Dante’s InfernoDante’s Inferno
By Dante AlighieriBy Dante Alighieri
Author BiographyAuthor Biography
•Dante Alighieri•Dante Alighieri
•Son of a nobleman•Son of a nobleman
•Born May1265 in Florence, Italy•Born May1265 in Florence, Italy
•Received early education in Florence•Received early education in Florence
•Attended the University of Bologna•Attended the University of Bologna
•Experiences included a tour in the FlorenceArmy when he fought in the Battle ofCampaldino.•Experiences included a tour in the FlorenceArmy when he fought in the Battle ofCampaldino.
Author BiographyAuthor Biography
•His great love seems to have been BeatricePortinari.•His great love seems to have been BeatricePortinari.
•They met when they were children.•They met when they were children.
•Dante worshipped her.•Dante worshipped her.
•Beatrice was Dante’s inspiration for The DivineComedy.•Beatrice was Dante’s inspiration for The DivineComedy.
•After her death in 1290, he dedicated a memorial “TheNew Life” (La Vita Nuova) to her.•After her death in 1290, he dedicated a memorial “TheNew Life” (La Vita Nuova) to her.
•Though each married, they did not marry each other.•Though each married, they did not marry each other.
Author BiographyAuthor Biography
•Dante entered an arranged marriage in 1291with Gemma Donati, a noblewoman.•Dante entered an arranged marriage in 1291with Gemma Donati, a noblewoman.
•They had two sons and either one or twodaughters.•They had two sons and either one or twodaughters.
•Records contain little else about their lifetogether.•Records contain little else about their lifetogether.
Author BiographyAuthor Biography
•By 1302, Dante was a political exile fromFlorence.•By 1302, Dante was a political exile fromFlorence.
•He probably started The Divine Comedy afterthis exile.•He probably started The Divine Comedy afterthis exile.
•Politics, history, mythology, religious leaders,and prominent people of the time, of literature,of the past, and of Dante’s personal life –including Beatrice – appear throughout TheDivine Comedy.•Politics, history, mythology, religious leaders,and prominent people of the time, of literature,of the past, and of Dante’s personal life –including Beatrice – appear throughout TheDivine Comedy.
Author BiographyAuthor Biography
•The work was a major departure from theliterature of the day since it was written in Italian,not the Latin of most other important writing.•The work was a major departure from theliterature of the day since it was written in Italian,not the Latin of most other important writing.
•Dante finished The Divine Comedy just before hisdeath on September 14, 1321.•Dante finished The Divine Comedy just before hisdeath on September 14, 1321.
•He was still in exile and was living under the protectionof Guido da Polenta in Ravenna.•He was still in exile and was living under the protectionof Guido da Polenta in Ravenna.
•Perhaps still bitter about his expulsion from Florence,Dante wrote on the title page of The Divine Comedythat he was “a Florentine by birth, but not in manner”(Bergin 444).•Perhaps still bitter about his expulsion from Florence,Dante wrote on the title page of The Divine Comedythat he was “a Florentine by birth, but not in manner”(Bergin 444).
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•The Renaissance (rebirth of learning) beganin Italy in the fourteenth century andinfluenced all of western civilization.•The Renaissance (rebirth of learning) beganin Italy in the fourteenth century andinfluenced all of western civilization.
•Wealthy families in Italy, such as theMedicis of Florence, were patrons of thearts and sciences.•Wealthy families in Italy, such as theMedicis of Florence, were patrons of thearts and sciences.
•Trade flourished and prosperity thrivedthroughout much of the country.•Trade flourished and prosperity thrivedthroughout much of the country.
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•All was not well in Italy during the Renaissance.•All was not well in Italy during the Renaissance.
•Rulers of the independent Italian states oftenfought with each other to establish a large politicalunit.•Rulers of the independent Italian states oftenfought with each other to establish a large politicalunit.
•The Guelph Political party (which favored localauthority) and the Ghibelline Political party(which favored imperial authority) were two suchrival factions.•The Guelph Political party (which favored localauthority) and the Ghibelline Political party(which favored imperial authority) were two suchrival factions.
•The two had been at war periodically since thethirteenth century.•The two had been at war periodically since thethirteenth century.
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•Dante’s birth in 1265 came at a time when theGuelph party was in control of Florence.•Dante’s birth in 1265 came at a time when theGuelph party was in control of Florence.
•Dante turned away from his Guelph heritage toembrace the imperial philosophy of theGhibellines.•Dante turned away from his Guelph heritage toembrace the imperial philosophy of theGhibellines.
•His change in politics is best summed up in his treatiseDe Monarchia in which Dante states his belief in theseparation of church and state.•His change in politics is best summed up in his treatiseDe Monarchia in which Dante states his belief in theseparation of church and state.
•The Ghibellines, however, were pushed from power bythe Guelphs during Dante’s adulthood and confined tonorthern Tuscany.•The Ghibellines, however, were pushed from power bythe Guelphs during Dante’s adulthood and confined tonorthern Tuscany.
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•The Guelph political party eventuallydivided into two groups:•The Guelph political party eventuallydivided into two groups:
•The Whites (led by the Cerchi family)•The Whites (led by the Cerchi family)
•The Blacks (led by the Donati family and laterby Pope Boniface VIII).•The Blacks (led by the Donati family and laterby Pope Boniface VIII).
•Dante became a member of the Whites andserved as an ambassador to talk with the Popein Rome about conditions in Florence.•Dante became a member of the Whites andserved as an ambassador to talk with the Popein Rome about conditions in Florence.
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•While Dante was out of town, the Blackstook over Florence.•While Dante was out of town, the Blackstook over Florence.
•The Blacks sentenced Dante to banishmentfrom the city.•The Blacks sentenced Dante to banishmentfrom the city.
•His punishment for return would be death.•His punishment for return would be death.
•His wanderings gave him time to write and to studythe Scriptures.•His wanderings gave him time to write and to studythe Scriptures.
•This banishment also gave Dante his perspective oncorruption of the fourteenth century papacy, a viewthat he would clearly describe in The Inferno.•This banishment also gave Dante his perspective oncorruption of the fourteenth century papacy, a viewthat he would clearly describe in The Inferno.
Dante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackgroundDante’s Inferno: HistoricalBackground
•In the year 1310, Henry VII became Holy RomanEmperor.•In the year 1310, Henry VII became Holy RomanEmperor.
•Dante believed that this German Prince would bringpeace.•Dante believed that this German Prince would bringpeace.
•Henry VII died in 1313 and his Italian campaigncollapsed.•Henry VII died in 1313 and his Italian campaigncollapsed.
•Dante became disillusioned and left the political life•Dante became disillusioned and left the political life
•He ceased work on other materials he had begun andconcentrated on The Divine Comedy.•He ceased work on other materials he had begun andconcentrated on The Divine Comedy.
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•The Divine Comedy is a narrative poem describingDante’s imaginary journey.•The Divine Comedy is a narrative poem describingDante’s imaginary journey.
•Midway on his journey through life, Danterealizes he has taken the wrong path.•Midway on his journey through life, Danterealizes he has taken the wrong path.
•The Roman poet Virgil searches for the lost Danteat the request of Beatrice.•The Roman poet Virgil searches for the lost Danteat the request of Beatrice.
•He finds Dante in the woods on the evening of GoodFriday in the year 1300 and serves as a guide as Dantebegins his religious pilgrimage to find God.•He finds Dante in the woods on the evening of GoodFriday in the year 1300 and serves as a guide as Dantebegins his religious pilgrimage to find God.
•To reach his goal, Dante passes through Hell,Purgatory, and Paradise.•To reach his goal, Dante passes through Hell,Purgatory, and Paradise.
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•The Divine Comedy was not titles as suchby Dante; his title for the work was simplyCommedia or Comedy.•The Divine Comedy was not titles as suchby Dante; his title for the work was simplyCommedia or Comedy.
•Dante’s use of the word “comedy” is medievalby definition.•Dante’s use of the word “comedy” is medievalby definition.
•To Dante and his contemporaries, the term“comedy” meant a tale with a happy ending,not a funny story as the word has since come tomean.•To Dante and his contemporaries, the term“comedy” meant a tale with a happy ending,not a funny story as the word has since come tomean.
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•The Divine Comedy is made up of three parts,corresponding with Dante’s three journeys:Inferno (or Hell); Purgatorio (or Purgatory); andParidisio (or Paradise).•The Divine Comedy is made up of three parts,corresponding with Dante’s three journeys:Inferno (or Hell); Purgatorio (or Purgatory); andParidisio (or Paradise).
•Each part consists of a prologue andapproximately 33 cantos.•Each part consists of a prologue andapproximately 33 cantos.
•Since the narrative poem is in an exalted formwith a hero as its subject, it is an epic poem.•Since the narrative poem is in an exalted formwith a hero as its subject, it is an epic poem.
Dante’s InfernoDante’s Inferno
•Dante and Virgil enter the wide gates ofHell and descend through the nine circles ofHell.•Dante and Virgil enter the wide gates ofHell and descend through the nine circles ofHell.
•In each circle they see sinners beingpunished for their sins on Earth; Dante seesthe torture as Divine justice.•In each circle they see sinners beingpunished for their sins on Earth; Dante seesthe torture as Divine justice.
Dante’s InfernoDante’s Inferno
•The sinners in the circles include:•The sinners in the circles include:
•Circle One – Those in limbo•Circle One – Those in limbo
•Circle Two – The lustful•Circle Two – The lustful
•Circle Three – The gluttonous•Circle Three – The gluttonous
•Circle Four – The hoarders•Circle Four – The hoarders
•Circle Five – The wrathful•Circle Five – The wrathful
•Circle Six – The heretics•Circle Six – The heretics
•Circle Seven – The violent•Circle Seven – The violent
•Ring 1: Murderers, robbers, and plunderers•Ring 1: Murderers, robbers, and plunderers
•Ring 2: Suicides and those harmful to the world•Ring 2: Suicides and those harmful to the world
•Ring 3: Those harmful against God, nature, art, as well as usurers•Ring 3: Those harmful against God, nature, art, as well as usurers
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•Circle Eight – The Fraudulent•Circle Eight – The Fraudulent
•Bowge (Trench) I: Panderers and Seducers•Bowge (Trench) I: Panderers and Seducers
•Bowge II: Flatterers•Bowge II: Flatterers
•Bowge III: Simoniacs•Bowge III: Simoniacs
•Bowge IV: Sorcerers•Bowge IV: Sorcerers
•Bowge V: Barrators•Bowge V: Barrators
•Bowge VI: Hypocrites•Bowge VI: Hypocrites
•Bowge VII: Thieves•Bowge VII: Thieves
•Bowge VIII: Counselors•Bowge VIII: Counselors
•Bowge IX: Sowers of Discord•Bowge IX: Sowers of Discord
•Bowge X: Falsifiers•Bowge X: Falsifiers
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•Circle Nine – Traitors•Circle Nine – Traitors
•Region i: Traitors to their kindred•Region i: Traitors to their kindred
•Region ii: Traitors to their country•Region ii: Traitors to their country
•Region iii: Traitors to their guests•Region iii: Traitors to their guests
•Region iv: Traitors to their lords•Region iv: Traitors to their lords
Dante’s Inferno: IntroductionDante’s Inferno: Introduction
•On Easter Sunday, Dante emerges fromHell.•On Easter Sunday, Dante emerges fromHell.
•Through his travels, he has found his way toGod and is able, once more, to look uponthe stars.•Through his travels, he has found his way toGod and is able, once more, to look uponthe stars.
Dante’s Inferno: Canto IDante’s Inferno: Canto I
•Characters:•Characters:
•Dante: The writer, narrator, main character, andtraveler in The Inferno.•Dante: The writer, narrator, main character, andtraveler in The Inferno.
•Leopard: The first character (Self-indulgence) whomDante meets.•Leopard: The first character (Self-indulgence) whomDante meets.
•Lion: The second character ( Violence) whom Dantemeets.•Lion: The second character ( Violence) whom Dantemeets.
•She-Wolf: The third character (Malice) whom Dantemeets.•She-Wolf: The third character (Malice) whom Dantemeets.
•Virgil: Ancient Roman poet who appears to Dante andbecomes his guide.•Virgil: Ancient Roman poet who appears to Dante andbecomes his guide.
Dante’s Inferno: Canto IDante’s Inferno: Canto I
•Midway on his journey through life, Dante fallsasleep and loses his way.•Midway on his journey through life, Dante fallsasleep and loses his way.
•He wakes during the night of Maundy Thursday(Holy Thursday) to find himself in a dark wood;he does not know how he got there.•He wakes during the night of Maundy Thursday(Holy Thursday) to find himself in a dark wood;he does not know how he got there.
•Dante loses the right way; the narrow road he hadwanted to travel has disappeared.•Dante loses the right way; the narrow road he hadwanted to travel has disappeared.
•Dante feels hope when he sees morning rays ofsun over the mountain, even though he is stillalone in the valley.•Dante feels hope when he sees morning rays ofsun over the mountain, even though he is stillalone in the valley.
Dante’s Inferno: Canto IDante’s Inferno: Canto I
•As he scales the mountain, Dante encounters aleopard.•As he scales the mountain, Dante encounters aleopard.
•The leopard impedes his progress, but it is not veryfrightening•The leopard impedes his progress, but it is not veryfrightening
•The second animal that Dante meets is a fierce,hungry lion, which comes toward him swiftly andsavagely.•The second animal that Dante meets is a fierce,hungry lion, which comes toward him swiftly andsavagely.
•The third – and worst – animal that Danteencounters is a vicious she-wolf.•The third – and worst – animal that Danteencounters is a vicious she-wolf.
•She terrifies Dante so much that he is unable tocontinue his travels.•She terrifies Dante so much that he is unable tocontinue his travels.
Dante’s Inferno: Canto IDante’s Inferno: Canto I
•The shade of the poet Virgil appears to Dante.•The shade of the poet Virgil appears to Dante.
•Until the greyhound comes to secure the wolf in Hell,Virgil explains, the only way past the wolf is anotherpath.•Until the greyhound comes to secure the wolf in Hell,Virgil explains, the only way past the wolf is anotherpath.
•Virgil offers to show Dante the path to an eternal placewhere he can see long-departed souls.•Virgil offers to show Dante the path to an eternal placewhere he can see long-departed souls.
•At that point, Virgil says, another guide will come andtake Dante to a city which Virgil cannot enter.•At that point, Virgil says, another guide will come andtake Dante to a city which Virgil cannot enter.
•Dante accepts Virgil’s offer and follows the poet.•Dante accepts Virgil’s offer and follows the poet.
Analysis: Canto IAnalysis: Canto I
•Dante has lost the narrow way to God; he findshimself in the valley of sin and separation fromGod•Dante has lost the narrow way to God; he findshimself in the valley of sin and separation fromGod
•Dante is not sure how he lost the bright, right, narrowway; the darkness of sin and night (Maundy Thursdaybefore Passover) frightens him.•Dante is not sure how he lost the bright, right, narrowway; the darkness of sin and night (Maundy Thursdaybefore Passover) frightens him.
•When Good Friday (the morning of Jesus’ crucifixion)arrives, Dante feels hope as he sees the rays of light(goodness) shine over the mountain – a symbol of theascent from evil that one must make to reach God.•When Good Friday (the morning of Jesus’ crucifixion)arrives, Dante feels hope as he sees the rays of light(goodness) shine over the mountain – a symbol of theascent from evil that one must make to reach God.
Analysis : Canto IAnalysis : Canto I
•The three animals – the leopard, lion, and wolf, are imagesof sin.•The three animals – the leopard, lion, and wolf, are imagesof sin.
•The first animal – the leopard – depicts the sins of self-indulgence or incontinence, which are often sins of youth.•The first animal – the leopard – depicts the sins of self-indulgence or incontinence, which are often sins of youth.
•The lion represents the sins of bestial violence which oftenare the sins of adulthood.•The lion represents the sins of bestial violence which oftenare the sins of adulthood.
•The wolf represents the malicious sins, the sins of age.•The wolf represents the malicious sins, the sins of age.
•The greyhound is a symbol of the political or religiousleader who will come to help rid the world of greed.•The greyhound is a symbol of the political or religiousleader who will come to help rid the world of greed.
•It could also symbolize Dante’s friend Can Grande (Italian for“Great Dog”) della Scalla, the Ghibelline leader.•It could also symbolize Dante’s friend Can Grande (Italian for“Great Dog”) della Scalla, the Ghibelline leader.
Analysis: Canto IAnalysis: Canto I
•Virgil represents human reason, which can help – to apoint – in bringing Dante out of the wood.•Virgil represents human reason, which can help – to apoint – in bringing Dante out of the wood.
•Virgil was the inspiration for Dante.•Virgil was the inspiration for Dante.
•Virgil’s Aeneid was the pattern for The Inferno.•Virgil’s Aeneid was the pattern for The Inferno.
•It is natural that Virgil should guide Dante when Dante was lost inlife just as Virgil guided Dante as Dante wrote.•It is natural that Virgil should guide Dante when Dante was lost inlife just as Virgil guided Dante as Dante wrote.
•Virgil’s hoarseness could refer to his not having spoken since hebegan his journey to Hell, or it could refer to the fact that he hadnot spoken to the world for some time since he was not a popularwriter at the time.•Virgil’s hoarseness could refer to his not having spoken since hebegan his journey to Hell, or it could refer to the fact that he hadnot spoken to the world for some time since he was not a popularwriter at the time.
•It is significant that Virgil cannot speak until Dante speaks to him.•It is significant that Virgil cannot speak until Dante speaks to him.
Analysis: Canto IAnalysis: Canto I
•Dante’s main theme is the picaresque ( or journey)theme.•Dante’s main theme is the picaresque ( or journey)theme.
•Dante’s journey to the nether regions is vital toThe Inferno.•Dante’s journey to the nether regions is vital toThe Inferno.
•With pilgrimages being common in the 1200s and1300s, and with the influence of Virgil’s writingson Dante, it is not surprising that Dante uses thepicaresque theme.•With pilgrimages being common in the 1200s and1300s, and with the influence of Virgil’s writingson Dante, it is not surprising that Dante uses thepicaresque theme.
Analysis: Canto IAnalysis: Canto I
•A second theme in The Inferno is thesurvival of the unfittest.•A second theme in The Inferno is thesurvival of the unfittest.
•A weak, lost Dante encounters three wildanimals and even manages a trip to the depthsof Hell and back.•A weak, lost Dante encounters three wildanimals and even manages a trip to the depthsof Hell and back.
•A third main theme is the reversal offortune.•A third main theme is the reversal offortune.
•Dante is lost at the beginning of Canto I, but bythe end of The Inferno, he has found his way.•Dante is lost at the beginning of Canto I, but bythe end of The Inferno, he has found his way.