1. Dante Alighieri
( )

2. Life The father of Italian Literature
Was arranged to be married to Gemma di Manetto Donati; but loved another woman, Beatrice Portinari
Wrote several sonnets to Beatrice, but never to Gemma
First Italian poet to explore the concept of love (amore)

3. Life
Upon Beatrice’s death, he turned his writing to politics and philosophy
His involvement in violent politics led to his banishment for life from Florence, Italy
During his exile, he wrote The Divine Comedy
Died in 1321 (at the age of 56) while returning to Ravenna from a diplomatic mission to Venice, perhaps of malaria contracted there

4. The Divine Comedy
Dante’s journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso
Virgil guides him through Inferno and Purgatorio
Beatrice, the ideal woman, guides him through Paradiso
The comedy often refers to Dante’s politics, his exile, and the damnation of his enemies

5. Inferno The Nine Circles of Hell
The circles increase in wickedness from 1 - 9
Each sinner is afflicted by the main sin they committed
Sinners are aware of their past and future, but not the present

6. The Nine Circles First Circle – Unbaptized and Virtuous Pagans
Second Circle – The Lustful
Third Circle – The Gluttonous
Fourth Circle – The Materialistic
Fifth Circle – The Wrathful/Slothful
Sixth Circle – The Heretics
Seventh Circle – The Violent
Eighth Circle – Conscious Fraud and Treachery
Ninth Circle – Severe Conscious Fraud and Treachery (Satan, Brutus, Cassius, and Judas are in Zone 4)

7. Canto A canto is like a “chapter” 33 Cantos in each section
Introductory canto totals 100 cantos
Rhyme scheme is ABA, BCB, CDC, DED, EE. This is known as terza rima

8. Dante’s Home on Via Santa Margherita Photo courtesy of Rebekah Bowie 

9. Tomb of Dante Alighieri in the San Lorenzo Church Photo courtesy of Rebekah Bowie 