The Inferno Dante Alighieri Florence, Italy 13 th & 14 th c.

The Inferno Part I of the “Divine Comedy” Part I of the “Divine Comedy” High poetry (tragedy) vs. low poetry (comedy) High poetry (tragedy) vs. low poetry (comedy) Part II: Purgatory Part II: Purgatory Part III: Paradise Part III: Paradise Dante finds himself in a dark wood & journeys from hell into purgatory w/ the poet Virgil (author of the Aeneid) as his guide Dante finds himself in a dark wood & journeys from hell into purgatory w/ the poet Virgil (author of the Aeneid) as his guide Functions as an allegory: a story/narrative with two layers of meaning Functions as an allegory: a story/narrative with two layers of meaning Literal meaning Literal meaning Figurative meaning Figurative meaning

Structure Divine Comedy Divine Comedy 3 canticles 3 canticles Inferno (Hell) Inferno (Hell) Purgatorio (Purgatory) Purgatorio (Purgatory) Paradiso (Heaven) Paradiso (Heaven) 33 cantos each 33 cantos each 1 introductory canto 1 introductory canto 100 cantos total 100 cantos total

Structure Importance of “3” Importance of “3” 3 canticles 3 canticles 3 realms of the dead 3 realms of the dead 33 cantos 33 cantos Cantos broken into tercets Cantos broken into tercets Terza Rima – stay tuned! Terza Rima – stay tuned! 3 groups of sins (Incontinence – weakness in controlling one’s desires & natural urges; Violence; Fraud) 3 groups of sins (Incontinence – weakness in controlling one’s desires & natural urges; Violence; Fraud) 3 rings in the 7 th circle 3 rings in the 7 th circle 3 faces of Satan 3 faces of Satan 3 beasts in Canto I 3 beasts in Canto I 3 holy women send Virgil to guide Dante 3 holy women send Virgil to guide Dante

Structure Terza Rima (“Third Rhyme”) Terza Rima (“Third Rhyme”) Middle verse of a given tercet (group of three lines) rhymes w/ 1 st & 3 rd lines of the next tercet Middle verse of a given tercet (group of three lines) rhymes w/ 1 st & 3 rd lines of the next tercet ABA BCB CDC DED…XYX YZYZ ABA BCB CDC DED…XYX YZYZ Mathematical consequence is that the number of lines in any given canto is always a multiple of three with one line left over Mathematical consequence is that the number of lines in any given canto is always a multiple of three with one line left over

Structure Contrapasso Contrapasso The process by which souls are punished The process by which souls are punished Literal translation: Counter-Suffering Literal translation: Counter-Suffering Souls are punished according to the nature of their sins – ironic cosmological law ensuring that the punishment fits the crime (“poetic justice”) Souls are punished according to the nature of their sins – ironic cosmological law ensuring that the punishment fits the crime (“poetic justice”)

Structure Anaphora Anaphora Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive verses or tercets to drive home a point Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive verses or tercets to drive home a point Affects tone & meaning Affects tone & meaning Synesthesia Synesthesia Mixing of senses – one of the five senses is used in a description that normally calls for one of the other senses (i.e., the sun is silent) Mixing of senses – one of the five senses is used in a description that normally calls for one of the other senses (i.e., the sun is silent) Creates unique metaphoric associations Creates unique metaphoric associations

Political & Religious Aspects Much of the Inferno functions as an allegory for the political turmoil of the Italian city-states Much of the Inferno functions as an allegory for the political turmoil of the Italian city-states The Guelphs and Ghibellines The Guelphs and Ghibellines Two factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively Two factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively Guelphs tended to come from wealthy mercantile families; Ghibellines’ wealth was based on agricultural estates Guelphs tended to come from wealthy mercantile families; Ghibellines’ wealth was based on agricultural estates Especially important in Florence (where Dante was from) Especially important in Florence (where Dante was from)

Political & Religious Aspects Seriously, you guys… Seriously, you guys… They adopted peculiar customs such as wearing a feather on a particular side of their hats, or cutting fruit a particular way, according to their affiliation. They adopted peculiar customs such as wearing a feather on a particular side of their hats, or cutting fruit a particular way, according to their affiliation. Guelphs Win! (but I guess they got bored…) Guelphs Win! (but I guess they got bored…) After the Guelphs finally defeated the Ghibellines in 1289, they began to fight amongst themselves. After the Guelphs finally defeated the Ghibellines in 1289, they began to fight amongst themselves. Black Guelphs vs. White Guelphs Black Guelphs vs. White Guelphs The BGs continued to support the Papacy, while the WGs were opposed to Papal influence, specifically Pope Boniface VIII. The BGs continued to support the Papacy, while the WGs were opposed to Papal influence, specifically Pope Boniface VIII. Dante’s family was aligned with the White Guelphs. Dante’s family was aligned with the White Guelphs. In 1302, he was exiled when the Black Guelphs took control of Florence. In 1302, he was exiled when the Black Guelphs took control of Florence.

Remnants of this conflict today… War flag of the Holy Roman Empire (Ghibellines) War flag of the Guelph allied cities Italian cities still use the Ghibelline and Guelph flags today in their coat of arms and civic flags. If you visit Italy, you can figure out which faction citites had allied themselves with by looking at their coat of arms. Pavia Milan Novara ComoTreviso Vercelli AlessandriaPadua Reggio Bologna Asti Fabriano Forli Orvieto Genoa Vicenza