Introduction: The Divine Comedy

Dante Alighieri

Facts Written between 1308 and 1321 Tells of an imaginary journey Dante takes

through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. The Journey is symbolic of the spiritual

quest for salvation. Dante is the first of the “Christian

Humanists”

Facts: Quest Recognizing sin (journey through Hell, or

the Inferno). Rejecting sin and awaiting redemption (the

time in Purgatory) Achieving salvation through faith in divine

revelation (seeing the light of G-d in Paradise)

Facts: Dante meets historical figures

Ancient Rome Characters from classical Greek mythology Political enemies from his own era.

Divine Comedy This work provides a portrait of almost

every aspect of medieval human life.

Form, Number, and Symbol The poem contains 100 cantos (chapters) Number 100 regarded as the perfect

number in the Middle Ages. Introductory Canto The text is divided into 3 sections of 33

cantos.

Form: Composed in tercets, three-line stanzas,

and uses a rhyme scheme called terza rima.

The middle of one tercet rhymes with the first and third lines of the next tercet, giving the poem a strong sense of unity.

Number: The number 3 is important because of its

relation to the Christian Trinity. 3 divine figures—Father, Son, and Holy

Spirit—in one G0d.

The poem is divided into 3 parts: First part: Inferno, focuses on the power of G-d the

Father Evidenced by the punishments of the

damned

The poem is divided into 3 parts: The Second part: Purgatorio, focuses on

the wisdom of Christ the Son, and the hope for salvation that he offers to those awaiting final judgment.

The poem is divided into 3 parts: The Third part: Paradiso Focuses on the love of the Holy Spirit.

Time The journey takes place over 3 days Begins in Hell on Good Friday, the day of

Christ’s crucifixion, and ending symbolically in Paradise on Easter Sunday.

Action The entire action of the poem takes place

under the guidance of three ladies: The Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ who

mediates between G-d and man. Saint Lucia, patron saint of Dante and all

those without spiritual sight. Beatrice, Dante’s love, who leads him into

paradise

Role of Virgil Dante’s guide for most of the journey is

Virgil the Roman poet who died 19 years before the birth of Christ.

He explains, instructs The clarity of Virgil’s mind is contrasted with

Dante’s confusion

Role of Virgil “my true master and first author” “the sole maker from whom I drew breath.” Virgil is consigned to the first circle of Hell

because he is un-baptized along with other virtuous pagans from Classical Greece and Rome.

Dante’s Attitude His writing reflects his strict Christian

beliefs and his sympathy for the emerging humanism of the Renaissance.

Virgil A perfect guide for the early part of the

journey because, for Dante, he is the ultimate symbol of what human reason can achieve without faith.

Reason Reason uses logic and fact to arrive at the

truth. Dante saw reason as limited; it is only

through faith that Dante can grasp the truth of Paradise.

Beatrice Dante’s symbol of love and faith. She sends Virgil through Hell and

Purgatory. She is the only one who can lead Dante to

Paradise. The love of Beatrice is expected to turn

Dante from error forever. Journey toward truth and grace via love.

Style and Language Avoids lofty language generally used in

important works. The epic has a happy ending. Makes the title “Divine Comedy”

appropriate. Language sparse, direct, and idiomatic—

reflecting ordinary speech.

Style and Language Regarded as the finest poem ever written in

Italian. Stroke of genius to use vernacular,

everyday language. All levels of imagination, reality, history,

myth, legends, politics, religion, and personal.

Finally The Divine Comedy encompasses Dante’s vision

of G-d’s judgment on every significant aspect of human life.

It is the supreme and culminating work of medieval thought.

Dante gives expression to nearly every major intellectual and moral issue of the Middle Ages, including his own concerns about public morality, the power of love, and the quest for spiritual salvation.

Assignment: After reading segments of the Inferno, students will

form groups of 2 to create a personal geography of Hell.

Illustrate Choose a guide: write a paragraph explaining why

this person was chosen what are their special talents that make them the perfect guide.

The group must write a paragraph (4 sentence min.) to explain each of the 9 levels of Hell they create. Include the punishment and sin required for entry.