ITAL 220 - Thirteenth-Sixteenth Century Italian Culture

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

From the origins of the Italian language to the masterpieces of the Renaissance. The goal of this course is to introduce students to some of the major authors of the first four centuries of Italian literature, their cultural and philosophical background, and the reading of their works in the Italian vernacular. With the use of multi-media supports, and applying a wide range of strategies to experience, comprehend, interpret, and evaluate the texts, we will read brief but significant selections from each author’s major works. Among others, we will read: Dante’s Vita Nuova and Divine Comedy, Petrarch’s Canzoniere (lyric poetry); Boccaccio’s Decameron (fiction); Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso (epic poetry); Compiuta Donzella, Stampa, and Franco on gender and literature. Mr. Giusti.

Prerequisite: ITAL 217, ITAL 218 or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.