February 7, 14, and 21
Paradiso
March 7, 14, and 21
10 to 11:30 a.m.
$250 for series
What makes Dante’s Divine Comedy such essential reading today, even though it was written seven centuries ago? And why have so many readers been drawn to his second and third canticles, Purgatory and Paradiso? These courses will explore the fascinating world of Dante’s epic poem in all its cultural and historical richness. We consider Dante’s relation to his beloved hometown of Florence, his lacerating experience of exile, and his lifelong devotion to his muse Beatrice, among many other issues. Dante has enchanted readers for centuries with his beautiful language, meditations on human time and forgiveness, and extraordinary development of characters. Students are welcome to use whatever edition of the texts they have. Joseph Luzzi (Ph.D, Yale), Professor of Comparative Literature at Bard College, will be using the translation by Robert and Jean Hollander.