Loyola University Chicago

 
Prof. Grazia Sotis

The course deals with Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321) and Giovanni Boccaccio (1313 - 1375). Medieval Italy, its society and history, is studied through a selective reading and interpretative analysis of the two most important and representative literary works, The Divine Comedy and The Decameron, which are also essential in world literature.

This course satisfies Loyola Chicago's core literature requirement and is open to all students. Depending on the school, it may satisfy language requirements elsewhere. The course does not have any prerequisites. While offered in English, this course may also be studied in Italian by students with sufficient language proficiency.

Class participation and discussions are strongly encouraged. Secondary sources will be on reserve and students will be assigned the reading according to the material developed in class. Parallel to this, visual representation of Dante's canti by artists, such as Botticelli, Gustave Dore, Blake, Dali, and others, are brought to class. The course also includes the viewing of Pier Paolo Pasolini's film on The Decameron and his interpretation of Boccaccio's work. A comparative analysis and study come into play. Visual arts (i.e., film, plates, drawings, paintings) work as an ancillary aid to better appreciate two of the most important books of Western literature, and add different perspectives to the already established interpretations.

Students should have read the home assignment for each class and occasionally will be tested to check their preparation. The mid-term and final exams are to be taken according to the University calendar - Rome Center. For the exams students will be given:

1. topics to develop in which they must prove their ability for synthesis and critique
2. basic knowledge about facts, characters, locations, historical data, ....

A final paper is also required, the selection of the topic agreed upon between instructor and student according to his/her interest. The guidelines for selecting a topic for the final paper are

1. creative writing
2. bibliographical research
3. criticism

Schedule

• 1st Week: Introduction. Inferno
• 2nd Week: Inferno, Canti 1 - 6
• 3rd Week: Inferno, Canti 8 - 10, Quiz #1
• 4th Week: Inferno, Canti 11 - 14, 17
• 5th Week: Inferno, Canti 21 - 22, 24 - 25
• 6th Week: Inferno, Canti 26 - 27, 31 - 34, Quiz #2
• 7th Week: Purgatory, Canti 1 - 5
• 8th Week: Purgatory, Canti 6 - 7
• Mid-Semester Exam
• Semester Break
• 9th Week: Paradise, Canti 3, 33
• 10th Week: Decameron: Introduction, Day I, Novella 1, Quiz #3
• 11th Week: Decameron: Day II, Novelle 5, 8, 10; Day III, Novella 1; Day IV, Novelle 1, 5, 7
• 12th Week: Decameron: Day V, Novelle 8, 9; Day VI, Novelle 4, 10; Day VII, Novella 2; Day X, Novelle 3, 9, 10, Quiz #4
• 13th Week: Film of Decameron by director PierPaolo Pasolini and discussion of the movie
• 14th Week: Review
• Final Exam

Secondary sources:
Barolini, Teodolinda. The Undivine Comedy. Princeton, NJ: 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, PA: U. of Penn P., 1991
Cambon, Glauco. Dante's Craft. Minneapolis, MN: U. of Minn P., 1969 (Only Part I)
Mazzotta, Giuseppe. The World of Play in Boccaccio's Decameron. Princeton, NJ: Princeton U.P., 1992
Potter, Joy. Five Frames for the Decameron.

Students' work and performance are evaluated as follows:

• 15% Class participation; class attendance is strongly recommended (absences will be allowed only for serious reasons, such as illness). Students are allowed only three unexcused absences.
• 10% One oral report
• 20% Quizzes
• 15% Mid-term Exam
• 20% Final exam
• 20% Final paper

Office Hours: T & Th, 3:00 - 5:00 pm or by appointment.