The Divine Comedy
Dante wrote his masterpiece, the epic poem The Divine Comedy, during his exile. He began the poem around 1308 and finished it shortly before his death in 1321. It consists of three sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Each section is divided into parts called cantos (the Italian word canto comes from a Latin word meaning “song”). The cantos, 100 in all, are written in three-line stanzas in a verse form known as terza rima, which Dante himself created. To Dante, the number three had deep spiritual meaning.
It suggested the divine mystery of the three persons in one God, which is central to Christian belief.
In The Divine Comedy, Dante himself is the main character, a traveler who stands for all of humanity. He first journeys down into the Inferno, or Hell, a hideous realm where sinners receive fitting eternal punishments. He then travels to Purgatory, a place of temporary punishment, and finally to Paradise, where he stands before the throne of God. On his journey, Dante encounters characters from mythology, from history, and from his own time—including some of his friends and enemies. The poem, therefore, is not only an imaginative vision of the afterlife but also a rich portrait of medieval times.
When Dante wrote his poem, he gave it the title Commedia [Comedy] because it ends happily. In time, it became known as The Divine Comedy because of its deeply spiritual content. To many readers, the poem suggests the soul’s odyssey from the darkness of sin to a glimpse of eternal glory, beauty, and truth.
One of the greatest works in all of literature, Dante’s poem was very popular in his own lifetime. According to one commentator, children ran after Dante in the streets to touch the garment of the man who had visited Hell. Down through the centuries, the poem has inspired a host of writers, artists, and musicians.
It suggested the divine mystery of the three persons in one God, which is central to Christian belief.
In The Divine Comedy, Dante himself is the main character, a traveler who stands for all of humanity. He first journeys down into the Inferno, or Hell, a hideous realm where sinners receive fitting eternal punishments. He then travels to Purgatory, a place of temporary punishment, and finally to Paradise, where he stands before the throne of God. On his journey, Dante encounters characters from mythology, from history, and from his own time—including some of his friends and enemies. The poem, therefore, is not only an imaginative vision of the afterlife but also a rich portrait of medieval times.
When Dante wrote his poem, he gave it the title Commedia [Comedy] because it ends happily. In time, it became known as The Divine Comedy because of its deeply spiritual content. To many readers, the poem suggests the soul’s odyssey from the darkness of sin to a glimpse of eternal glory, beauty, and truth.
One of the greatest works in all of literature, Dante’s poem was very popular in his own lifetime. According to one commentator, children ran after Dante in the streets to touch the garment of the man who had visited Hell. Down through the centuries, the poem has inspired a host of writers, artists, and musicians.
Annotating Your Text
Why annotate? Annotation is a form of close reading that helps us see reading as a process. Annotating slows down our reading of complex texts - which is a good thing! Annotating makes us more actively involved in the reading and the depth of our comprehension changes - in a good way!
As you read The Inferno, write questions and make predictions and/or connections. Talk with the text.
Your annotated texts will be collected and will take the place of reading questions.
As you read The Inferno, write questions and make predictions and/or connections. Talk with the text.
Your annotated texts will be collected and will take the place of reading questions.
DURING READING
Mark in the text: > Characters (who) > When (setting) > Where (setting) > Vocabulary ~~~~~ > > _______ Important information |
DURING READING
Write in the margins: > Summarize > Make predictions > Formulate opinions > Make connections > Ask questions > Analyze the author’s craft > Write reflections/ reactions/ comments > Look for patterns/repetitions |
AFTER READING
Record your thoughts: > Reread annotations—draw conclusions > Reread introduction and conclusion —try to figure out something new > Examine patterns/repetitions-- determine possible meanings > Determine what the title might mean |
A New Geography of Hell
in The Inferno Dante Alighieri claims that before achieving moral redemption, an individual must take a hard look at evil both in the world and in himself. Only by confronting inner evil can people achieve self-knowledge, which is the first step toward redemption.
Dante also says that people should not be expected to make their journey alone; they need a guide to help them. For Dante's own journey, as described in his book, he chose the poet Virgil to guide him through hell.
Dante's nine circles of hell are summarized below:
Dante also says that people should not be expected to make their journey alone; they need a guide to help them. For Dante's own journey, as described in his book, he chose the poet Virgil to guide him through hell.
Dante's nine circles of hell are summarized below:
- Limbo, which includes people waiting to see if they enter heaven or descend to hell.
- Lustful, Gluttonous, Avaricious. These three circles represent sins of weakness. They are mostly harmful things that we do to ourselves.
- Wrathful, Heretics (those who betrayed others), and Violent. These three circles represent sins of malice. They were premeditated and usually involved actions toward other people.
- The Fraudulent and the Treacherous. These last two circles represent sins of betrayal and pride, considered the worst sins of all. Satan, who betrayed God, represents the epitome of evil.
Your Task
- Working in a group of three, develop a geography of hell based on life experiences.
- As a group:
- describe the punishment inflicted upon the sinners in each circle
- to complete your portrayal of hell, select a guide
- You can draw your geography of hell on a piece of poster board or create it using your ThinkPad.
- Include two or three paragraphs identifying the meaning of each circle, why that circle belongs in hell, the reason for selecting a particular guide, and an explanation of moral redemption.
- Finally, your group will share your geography of hell with the class. Did most groups come up with similar ideas, or are their geographies of hell unique? Who did students select as their guides, and why? Finally, what are students' ideas about moral redemption?