116-419 Dante 2

Formerly available as 116-072. Students who have completed 116-072 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually completion of 37.5 points at either post-beginners or post-VCE sequence for third year, admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in Italian for fourth year. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year.

This subject will complete the study of the Divina commedia begun with the Inferno. It will build on techniques already acquired by students in their previous study of Dante. The subject will place the two cantiche in their medieval context so that students will be able to grasp more easily the originality of Dante's poem. The historical and political context of Purgatorio and Paradiso will be examined in order to render the two cantiche more accessible to the students. By the end of the subject, students should be able to analyse the poetic techniques employed by Dante. Students should have acquired an understanding of medieval culture in order to appreciate Purgatorio and Paradiso in their historical context.

• acquire particular generic skills:

• understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of French and Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

• communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations.

A 30-minute quiz 10% (due mid-semester), a 1.5-hour written test 40% (due at the end of semester), an essay of 2,000 words for 3rd year students and 2,500 words for 4th year students 50% (due at the end of semester).

• D Alighieri, R M Durling (ed), Purgatorio. Oxford University Press.
• Singleton (ed), Paradiso (Parts 1 & 2). Princeton University Press.