To Hell with Dante

Subject ITAL30007 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1.5 hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment:

2.5 contact hours/week, 6 additional hours/week. Total of 8.5 hours per week.

Prerequisites:

Completion of 25 points of second year Italian. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 25 points of European studies at second/third year.

Corequisites:

none

Recommended Background Knowledge:

mpme

Non Allowed Subjects:

none

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Subject Overview:

This subject concentrates on selected cantos of Dante's Inferno. Students will develop techniques which will enable them to analyse the poetic language of the Inferno. Guided readings in secondary material will give students an understanding of some of the key medieval concepts of the Inferno. The subject is designed so that students will be in a position to appreciate and analyse one of the most impressive poems in western literature. By the end of the subject, students should have acquired some understanding of the basic theological, philosophical and literary concepts of the Inferno and have developed critical strategies for interpreting its poetry.

Learning Outcomes:
  • be able to analyse the poetic language of the 'Inferno'.
  • have an understanding of some of the key medieval concepts of the 'Inferno'.
  • have some understanding of the basis theological, philosophical and literary concepts of the 'Inferno' and have developed critical strategies for interpreting its poetry.
Assessment:

Two 30-minute quizzes 20% (mid-semester and end-of-semester), a 1.5-hour final test 30% (due during exam period), an essay of 2000 words 40% (due at the end of semester), seminar participation 10%.

This subject has the following hurdle requirements:

  • Regular participation in tutorials is required with a minimum of 75% attendance.
  • All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day and in-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

Prescribed Texts:
  • Inferno (D Alighieri) RM Durling (ed), Oxford University Press
Recommended Texts:

none

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students will acquire the following generic skills:

  • understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of Italian culture, and by formulating arguments.
  • communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations.
  • public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations.
Related Course(s): Diploma in Modern Languages (Italian)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Italian
Italian
Italian
Italian

Download PDF version.