Spring

Description of course

This class consists of readings and discussion of two major literary works, The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 and The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375, which are essential in world literature. Our overall aim is to study how literary texts interpret human conflict, with necessary attention to the formal, stylistic and rhetorical modalities. These texts are couched in a historical and cultural context that we can study also through painting and film as well, with the idea of understanding what is trans-historical about them and what makes them masterpieces. Literary masterpieces help us develop a critical consciousness of our experience personal, social, cultural, historical, as well as aesthetic.

Course Outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge of literary traditions and expressions.
• Study the two most influential works as representative forms of literary production in which Italians explore their historical and societal experience, their human experience and reflect on the process of literary creation.
• Acquire the critical and technical vocabulary enabling to describe and analyze, and formulate an argument about Italian literary works and about literary types (e.g. short stories, poems).
• Assess how formal qualities of Italian literary works determine the nature of the experience offered and affect the response of the audience.
• Examine multiple interpretive possibilities of the two Italian masterpieces, and know such interpretations both reflect the culture that produced them and change over time. A visual representation of Dante’s canti by several artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Gustav Doré, Salvador Dalì …. and the showing of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film of Boccaccio’s short stories (novella)  will be used to add different perspectives to the already established interpretations.

Skill Objectives, Critical Thinking Skills:

• Students will develop, through oral and written communication, reading and analytical skills appropriate to the study of literature.
• Students will practice writing clear, concise, effective prose.
• Students will develop an understanding of the ethical implications in literature, of the depiction of self and others.
• Students will comprehend, paraphrase, summarize, and contextualize the meaning of Dante’s canti and Boccaccio’s short stories.

Textbooks:

• The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
• The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

Note:  Students are required to read the whole books even though classes will focus on specific “canti” and “novelle”.

Assessment:

Two quizzes, two exams, two papers and one oral presentation will be used to assess literary knowledge and critical thinking.

They will assess whether or not you can:

• Use critical and technical vocabulary to describe and analyze, and formulate an argument about the works
• Examine multiple interpretative possibilities
• Assess the relationship of Italian literary texts to the cultural-historical nexus that produced them
• Generate new ideas and hypotheses in relation to the study of the two works and develop strategies for seeking and synthesizing information to support your argument.

On April 1^st and 2^nd there will be an international conference hosted by the Loyola University Chicago, John Felice Rome Center: “The Changing Face of the Mediterranean: Women’s Contribution from Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East”

Students are asked to attend at least one session of the conference, write one page report on the attended session to obtain two points to their final evaluation.

Students' work and performance are evaluated as follows:

Grading scale:

Attendance Policy and Academic Integrity Statement:

• Daily attendance and active participation in class are vital factors in gaining literary knowledge and developing critical thinking skills.  Class attendance is strongly recommended: students are allowed only for three unexcused absences.  Failure to take an exam or quiz , unless justified by real necessity ( e.g. illness: travel will never be accepted as a reason) brings an F in it. There will be no make-up quiz or exam
• The student is welcome to see the instructor at regular office hours or by appointment when additional help is needed.
• Students are invited to prepare all readings before discussion in class.
• Topics for the papers are to be discussed with the instructor before writing: these present such a wide spectrum that the choice will rest ultimately on the student.
• All papers should involve strictly personal research

 “Pursuit of truth is the prime activity in a university community. As a member of this community each student pledges to maintain standards of honesty and integrity in all academic work. Exams: Students must rely exclusively upon their own knowledge”.

Papers: students must document sources of secondary information. Failure to comply with these standards will result in a failing grade.

Schedule of Readings:

Secondary sources (only selected chapters to be assigned and also used for the oral reports):

• Barolini, Teodolinda.   The Undivine Comedy.  Princeton, N.J.: Princeton U.P., 1992 (Chapters 1-5)
• Fergusson, Francis.    Dante’s Drama of the Mind. Westport, Ct.: Greenwood P., 1968 (Only Part I)
• Masciandaro, Franco. Dante as Dramatist. Philadelphia, Penn.: University of Penn. P., 1991
• Cambon, Glauco.       Dante’s Craft. Minneapolis, Minn.: The University of Minn. P., 1969
  (Only Part I)
• Mazzotta, Giuseppe.   The World at Play in Boccaccio’s Decameron. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton U.P., 1992
• Potter, Joy.                 Five Frames for The Decameron

Suggested Reading:

• Pearl, Matthew            Dante’s Path

Office hours: Tue. and Thu. 2,00 - 2,40 p.m. and by appointment. E-mail: gsotis@luc.edu