Dante's Divine Comedy

In this course you will learn about the afterlife as figured by the Middle Age's greatest poet, DANTE!
Dante had visions of the afterlife - hell, purgatory and heaven.

Dante went to hell and reports his visions to us in the first
part of his Divine Comedyentitled Inferno.

Hell is in the center of the earth. It was formed when Lucifer was
thrown out of heaven by Michael the Archangel.

Description of the Course

Taught entirely in English, this course is devoted to a reading of what is undeniably one of the most fascinating, exciting and resonant creations of the entire body of Western literature, Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.Dante's medieval masterpiece relates one man's journey from the dark wood of error to the vision of truth, from the very pit of hell to the throne of God. From demons in hell to the angelic hierarchy in heaven, Dante's poem carries the reader on an epic journey that spans the entire cosmos. Readers not only observe the pilgrim's journey through the afterlife, but participate in it as well, as we encounter questions about the nature of evil, the possibility for spiritual improvement, and the experience of true happiness.

Dr. Morrison will guide you as we accompany Dante on his journey through the afterlife: through the intricate byways of hell, purgatory and paradise. We will take a fascinating look at the turbulent world of Dante's medieval Florence, Italy. This world has surprising parallels with our own time, including runaway inflation, the breakdown of family values, and self-indulgence. The format of the course will consist of lecture, discussion, and video presentations. Evaluation will be on the basis of class participation, one short paper, a midterm and a final exam.

Click here for a map of hell.

Click here for a view of Dante's hell illustrated by the famous Italian painter Botticelli.

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