Dante Studies

Catalog description

This PhD-level seminar offers a rigorous examination of Dante Alighieri’s works within their literary, philosophical, theological, and political contexts. Framed as both an intensive investigation of the central questions, themes, and formal features—textual and material—of Dante’s oeuvre and an introduction to the practices of philology and literary criticism within and beyond Dante Studies, the course situates Dante's works in the broader networks of production, circulation, transmission, reception, and dissemination of medieval and early modern literature. Students will engage with Dante’s texts in the original Italian, working closely with critical editions, commentaries, and a range of bibliographic and digital research tools. Emphasis will be placed on close reading and scholarly method. Participants will lead seminar discussions, evaluate current trends in Dante scholarship, provide peer feedback, and develop original research projects. Designed to cultivate advanced expertise in Dante Studies, the course prepares students for scholarly research and teaching in medieval literature and culture.