DANTE ALIGHIERI’S
DIVINE COMEDY: PARADISO
Second and Fourth Fridays, 12:00-1:15 PM
Begins February 14, Spring Term, 6 Sessions
St. Paul's/Harvard Catholic Center, Harvard Square
Brian FitzGerald, D. Phil., Lecturer on Medieval Studies and the Study of Religion, Harvard University
This course offers a study, in translation, of the third and final part of Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece, Divine Comedy, his vision of a journey which began in the dark wood of despair and confusion and now culminates in the overpoweringly brilliant heavens of Paradise. Particular attention will be paid to Dante’s conception of the relationship between theology, literature, and the spiritual life. A light lunch will be served.
Readings in translation; no background in Italian or Romance Languages is required.
No specific translation of the Paradiso is required, but those suggested by the instructor are:
Paradiso, trans., Anthony Esolen (Modern Library)
Paradiso, trans., Robin Kirkpatrick (Penguin Classics)
Paradiso, trans., Robert and Jean Hollander (Anchor Books)
Some versions are also available online for free.