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ITAL2041: THE WORLD OF DANTE

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap 30
Location Durham
Department Modern Languages and Cultures (Italian)

Prerequisites

  • Italian Language 1B (ITAL1102) OR Italian Language 1A (ITAL1071) OR an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Corequisites

  • Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: Italian Language 2B (ITAL2031) OR Italian Language 2A (ITAL2111). Others: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • N/A

Aims

  • To introduce students to the works of Dante in their historical and cultural context and to examine Dantes influence on Italian and world culture through the ages

Content

  • An in-house booklet will be prepared in the department, and lectures and seminars will focus on representative works of twentieth century Italian literature and film.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Students should learn to read a selection from Dantes works and specifically from his Divine Comedy within their cultural and literary context, as well as acquiring an understanding of the relevance of Dantes legacy for Italian and world culture.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Students should develop a critical approach to literature and other media and be able to express their views in written form.

Key Skills:

  • The further development of general written communication skills.
  • The ability to seek out and identify appropriate sources of evidence and information.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • This module is taught by means of a weekly lecture and fortnightly seminars in smaller groups. Students will be encouraged to participate in class discussion, to contribute with seminar presentations and to work in close relationship with their peers. The learning environment will be supplemented by the use of duo (Durham University Online), a software that will facilitate communication between students and teacher.
  • Students are required to attend all lectures and seminars and are expected to prepare themselves for classes and participate actively in discussions.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20weekly1 hour20Yes
Seminars10fortnightly1 hour10Yes
Preparation and Reading170 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay 1Component Weighting: 40%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Summative Essay 12000 words100Yes
Component: Summative Essay 2Component Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Summative Essay 22500 words100Yes

Formative Assessment

None

More information

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