Students will read and study portions of the major literary works of three of the most influential and important poets in Italian Literature, Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarca. These works will be read in translation and students will focus on the recurring theme of the "literary journey”. The historical, political and philosophic influences will be discussed in-depth and students will gain a perspective on the political, literary, philosophical, and theological dimensions of the concept of love in medieval European culture. An interdisciplinary approach will be adopted in all aspects of the course through screening of films, visits to relevant locations, and the borrowing of topics and texts from other disciplines.
LITR 330 Creative Writing
3 credits
In this course we will explore the process of transforming both memory and immediate sensory impressions into lucid, engaging works of creative non-fiction, focusing primarily on the Italian experience. We will read from a cross-section of writers writing about Italy and will generate our own writing through a series of exercises designed to help the writer tap into fresh levels of awareness and creative energy. Throughout the semester, the techniques of writing—syntax, grammar, diction, punctuation, and so on—will be discussed in relation to student work.
At the end of the term, select writings will be gathered in a course literary anthology.