Module manager: Laura Lucia Rossi
Email: L.L.Rossi@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
| MODL3045 | From Inferno to the world. Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy in |
ITAL2023
This module is approved as a discovery module
Dante Alighieri stands as one of the most significant and innovative figures of the European Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, a cornerstone of both Italian and global literature, narrates the journey through the three realms of the Christian afterlife by a character who is, at the same time, both Dante himself and Everyman. This module introduces Dante’s Comedy, allowing students to delve into a pivotal piece of Italian culture, while exploring one of the great works of world literature through translation. The module will combine close reading of passages from the poem (focusing in particular on its initial part, Inferno) looking at Dante’s perspectives on themes such as politics, community, justice, and religion, with an examination of the global dissemination and reception of the Divine Comedy, its lasting significance in world literature, and its continued resonance with contemporary audiences in a secularized world. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
Upon completing this module, students will have developed an understanding of the significance of Dante’s Divine Comedy both as a product of national culture within its original context and as a work of world literature, whose influence and success still endure. This case study of Dante's Comedy will offer the opportunity to explore the impact and resonance of literary works in general beyond their borders and time, and their relevance in discussing our contemporary world.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Appraise Dante’s Comedy within its original context
2. Discuss and evaluate the broad themes of Dante's Comedy beyond the text
3. Recognize and translate the cultural significance of Dante's text for different audiences across time
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Plan and conduct independent research
5. Select relevant primary and secondary sources and evaluate them critically
6. Communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, including with the support of digital means as appropriate.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Seminar | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Private study hours | 170 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 30 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive continuous feedback through participation in seminar discussions and will have the opportunity to submit and receive individual feedback on an essay plan for their Semester 1 assessment. In Semester 2 the seminars will be geared towards the preparation of the digital project and students will receive feedback on their plans from peers and tutors in class. They will moreover have the opportunity to submit and discuss their plans individually with tutors.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Digital Project | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team