Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Dante's Inferno |
| Unit code |
ITAL20024 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Howard |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Italian |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit aims to acquaint students with the first canticle of arguably the greatest work of Italian literature and the medieval environment that produced it. The analysis of specific episodes in the Inferno will show how this canticle is an expression of Dante's thoughts on crime and punishment, his interpretation of the poets of antiquity, his understanding of the Christian moral code and his thoughts on the politics of his time. The unit will also introduce students to Dante's use of the Italian language and his mastery of poetics.
Aims:
- To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
- To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
- To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.
- Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful students will be able to demonstrate:
- knowledge and understanding of a significant aspect of Italian cultural history;
- skill in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
- ability to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, in both English and Italian;
- ability to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at a high level of complexity;
- academic written skills, at a standard appropriate to level I;
- skills in oral presentation, at a standard appropriate to level I;
- skills of collaborative working to achieve a common project.
Teaching Information
Normally one lecture hour and one seminar hour per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours), often with student presentations. In units with a smaller number of students the lecture hour may be replaced by a second seminar or a workshop. Units involving film may require students to view films outside the timetabled contact hours.
Assessment Information
- 1 x 2500 word essay (50%) (ILOs 1-5);
- 1 x 15-minute group presentation (25%) (ILOs 1-7);
- regular contribution to online discussion board throughout term (totalling around 1000 words) (25%) (ILOs 1-4).
Reading and References
Texts
Italian editions:
La Divina Commedia, commentary by U. Bosco G. Reggio. Firenze: LeMonnier, 1993. Commedia, commentary by A. M. Chiavacci Leonardi. Milano: Mondadori, 1991-97.
Translations and commentary in English
The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri, translated with a commentary by D. Sinclair. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981.
The Divine Comedy, translated by Allen Mandelbaum. New York: Bantam, 1982.
The Divine Comedy, translated with a commentary by Charles Singleton. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1970-75.
