1. By Dante Alighieri

2. Dante Alighieri Son of a nobleman: not too wealthy Born in 1265 in Florence, Italy Mother died when he was 9 Father died when he was 18 Received early education in Florence

3. Dante’s great love: Beatrice Portinari. They met when he was 9 and she was 8 Dante worshipped Beatrice, but his family arranged for him to marry Gemma di Donati and they had 4 children. Beatrice was also married by arrangement. Beatrice’s died in 1290 at the age of 24 which cause him great despair. The name “Beatrice” means faith. She became a symbol in his life and writing of “God’s love” of “all that is good in the world”.

4. Written in Italian not Latin from 1308-1321. A three part poem/story about the author’s journey to hell, purgatory and heaven. People from politics, history, mythology, and religious leaders appear throughout The Divine Comedy. Prominent people of the time, of literature, of the past, and of Dante’s personal life – including Beatrice – appear throughout The Divine Comedy.

5. 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 to mean.

6. The Divine Comedy is made up of three parts, corresponding with Dante’s three journeys: 1.Inferno (or Hell) 2.Purgatorio (or Purgatory) the place between Heaven and Hell where the baptized go to suffer and cleanse their (minor) sins before they can ascend to Heaven 3 Paridisio (or Paradise - Heaven).

7. One day Dante wakes up and realizes he is on the “wrong path”. In order to get back to the “right path (to reach heaven)” he must travel through Hell and Purgatory to reach Heaven. The Roman poet Virgil finds Dante in the woods on the evening of Good Friday in the year 1300. Virgil leads Dante through Hell and Purgatory, then Beatrice brings him to God in Heaven. He completes his journey on Easter Sunday.

8. The Inferno is the story of the first part of Dante’s journey. Inferno means: intense heat synonymous with hell. Dante’s guide through Hell will be the Roman poet Virgil.

9. Dante and Virgil enter the wide gates of Hell and descend through the nine circles of Hell. In each circle they see sinners being punished for their sins on Earth; Dante sees the torture as Divine justice. Hell is organized like a giant funnel. The worst sins are punished more severely deeper in the pit. Ultimate sinner = Satan Virgil takes Dante through Hell and Purgatory, but only Beatrice = faith and love can bring Dante to Heaven.

10. Importance of 3 3 = Trinity = Father, Son, Holy Ghost 3 Divisions in Divine Comedy: The Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise 3 Typs of Sin: Overindulgence: lack of control over our passions and desires. Violence: vicious and fierce behavior. Fraud: deception, trickery or deceit Journey lasts 3 days: Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday

11. Symbolism: Dante: (the writer and main character) symbol of humankind and journey through life of temptation and choice for redemption. Virgil: (Dante’s guide and mentor) symbol of human reasoning, intellect, classical learning. Beatrice: (loving angel only appears in Paradise leading Dante to heaven) symbolizes faith and God’s love

12. As Dante travels through Hell and witnesses sinners being punished we learn about the idea of: Contrapasso= the punishment fits the crime Take the quiz: The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz www.4degreez.com