As the poet T. S. Eliot wrote, “Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them, there is no third.”

Dante Alighieri: 1265-1321 An Italian from Florence—Dante advocated for less papal control/ more of a separation of church and state Pope/Catholic church had great power and influence Dante was a member of the nobility and an elected official who helped run Florence’s gov’t His political party was overthrown in 1302 Officially exiled from Florence/ never returned (eventually expatriates were able to return –after paying a heavy fine and public retribution—but Dante said “no, thanks!”

The Divine Comedy: A Medieval Masterpiece Considered to be one of the greatest works of Western world literature An epic poem of roughly 14,000 lines Documents the physical and spiritual journey (quest) of a Christian who is also named Dante Presents Dante’s vision of God’s judgment on every significant aspect of human life

The Divine Comedy: A Religious Quest The entire journey is expected to turn Dante forever from error. It is a journey toward truth and grace in God’s favor. The Comedy is divided into three parts: Part 1: Recognizing sin (The Inferno) Part 2: Rejecting sin and awaiting redemption (The Purgatorio) Part 3: Achieving salvation through faith in divine revelation – God’s light in paradise (The Paradiso)

Literary Elements Allegory Symbolism The Number 3 Allusion A literary work with two levels of meaning: the literal and the symbolic Symbolism The underlying meanings associated with concrete objects or actual events The Number 3 Representative of the Christian concept of the trinity: (The Father / The Son / The Holy Spirit) Allusion Reference to a famous person, place, historical figure or event, work of art, or piece of literature

Allusions—Dante and Michaelangelo

Art—Dante’s Divine Comedy

Art—Dante’s Divine Comedy

Literary Elements Dante’s Comedy contains allusions/motifs from great classical works— Homer Ovid Virgil Familiar characters and references from classic Greek/Roman myth

Dante’s contribution to literature…. **At this time, most writers wrote in Latin (language of scholars) **Dante—poets should write in vernacular (language of the people—in this case, Italian)

Literary Elements: The Use of the Number 3 The Structure: begins w/an introductory chapter then: Three sections of 33 CANTOS (chapters) Written in TERCETS (three-lined stanzas) Uses a rhyme scheme called TERZA RIMA: The middle line of one tercet rhymes with the first and third lines of the next tercet Example: Rhyme scheme-- aba bcb cdc ded

Literary Elements: The Use of the Number 3 The average Medieval life expectancy: THREE SCORE AND TEN Midway through this time frame (35 years), Dante realizes he has strayed from the True Way into the Dark Wood of Error (worldliness).

Literary Elements: Archetypal symbol: Use of the Number 3 The Time Frame: Dante’s quest takes place over a three day period Begins in Hell on Good Friday (the day of Jesus’ crucifixion) Continues in Purgatory for the length of a day Ends symbolically in Paradise on Easter Sunday

Literary Elements: The Use of the Number 3 The Plot: The entire action takes place under the guidance of three ladies: The Virgin Mary: The mother of Jesus who mediates between God and man Saint Lucia: The patron saint of anyone without spiritual sight Beatrice: Dante’s love, a symbol of spiritual purity and faith who appears toward the end of the journey and who leads him to Paradise

Part 1: The Inferno The first section of The Divine Comedy The best known the most relevant to today’s culture the most dramatic In this section, Dante is accompanied by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice to act as teacher and to clarify ideas that confuse Dante Virgil’s clear-headedness is the voice of reason and is sharply contrasted with Dante’s confusion - FOIL The Inferno presents the structure of Hell

Dante’s Hell (The Inferno) Hell is located deep inside the Earth There are nine levels or concentric circles At each level, Dante meets suffering souls tormented for eternity in ways that befit their sins The condemned include people from the ancient world as well as people from Dante’s own time The worst sinners are placed at the lowest levels (6-9), farthest from God

The Circles of Hell People who sinned but prayed for forgiveness before their deaths are found not in Hell but in Purgatory, where they labor to be free of their sins. Those in Hell are people who tried to justify their sins and are unrepentant. Dante’s Hell is a place of symbolic retribution (retribution-- the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life

The Breakdown: Circles 1,2,3,4 & 5* = sins of human weakness Circles 5* 6 & 7 = involve harmful acts towards others Circles 8 and 9 = sins of betrayal and pride (considered the worst sins of all) *5 – The sin of wrath can go either way; it is a human weakness when turned inward; it can be harmful to others if acted out. That is why it is closest to the river Styx—closer to the next, more heinous circle.

The Circles of Dante’s Hell Ante-Hell Neutrals ACHERON (upper Hell) 1. Limbo - unbaptised 2. The Lustful 3. The Gluttonous 4. The Avaricious 5. The Wrathful STYX 6. The Heretics PHLEGETHON 7. The Violent Against Their Neighbors Against Themselves & Their Possessions Against God 8. The Fraudulent (ordinary) Flatterers Astrologers & Magicians Hypocrites Thieves Sowers of Scandal & Schism Falsifiers / Con Artists 9. Treachery (treacherous fraud) CAINA Traitors to Kin (family) ANTENORA Traitors to Homeland/Party PTOLOMEA Traitors to Guests JUDECCA Traitors to Benefactors COCYTUS LUCIFER

Interpretations of Dante’s Circles of Hell

Artistic Interpretations

And for all you gamers…

Depiction of Lucifer tormenting the greatest betrayers of all time. Can you guess who they are?