JINS 401 - The World of The Divine Comedy

This course focuses on Dante’s masterpiece as an epic poem while simultaneously exploring its encyclopedic quality. Besides being a poet, Dante was a consummate scholar who wrote treatises on such topics as political science and philosophy. He is also credited with writing the first modern treatise on linguistics. The Divine Comedy brings together Dante’s vast knowledge on a number of subjects–including astronomy, Christian theology, classical philosophy, and classical mythology–making it a fascinating interdisciplinary work. Of the three books of The Divine Comedy, we will read the Inferno in its entirety and excerpts from the Purgatorio and Paradiso. All readings will be in English.

Prerequisite: Junior status.
Credits: 3
NOTE:
* This course fulfills the Junior Interdisciplinary Writing-Enhanced Seminar Interconnecting Perspective of the Liberal Studies Program.
** This course is writing-enhanced.