CANCELLED - The Purgatorio—Dante The Traveler, Virgil The Guide—The Journey Continues




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ClassGraphic Join us for Purgatorio, the second canticle of a fascinating journey through the classic epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Members of the study group should read The Inferno before the spring session begins.  In Purgatorio, a 35-year-old Florentine, Dante, struggling with failure and apparently spiritual death, has exited Hell, guided by the shade of the Roman poet Virgil, and they begin climbing the mountain of Purgatory. Virgil represents the voice of reason; Dante is the pilgrim and protagonist. In Hell, sinners are punished because they died unrepentant, having chosen their sins over God, and are condemned to eternal damnation. In Purgatory, souls are not damned; they are saved but imperfect, and must undergo purification to prepare for Paradise. As our text, we have chosen the Purgatorio translation by Robert Hollander and Jean Hollander (Vintage Books, 2004). The readings and related/supplementary materials will provide for robust conversation over the course of the semester.

Class Details

14 Session(s)
Weekly - Tue

Location
TBD

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition: 

$0.00

Email olli@northwestern.edu for more information. Send to Friend »

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
3/3/2026 - 6/2/2026 Weekly - Tue 01:15 PM - 03:15 PM TBD Rosemary O'Shea  ; Bob Eder 

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