Commedia», pp. 117-154).

- E. Pasquini, Dante e le figure del vero. La fabbrica della «Commedia», Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2001 (chapter 1, Dai prefazi ai compimenti, pp. 1-26).

- L. Pertile, La puttana e il gigante. Dal Cantico dei Cantici al Paradiso Terrestre di Dante, Ravenna, Longo, 1998 (chapter III, Aspettando Beatrice, pp. 51-86).

- M. Picone, Scritti danteschi, Ravenna, Longo, 2017 (chapter 2.3: L’Ovidio di Dante, pp. 193-221.

- E. Raimondi, Metafora e storia, Torino, Einaudi, 1970 (chaper IV, Rito e storia nel I canto del «Purgatorio», pp. 65-94; or chapter V, Semantica del canto IX del «Purgatorio», pp. 95-122).

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The final examination will be an oral conversation. In the course of this conversation will be verified the achievement of the knwoledge and abilities required, and particularly:

- the general knowledge of Dante's works and especially of the Comedy in its main structural aspects;

- the precise knowledge of the Comedy's cantos specifically indicated in the program; for these cantos will be required the ability to give a paraphrase and an analytical comment;

- the comprehension of the main information and arguments contained in the critical essays chosen by the student from those indicated in the program; the ability to present in clear and good italian those contents; the ability to apply critically the essays to the reading of the Dante's texts in program.

Teaching tools

Photocopies of some biblical, ancient and medieval texts will be fournished.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Ledda