Dante’s Inferno Dante’s Inferno ► Dante’s title for the work is Dante’s title for the work is “:Here beginneth the Comedy of “:Here beginneth the Comedy of Dante Alighieri, a Florentine by Dante Alighieri, a Florentine by birth, not by character” birth, not by character” ► Made up of 3 parts: The Inferno, Made up of 3 parts: The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and the Paradiso The Purgatorio, and the Paradiso
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Dante’s Inferno ► Dante’s title for the work is “:Here beginneth the Comedy of Dante Alighieri, a Florentine by birth, not by character” ► Made up of 3.
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Dante’s InfernoDante’s Inferno
►Dante’s title for the work is “:Here Dante’s title for the work is “:Here beginneth the Comedy of Dante beginneth the Comedy of Dante Alighieri, a Florentine by birth, not by Alighieri, a Florentine by birth, not by character”character”
►Made up of 3 parts: The Inferno, The Made up of 3 parts: The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and the ParadisoPurgatorio, and the Paradiso
ComedyComedy
►““comedy…is a certain kind of poetic comedy…is a certain kind of poetic narration differing…from tragedy in its narration differing…from tragedy in its content, in that tragedy begins admirably content, in that tragedy begins admirably and tranquilly, whereas its end or exit is and tranquilly, whereas its end or exit is foul and terrible;…whereas comedy foul and terrible;…whereas comedy introduces some harsh complication, but introduces some harsh complication, but brings its matter to a prosperous end…brings its matter to a prosperous end…They likewise differ in their mode of They likewise differ in their mode of speech, tragedy being exalted and speech, tragedy being exalted and sublime, sublime,
comedy lax and humble…And hence it is comedy lax and humble…And hence it is evident that the title of the present work is evident that the title of the present work is “the Comedy.” For if we have respect to “the Comedy.” For if we have respect to its contents, at the beginning it is horrible its contents, at the beginning it is horrible and fetid, for it is hell; and in the end it is and fetid, for it is hell; and in the end it is prosperous, desirable and gracious, for it is prosperous, desirable and gracious, for it is Paradise. If we have respect to the method Paradise. If we have respect to the method of speech, the method is lax and humble, of speech, the method is lax and humble, for it is the vernacular speech in which for it is the vernacular speech in which very women communicate. (Dante)very women communicate. (Dante)
Levels of meaningLevels of meaning
►Literal: real people mentionedLiteral: real people mentioned
►Allegorical: representative of Dante’s Allegorical: representative of Dante’s belief system and valuesbelief system and values
►Moral: makes points about morality, Moral: makes points about morality, pointing out the disconnect between pointing out the disconnect between medieval Catholic teaching and practicemedieval Catholic teaching and practice
Divisions: symbolic of the Divisions: symbolic of the TrinityTrinity
► Inferno: symbolizes the power of God Inferno: symbolizes the power of God the Fatherthe Father
►Purgatorio: symbolizes the wisdom of Purgatorio: symbolizes the wisdom of God the SonGod the Son
►Paradisio: symbolizes the love of the Paradisio: symbolizes the love of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Epic PoemEpic Poem
►Simple: long narrative in verse with a Simple: long narrative in verse with a hero or heroes who go through a hero or heroes who go through a series of adventures.series of adventures.
►Complex: explores a larger theme than Complex: explores a larger theme than the particular characters and places—the particular characters and places—presents a world-view, showing the presents a world-view, showing the individual and social purposes, the individual and social purposes, the system of belief, the major things system of belief, the major things which define a culture.which define a culture.
GeographyGeography
►Circles: all share a center, focused first Circles: all share a center, focused first on the devil (hell), then on God on the devil (hell), then on God (Paradise)(Paradise)
►Descent and Ascent: in Inferno, going Descent and Ascent: in Inferno, going from earth’s surface to depths of Hell, from earth’s surface to depths of Hell, illustrating the moral associations; in illustrating the moral associations; in Purgatorio and Paradisio, going Purgatorio and Paradisio, going upward towards the realm of God upward towards the realm of God which is the summit of the universewhich is the summit of the universe
End result of the geography is that End result of the geography is that wherever we are in Dante’s created world, wherever we are in Dante’s created world, we are aware of the moral system, for the we are aware of the moral system, for the geography always places us in relationship geography always places us in relationship to what is above or below. The further to what is above or below. The further down we go, the worse the sins.down we go, the worse the sins.
He creates a system of values that applies He creates a system of values that applies to our understanding of ourselves and the to our understanding of ourselves and the conduct of our lives. (Ian Johnston)conduct of our lives. (Ian Johnston)
►Dante’s moral distinctions are based Dante’s moral distinctions are based on the motivation; sins of passion are on the motivation; sins of passion are not as serious as sins of reason not as serious as sins of reason corrupted, since reason is a distinctly corrupted, since reason is a distinctly human, God-given faculty.human, God-given faculty.
►The effects of the crime are not as The effects of the crime are not as important as the nature of the sinner’s important as the nature of the sinner’s intentions.intentions.
StructureStructure
►Based on numbers: Based on numbers: 3: trinity3: trinity 9: 3X39: 3X3 33: multiple of 333: multiple of 3 10: considered number of perfection10: considered number of perfection 100: 10 X 10 absolute perfection100: 10 X 10 absolute perfection
►3 cantiche, each formed of 33 cantos, 3 cantiche, each formed of 33 cantos, adding up to 99, which with the adding up to 99, which with the addition of the first introductory canto, addition of the first introductory canto, adds up to 100adds up to 100
►Poem is written in terza rima: 3 line Poem is written in terza rima: 3 line stanzas with rhyme scheme aba, bcb, stanzas with rhyme scheme aba, bcb, cdc, ded etc, so each rhyme is used 3 cdc, ded etc, so each rhyme is used 3 timestimes
►Hell is divided into 9 circles, grouped in Hell is divided into 9 circles, grouped in 3 divisions, with the vestibule making a 3 divisions, with the vestibule making a 1010thth
►Purgatory is divided into 9 levels, plus Purgatory is divided into 9 levels, plus the terrestrial paradise making 10the terrestrial paradise making 10
►Paradise is formed of 9 heavens, plus Paradise is formed of 9 heavens, plus the Empyrium making 10the Empyrium making 10
►The celestial heirarchies are nine, The celestial heirarchies are nine, divided into triadsdivided into triads
►The sinners in hell are divided according The sinners in hell are divided according to three capital vices: incontinence, to three capital vices: incontinence, violence and fraudviolence and fraud
►The penitents in purgatory are divided by The penitents in purgatory are divided by the nature of their rational love (Bad, the nature of their rational love (Bad, deficient and immoderate)deficient and immoderate)
►The blessed in Paradise are divided based The blessed in Paradise are divided based on the secular, active or contemplative on the secular, active or contemplative nature of their love for Godnature of their love for God
VirgilVirgil
►Roman poet—one of the finest epic poetsRoman poet—one of the finest epic poets►Dante’s guide through hellDante’s guide through hell►Allegorically represents reason exercised in Allegorically represents reason exercised in
the light of the revealed truth of Godthe light of the revealed truth of God► Illustrates the limits of reason—Virgil can Illustrates the limits of reason—Virgil can
escort Dante through hell, through the escort Dante through hell, through the rudimentary understanding of God’s rudimentary understanding of God’s justice, but cannot approach closer to Godjustice, but cannot approach closer to God
AllegoryAllegory
►A fiction in which narrative details A fiction in which narrative details represent other events or ideas represent other events or ideas outside of the fictional worldoutside of the fictional world
►Differs from symbolism in the breadth Differs from symbolism in the breadth of the comparison and the clarity of of the comparison and the clarity of the external system of referencethe external system of reference
NarrativeNarrative
► Journey—always moving along quicklyJourney—always moving along quickly►Diction—coloquial, almost slangyDiction—coloquial, almost slangy►Alternates between the larger picture of Alternates between the larger picture of
the hordes in hell and the close-ups of the hordes in hell and the close-ups of particular sinners—allows us to respond particular sinners—allows us to respond to the situation in a more personal wayto the situation in a more personal way
►Creates a sort of moral tension to Creates a sort of moral tension to educate our emotions to fully educate our emotions to fully comprehend the nature of God’s justicecomprehend the nature of God’s justice