Medieval Voices

Petrarch

Poet, social critic, armchair pilgrim, scholar, frustrated lover, and curmudgeon, Francis Petrarch still provokes controversy almost 650 years after his death. His sonnets about a certain Laura have given us the stereotypical fair-skinned, golden-haired object of male poetic desire. His contempt for his own time influenced generations of historians who distinguished between the 'dark' Middle Ages and the 'bright' Renaissance. In MEDI 320 (cross-listed with ITAL 472B and ENSH 340) we’ll read selections from Petrarch's poems, letters, political writings, and pilgrimage guidebook; we’ll also consider his social and historical background along with his influence on modern thought. No knowledge of Italian is required.

Instructor: Dr. Joseph Grossi