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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN/ITS 295"
COURSE NAME: "Dante's Divine Comedy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2019
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
James Schwarten
EMAIL: jschwarten@johncabot.edu
HOURS:
MW 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is an introduction to a critical reading of Dante’s Divine Comedy in its historical, philosophical, religious, and poetic contexts. Readings of Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise seek to identify Dante’s stylistic and thematic contributions to the literary world as well as to understand their relationship with medieval politics, philosophy, and culture. This course is taught in English.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course is designed to introduce students to Dante’s Divine Comedy through close readings of specific cantos coupled with selections of pertinent literary criticism and commentary. In-class discussion will reference Dante's personal life, novel aspects of the Divine Comedy, the classical tradition, and theological concerns. Visual aids will also complement the course.
Student Responsibilities:
Students are expected to:
- arrive punctually for the start of class
- not leave the classroom once class has begun
- not use electronic devices during class
- submit assignments on time (late submissions will receive a grade of zero)
- complete assigned readings on their due dates
- take exams on their scheduled dates
NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED.
The assessment criteria listed below refer to all assessment methods in the course.
REQUIRED READINGS:
Selected readings from:
Teodolinda Barolini, The Undivine Comedy Detheologizing Dante. Princeton UP, 1992.
Joan Ferrante, The Political Vision of the Divine Comedy. Princeton UP, 2014.
John Freccero, In Dante's Wake. Reading from Medieval to Modern in the Augustinian Tradition Edited by Danielle Callegari, and Melissa Swain. Fordham UP, 2015.
Robert Hollander, Allegory in Dante's Commedia and Dante: A Life in Works, Princeton UP, 1969.
Joseph Anthony Mazzeo, Medieval Cultural Tradition in Dante's Comedy. Cornell UP, 1960.
Christian Moevs, The Metaphysics of Dante's Comedy. Oxford UP, 2008.
Additional critical readings will be assigned during the course.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
- Identify the structural and formal aspects of The Divine Comedy and discuss poetic and political circumstances of its composition.
- Discuss the significance of the major religious, historical, and cultural allusions in the Divine Comedy.
- Critically relate Dante’s key-themes to the culture of Medieval Italy.
- Understand the varied ways in which Dante nurtured the imagination of subsequent writers and artists.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| The Divine Comedy | Allen Mandelbaum (Dante Alighieri) | Everyman's Library USA | 978-0679433132 | | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Participation mid-term | Assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and includes such practices as active participation in class discussions, offering insightful comments and asking pertinent questions, note-taking, and remaining attentive during class meetings. | 5 |
| Midterm Exam | | 25 |
| In-class Oral Presentation | Students will prepare their own "Lectura Dantis" based on a specific canto and drawing from scholarly research (minimum 3). Handouts will be provided. | 10 |
| Participation end-term | Assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and includes such practices as active participation in class discussions, offering insightful comments and asking pertinent questions, note-taking, and remaining attentive during class meetings. | 5 |
| Research Paper | Research paper (4,000 words) based on a topic relevant to the course and carried out using academic sources. Handouts will be provided. | 25 |
| Final Exam | | 30 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Letter grades and corresponding percentages for this class
94 – 100 points = A
90 – 93.99 pts = A-
87 – 89.99 = B+
83 – 86.99 = B
80 – 82.99 = B-
77 – 79.99 = C+
70 – 76.99 = C
60 – 69.99 = D
59.99 – 0 = F
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs December 9-13.
Course-specific absence policy: Each unjustified absence (for whatever reason) beyond the third will incur a 3% penalty in the final grade calculation.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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The course schedule is subject to modification. Ancillary readings will be made available throughout the semester.
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Session
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Session Focus
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Assignment
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Exam Dates
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WK 1A
2 Sep
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Course introduction, syllabus, goals and expectations, research paper, introductory discussion of the life and literary works of Dante Alighieri and genesis of the Divine Comedy
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WK 1B
4 Sep
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Continuing discussion of the life and literary works of Dante Alighieri and genesis of the Comedy, introduction to Inferno
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WK 2A
9 Sep
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Inferno I, II, III, IV |
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WK 2B
11 Sep
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Inferno V, VI, VII, VIII
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WK 3A
16 Sep
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Inferno IX, X, XI, XII
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WK 3B
18 Sep
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Inferno XIII, XIV, XV, XVI
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WK 4A
23 Sep
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Inferno XVIII, XIX, XXI, XXII
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WK 4B
25 Sep
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Inferno XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI
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WK 5A
30 Sep
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Inferno XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX |
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WK 5B
2 Oct
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Inferno XXX, XXXI, XXXII
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WK 6A
7 Oct
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Inferno XXXIII, XXXIV
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WK 6B
9 Oct
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Conclusions on Inferno
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Begin preparing for Midterm exam
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WK 7A
14 Oct
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Review for Midterm Exam
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Paper topic, research question, outline, and full bibliography due
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WK 7B
16 Oct
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MIDTERM EXAM
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WK 8A
21 Oct
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Introduction to Purgatory; Purgatory I, II
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WK 8B
23 Oct
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Purgatory III, V, X
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WK 9A
28 Oct
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Purgatory XV, XVI, XVII
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WK 9B
30 Oct
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Purgatory XVIII, XIX, XX
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WK 10A
4 Nov
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Purgatory XXI, XXII, XXIII
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Research paper final draft due
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WK 10B
6 Nov
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Purgatory XXIV, XXVII, XXIX
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WK 11A
11 Nov
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Purgatory XXX, XXXI, XXXII
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WK 11B
13 Nov
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Purgatory XXXIII, conclusions on Purgatory
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WK 12A
18 Nov
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Introduction to Paradise; Paradise I, II
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WK 12B
20 Nov
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Paradise IV, V, XI, XII |
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WK 13A
25 Nov
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Paradiso XV-XVIII
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Begin preparing for Final Exam
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WK 13B
27 Nov
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Paradise XXIII, XXIV, XXVIII, XXX
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WK14A/14B
3/5 Dec
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Paradise XXXI-XXXIII, conclusions on Paradise and Divine Comedy
FINAL EXAM WEEK: DEC 9-13
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