Dante's Inferno: The Man, the Words, and the Pictures

Class Description

Dante charted the first purely Christian country—Hell. Seven hundred years later, The Inferno still fascinates readers. Dante dramatized his descent into the underworld as a powerful experience that evoked such emotions as fear, anger, pity, and horror. We will read and discuss The Inferno, understanding the historical, religious, political, and artistic climate that influenced Dante's writing. We will also view artwork from dozens of artists over the centuries, seeing how each artist depicted Dante or The Inferno's characters, settings, punishments, etc. in his own particular style.

Linda Levine received an MA in English Education from Northwestern University. She has taught English and Humanities for several decades, including previous seminars at The Newberry Library and at Oakton College.

What to Expect

Format: In Person 

Class Capacity: 20 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Dante Alighieri, translated by John Ciardi, The Inferno. Signet Classics, 2009. ISBN: 978-0451531391

First Reading

• Read cantos 1, 2, and 3 of The Inferno.

A Brief Syllabus

1. Cantos 1-3
2. Cantos 4-7
3. Cantos 8-12
4. Cantos 13-17
5. Cantos 18-21
6. Cantos 22-27
7. Cantos 28-31
8. Cantos 32-34

Cost and Registration

8 Sessions, $300 ($270 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($300), Community Supported ($280), and Sponsor ($320). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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