DANTE ALIGHIERI’S
DIVINE COMEDY: PURGATORIO
Second and Fourth Fridays, 12:00-1:15 PM
Begins September 13, Fall 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 second part of Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece, Divine Comedy, his vision of a journey – through repentance and love – up the mountain of Purgatory in search of new life. 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 Purgatorio is required, but those suggested by the instructor are:
Purgatorio, trans., Anthony Esolen (Modern Library)
Purgatorio, trans., Robin Kirkpatrick (Penguin Classics)
Purgatorio, trans., Robert and Jean Hollander (Anchor Books)
Some versions are also available online for free.