Nassime Chida
Assistant Professor of Italian Studies
A scholar of Italian literature with a focus on Dante, Medieval Italian History and Mediterranean Studies.
My research explores the connections between Dante’s Commedia and its literary and historical context. My book project Local Power in Dante's Commedia: Between Literature and History investigates Dante’s focus on local power as an original site of political analysis. While scholars have examined Dante’s theories of papal and imperial power, and biographers have speculated about the impact of local politics, my book offers a vision of Dante’s outlook on local military and political affairs, placing it among the writings of precursors, contemporaries, and current historians. My work involves comparing pre-dantean sources with subsequent medieval historiography. Rather than use historiography to provide relevant context, my work makes the case for historiography as content in the Commedia.
My interest in the intersection of literature and history informs my teaching. My classes center the practice of collective close reading through attention to language and intertextuality. My courses offer students rigorous training leading to tangible skills, including textual analysis and argument building. I combine ultra famous voices such as Dante’s with lesser known sources, and always include both ancient and modern authors. I have taught survey courses, language courses, literature seminars and single author courses on Dante, Boccaccio and Machiavelli.
I am the Dante Society of America’s Liaison to the Modern Languages Association, an associate editor of Digital Dante and an editor of Dante Notes. I occasionally work as an interpreter.
Education
- B.A., University College London
- M.St., University of Oxford
- Ph.D., Columbia University in the City of New York
Current and upcoming courses
Dante's Inferno (in English)
ITAS263
This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon?
(ITAS 263 and MER 263 are cross-listed courses.)-
Dante’s Inferno
ITAS363
This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon? (ITAS 363 and MER 363 are cross-listed courses.) -
Intensive Elementary Italian
ITAS103
This innovative course is designed for complete beginners seeking rapid progress in language proficiency and the opportunity to fulfill their language requirement within one year. Equivalent to ITAS 101 and 102, this course prepares students for ITAS 201 or ITAS 203 (combined 201 and 202). ITAS 103 employs cutting-edge teaching tools to create an interactive learning experience. Methods include in-class conversation, role-playing activities, and blended learning supported by the latest technology. Through daily practice and reinforcement of all language skills, students will achieve intermediate-level proficiency in Italian and gain a foundational understanding of modern Italian society in a single semester. No textbook is required; students will have free access to an online platform offering comprehensive course materials, including videos, readings, grammar charts, self-corrected exercises, and tests.