Dante's Inferno: A Guide to Hell (and Back)

The seminar consists of a collaborative, close reading of the Inferno; short introductory lectures will alternate with student-led class discussions, film screenings, and presentations on Dante's reception in modern poetry and art. We will use a bilingual edition, which allows us to access the text easily, while providing opportunities to observe nuances of meaning or style preserved in the original language. We will also experiment with active-learning techniques, involving all students in an informed, meditated, and collaborative interpretation of the poem.