Università Roma Tre

Dante's «Purgatory»

The course aims to offer a comprehensive and in-depth reading of Dante's "Purgatorio." Defined by the historian Jacques Le Goff as the "poetic triumph" of the purgatorial realm, the second cantica of the "Commedia" represents the first and most significant artistic elaboration of this afterlife zone, the existence of which had been definitively recognized by the Church only a few years earlier (1274). Special attention will be given to the ways in which the poet constructs an extremely detailed and profoundly coherent space from multiple perspectives (cosmological, theological, penitential). Its various will be examined, with special attention to the religious practices of the time. Furthermore, the course will delve deeply into Dante's reflection on poetry in this cantica: from his encounters with Casella, the troubadour Sordello, and the classical poet Statius; to his investigation of fame and artistic progress in Canto 11, and the pivotal Cantos 24 and 26 where Dante engages with various predecessors, fully defining his own poetics and a tradition of reference.

Texts:
- Dante, "Divina Commedia. Purgatorio", a cura di Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi, Milano, Mondadori, 2014 [first ed. 1994; reprinted several times, also in scholastic editions]
NB: The cantica shall be read and studied in its entirety.

Essays:
- Anna Pegoretti, Dal «lito diserto» al giardino. La costruzione del paesaggio nel «Purgatorio» di Dante, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2007.
During the course, a list of reference studies will also be provided, from which students can choose which ones to prepare, also taking into account their academic background. Erasmus students and those unable to attend are kindly requested to subscribe the Moodle account of the course, where they will find all the info and materials to prepare the exam.