dante’s inferno ► dante’s title for the work is “:here beginneth the comedy of dante...

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

ImageryImagery

► Intensely detailedIntensely detailed

►Sharp, vivid descriptionsSharp, vivid descriptions

►Creates unforgettable scenesCreates unforgettable scenes

11stst Ring: Limbo Ring: Limbo

► Luke Warm. Neither Luke Warm. Neither sinned nor believed sinned nor believed in Christ. in Christ.

► Heaven does not Heaven does not claim them, Hell claim them, Hell does not want does not want them.them.

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22ndnd Ring: Lustful Ring: Lustful

► Blown about in Blown about in darkness.darkness.

33rdrd Ring: Gluttonous Ring: Gluttonous

► Deprived of Deprived of individuality. Each is individuality. Each is alone, cold, and alone, cold, and miserable.miserable.

44thth Ring: Avaricious Ring: Avaricious

► GreedyGreedy

► Must roll their Must roll their wealth back and wealth back and forth forever. forth forever.

55thth Ring: Wrathful and Sullen Ring: Wrathful and Sullen

► ““Wrathful”Wrathful”► Muddy figures Muddy figures

attack one another.attack one another.

► “ “Sullen”Sullen”► Sink beneath the Sink beneath the

surface in filthy surface in filthy slime.slime.

Marsh of StyxMarsh of Styx

66thth Ring: Heretics Ring: Heretics

Confined in tombs.Confined in tombs.

77thth Ring: Violent Ring: Violent

► AGAINST OTHERS:AGAINST OTHERS:

► Immersed in a river Immersed in a river of boiling blood.of boiling blood.


► AGAINST SELFAGAINST SELF

► Twisted plants that Twisted plants that cannot movecannot move


► AGAINST GOD: AGAINST GOD: Must lie facing Must lie facing upward toward upward toward heavenheaven

► AGAINST NATURE: AGAINST NATURE: Must run foreverMust run forever

► AGAINST ART: AGAINST ART: Forced to crouch Forced to crouch over moneybags.over moneybags.

88thth Ring: Fraudulent Ring: Fraudulent

► SEDUCERS:SEDUCERS:

► Driven by horned Driven by horned demonsdemons


► FLATTERERS:FLATTERERS:

► Forced to wallow in Forced to wallow in a floor of excrementa floor of excrement


► SIMONISTS (Those SIMONISTS (Those who attempt to who attempt to purchase the power purchase the power of the holy spirit):of the holy spirit):

► Buried head down Buried head down and burned on the and burned on the soles of their feet. soles of their feet.


► FORTUNE TELLERS/ FORTUNE TELLERS/ SOOTHSAYERSSOOTHSAYERS

► Bodies distorted so Bodies distorted so that the head is that the head is twisted around to twisted around to only view his back.only view his back.


► GRAFTERSGRAFTERS

► Dipped into boiling Dipped into boiling tar. Demon holds tar. Demon holds down the sinners down the sinners with a pitchfork.with a pitchfork.


► HYPOCRITESHYPOCRITES

► Must always walk at Must always walk at a steady pace.a steady pace.

► Wear a gaudy robe Wear a gaudy robe lined with leadlined with lead


► THIEVES THIEVES

► Snakes coil and Snakes coil and bind these sinnersbind these sinners


► DECEIVERSDECEIVERS

► Wrapped in fireWrapped in fire


► SCANDALSSCANDALS

Sowers of DiscordSowers of Discord

► Hacked to pieces, Hacked to pieces, put back together, put back together, and hacked up and hacked up again. again.


► FALSIFIERSFALSIFIERS

► Made insane; Made insane; plagued with all plagued with all types of illnesses types of illnesses and diseases. and diseases.

99thth Ring: Treachery Ring: Treachery

► TO FAMILY, TO FAMILY, COUNTRY, AND COUNTRY, AND FRIENDSFRIENDS

► Frozen in a sheet of Frozen in a sheet of ice with only their ice with only their face exposed to face exposed to show the pain. show the pain.

► Degree of depth Degree of depth based on degree of based on degree of betrayalbetrayal

Center of 9Center of 9thth Ring: Lucifer Ring: Lucifer

dante’s inferno ► dante’s title for the work is “:here beginneth the comedy of dante...

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