Pedagogy Jan 2013

Using Dante to Teach the Middle Ages

Joanna H. Drell

Abstract

This article examines how Dante used history and suggests approaches to incorporate his texts into undergraduate history teaching. Examples of successful assignments are offered that encourage students to compare Dante’s historical figures in a work like the Commedia with “real” history. Such exercises introduce students to some of the creative ways that Dante shaped many historical figures to meet his purposes — personal, political, or spiritual. An extended case study of Dante’s inclusion of southern Italian historical actors is used to illustrate some of the more complex ways that Dante revised or reinvented historical events. It is argued that Dante’s use of history can be a valuable tool to teach the skills of critical analysis and close reading.

Journal
Pedagogy
Published
2013-01-01
DOI
10.1215/15314200-1814179
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
teacher development qualitative research
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References (23)

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  2. Mandelbaum (1984)
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Show all 23 →
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    The Villani Chronicles
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     ↗
  7. Green (1972)
    Chronicle into History
  8. Najemy (2006)
    A History of Florence, 1200–1575
     ↗
  9. Jacoff (2007)
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     ↗
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  13. (2004)
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     ↗
  16. Jansen (2009)
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     ↗
  17. Najemy (2006)
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     ↗
  18. Wickham (1989)
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     ↗
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