Angels and Demons, Heavens and Hells: The Otherworld from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Era

Wonder about what happens after death is among the most fascinating and gripping subjects of human inquiry. We will explore concepts of heaven, hell, purgatory, Satan, angels, ghosts, the soul, virtue and vice, the poetry of salvation, and the power of melancholy. Texts will include Old and Middle English Otherworld narratives, and writings by Dante, Milton, Browne, Marlowe, and others. Enrollment limited to 30.