1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri A Classical Quest through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise

2. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Our Brit. Lit. journey continues through a medieval Europe governed by a religious societal structure that praises the “good” and punishes the “wicked”. We find ourselves in 14 th century Italy with a poet consumed by the afterlife and who it is made up of – the good, the bad, and the in between. Remember that for most people the afterlife was the only thing they had to look forward to.

3. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri A narrative poem in three parts about Dante’s “dream” journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven that would lead him to his own spiritual transformation. One of the most celebrated literary pieces of the time. Represents the soul’s journey towards God.

4. Dante’s Structure: The Quest For Salvation Dante’s Structure: The Quest For Salvation Purgatorio Paradiso Inferno

5. Book 1: Hell (Inferno) This is the place where the souls of sinners are punished forever for the sins they committed on earth.

6. Book 2: Purgatory (Purgatorio) This is the place where the souls of sinners who still have a chance to redeem themselves go after death. This is the place where the souls of sinners who still have a chance to redeem themselves go after death.

7. Book 3: Heaven (Paradiso) This is the place where good souls reside after death.

8. DANTE ALIGHIERI Born in Florence, Italy (1265-1321) His family was old and of noble origin, but no longer wealthy. He probably spent a year at the University of Bologna as part of his education, studying the Trivium and the Quadrivium, typical of Medieval curriculum (Philosophy, Rhetoric)

9. As customary, Dante had an arranged marriage in his youth to Gemma Donati, daughter of Manetto Donati. But Dante’s greatest love, and the greatest single influence on his work, was a woman named Beatrice. Dante met Beatrice when he was nine and she eight, at his father’s home, most likely for a May Day festival. Beatrice married another man about 1287, and died in 1290 at the age of 25. BEATRICE

10. Beatrice was Dante’s angel. He could not touch her, only love her form afar because this was the age of Courtly, pure love. Dante’s life and work were dedicated to her. Dante’s muse and inspiration— the female aspect behind the genius. She is the divine light of love in his writings.

11. DANTE’S MEDIEVAL WORLD Dante’s world was threefold:  The world of politics  The world of theology  The world of learning His Comedy utilizes all three; these areas are interdependent so that it is impossible to say that one was more important than the other. The Middle Ages was dominated by the struggle between the PAPACY and the EMPIRE. Both thought that they were of divine origin and indispensable to the welfare of mankind.

12. THE PAPACY The Vatican Rome, Italy The Vatican Rome, Italy One of the few remaining city-states in the world.

13. T HE E MPIRE C ONSTANTINE I: E MPEROR & P OPE C ONSTANTINE I: E MPEROR & P OPE WHERE CHURCH AND STATE WERE FIRST IN CONFLICT WHERE CHURCH AND STATE WERE FIRST IN CONFLICT

14. CAUSE OF THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE PAPACY AND THE EMPIRE In the 8 th Century the Papal claim to temporal power was justified by the “DONATION OF CONSTANTINE” which stated that the emperor had given power of the empire to the Pope before leaving for Byzantium. Later this was discovered to be a… FORGED DOCUMENT! This claim created great strife and discord in the empire. Nothing new between politics and religion...

15. THE IMPORTANCE OF VIRGIL In the Middle Ages Virgil was regarded as a sage and necromancer (wizard, magician). His poems were opened in a manner of divination called Sortes. The book was opened at random and a verse was selected as an answer to some random question.

16. Kind of like a Quija Board…

17. VIRGIL 70 B.C.E. 19 B.C.E He was the greatest of the Roman poets. His Aeneid provided the pattern for the structure of Dante’s Hell. Virgil was chosen as Dante’s guide through Hell because Dante saw him as his master and inspiration for his poetic style. Virgil is also revered as the poet of the Roman Empire. The Aeneid tells of the Empire’s founding. Virgil also wrote in his fourth ecologue of the coming of a Wonder Child who will bring the Golden Age. This was interpreted in the Middle Ages as the coming of Christ.

18. STRUCTURE OF THE DIVINE COMEDY DANTE’S WORLD WAS ONE THAT BELIEVED IN MYSTICAL CORRESPONDENCES AND THE POWER OF NUMBERS, STARS, AND STONES EVENTS OF HISTORY— CONTAINED A MYSTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. DANTE’S NUMERICAL SYMBOLISM: 3 - A SYMBOL OF THE HOLY TRINITY 9 - THREE TIMES THREE. 33 - A MULTIPLE OF 3 THE 7 DAYS OF CREATION 10 - CONSIDERED IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD AS A PERFECT NUMBER 100 - MULTIPLE OF 10

19. Medieval Society and Numerology *100 is a square of 10 therefore considered a perfect number *3 is the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) *33 Gospels in the Bible *Christ accomplished 33 miracles *In the book: -Dante wrote 3 parts of the epic -Each one consisting of 33 cantos -In total the book has 100 cantos including the introduction

20. STRUCTURE OF THE DIVINE COMEDY Each section has 33 cantos (small division of poetry; canto means “song.”) The Inferno includes an introductory canto, which makes 100 cantos total (1oo representing the idea of perfection or spiritual enlightenment achieved after the journey). Three major divisions of sin: Incontinence Violence Fraudulence By the time you finish reading, you will know which circle of hell you may find yourself in! Three-line poetric structure: Terza Rima

21. CANTO 1 Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura, ché la diritta via era smarrita. Ahi quanto a dir qual era è cosa dura esta selva selvaggia e aspra e forte che nel pensier rinova la paura! Tant’ è amara che poco è più morte; ma per trattar del ben ch’i’ vi trovai, dirò de l’altre cose ch’i’ v’ho scorte. Io non so ben ridir com’ i’ v’intrai, 10 tant’ era pien di sonno a quel punto che la verace via abbandonai. Ma poi ch’i’ fui al piè d’un colle giunto, là dove terminava quella valle che m’avea di paura il cor compunto, guardai in alto e vidi le sue spalle vestite già de’ raggi del pianeta che mena dritto altrui per ogne calle. Dante’s Use of Terza Rima

22. THE INFERNO T HE SIGN ABOVE THE GATES TO THE ENTRANCE TO HELL

23. THE SPIRALING INFERNO DANTE’S HELL IS A HUGE FUNNEL SHAPED PIT. THE CENTER IS LOCATED BENEATH JERUSALEM. THE NINE REGIONS ARE DESIGNATED FOR A PARTICULAR SIN. ITS REGIONS ARE ARRANGED IN A SERIES OF DESCENDING CIRCULAR STAIRCASES THAT DIMINISH IN CIRCUMFERENCE THE DEEPER THAT VIRGIL AND DANTE TRAVEL. THE HIGHER UP A SINNER, THE LIGHTER THE SIN, THE DEEPER THE SINNER, THE DARKER AND MORE TERRIBLE THE SIN.

24. DANTE’S FUNNEL SHAPED HELL DANTE’S FUNNEL SHAPED HELL

25. Circle of HellSin VestibuleUncommitted Acheron River Circle I—LimboVirtuous Unbaptized Circle IILustful Circle IIIGluttonous Circle IVProdigal, Avaricious Circle V (Styx)Wrathful City of Dis: Capitol of Hell Circle VIHeretics Circle VII:Violence Against Neighbors, Self, God, Nature Abyss (Geryon) Circle VIII: Malebolge (Evil Ditches) Fraud Panderers, Seducers, Flatterers, Simonists, Soothsayers, Grafters Hypocrites, Thieves, False Counselors, Counterfeiters, Falsifiers Circle IX (Cocytus)Traitors to: Kindred, Country, Guests, Masters

26. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INFERNO DANTE’S SATAN DANTE’S SATAN THE EPITOME OF EVIL, THE FALLEN ANGEL THE EPITOME OF EVIL, THE FALLEN ANGEL

27. CONCEPT OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION PUNISHMENTS IN HELL ARE REGULATED BY THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION. THESE PUNISHMENTS ARE RELATED TO THE SINS EITHER BY ANALOGY OR ANTITHESIS. AS ONE SINNED IN LIFE, SO HE OR SHE IS PUNISHED IN DEATH. CONTRAPASSO: “SUFFER THE OPPOSITE”— PUNISHMENT OF SOULS BY A PROCESS EITHER RESEMBLING OR CONTRASTING WITH THE SIN ITSELF

28. POINTS TO REMEMBER THE INFERNO IS PART OF THE LARGER WORK CALLED THE DIVINE COMEDY. IN THE MIDDLE AGES COMEDY MEANT SOME HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT BEGAN IN TRAGEDY AND ENDED IN HAPPINESS (different from our modern definition) THE INFERNO IS PART OF THE LARGER WORK CALLED THE DIVINE COMEDY. IN THE MIDDLE AGES COMEDY MEANT SOME HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT BEGAN IN TRAGEDY AND ENDED IN HAPPINESS (different from our modern definition) IT IS ALSO AN ALLEGORY ON AN INDIVIDUALS RELIGIOUS JOURNEY IN LIFE. THE MORAL PURPOSE IS TO POINT OUT TO THOSE STILL LIVING THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH OF SALVATION. IT IS ALSO AN ALLEGORY ON AN INDIVIDUALS RELIGIOUS JOURNEY IN LIFE. THE MORAL PURPOSE IS TO POINT OUT TO THOSE STILL LIVING THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH OF SALVATION.

29. THE FINAL GOAL: THE FINAL GOAL: SALVATION BY THE CROSS OF CHRISTIANITY SALVATION BY THE CROSS OF CHRISTIANITY

30. Dante, the speaker, suddenly finds himself lost in a dark forest. He tries to climb up a hill but he is blocked by three beasts: a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf, so he is trapped. He is alone in the dark valley when suddenly a spirit appears. This is Virgil, the Roman poet. Canto 1: Mid-Life Crisis The Call Meeting with the Mentor Canto 1: Mid-Life Crisis The Call Meeting with the Mentor

31. When Dante asks about the beasts, Virgil tells him that the she-wolf will kill anyone who tries to pass her, but someday the great Greyhound will come and destroy her and send her back to Hell. Because of the beasts, Virgil tells Dante that he must take a different path and that he will guide Dante. Virgil also tells Dante that they must first pass through Hell and see the eternal punishment of the sinners before being able to reach Heaven. Then Virgil sets out on the journey and Dante follows behind him. When Dante asks about the beasts, Virgil tells him that the she-wolf will kill anyone who tries to pass her, but someday the great Greyhound will come and destroy her and send her back to Hell. Because of the beasts, Virgil tells Dante that he must take a different path and that he will guide Dante. Virgil also tells Dante that they must first pass through Hell and see the eternal punishment of the sinners before being able to reach Heaven. Then Virgil sets out on the journey and Dante follows behind him.

32. Canto 2: Dante’s Refusal of the Call & Beatrice Calls for Back-up Canto 2: Dante’s Refusal of the Call & Beatrice Calls for Back-up

33. Dante and Beatrice ascend to the Heaven of the Moon (Giovanni di Paolo 1540) Allusion to the Muses: The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory); they are the goddesses of literature, music, dance and other intellectual pursuits. Dante invokes the muses to gain poetic inspiration to tell the story of his journey through Hell with Virgil. The allusion is important as a poetic device. The invocation of the Muses is a common motif that appears in classical poetry. The Nine Muses The Nine Muses

34. Allusion to St. Paul St. Paul is considered one of the most influential of Christ’s followers and early missionaries of Christianity. His conversion on the road to Damascus is the most famous story about him. He is also responsible for writing the Epistles in the New Testament. Fourteen of these epistles are believed to be written by him. Dante refers to him when he hesitates before following Virgil through the gates to Hell. Dante feels inferior in comparison to St. Paul and Aeneas, who are the only men Dante knows of who have returned from a journey to Hell. Allusion to St. Paul St. Paul is considered one of the most influential of Christ’s followers and early missionaries of Christianity. His conversion on the road to Damascus is the most famous story about him. He is also responsible for writing the Epistles in the New Testament. Fourteen of these epistles are believed to be written by him. Dante refers to him when he hesitates before following Virgil through the gates to Hell. Dante feels inferior in comparison to St. Paul and Aeneas, who are the only men Dante knows of who have returned from a journey to Hell.

35. Cantos 1-2 The Dark Wood Cantos 1-2 The Dark Wood Three Beasts: Leopard Lion She-wolf Virgil as Guide Three Blessed Women: Virgin Mary St. Lucia Beatrice Three Beasts: Leopard Lion She-wolf Virgil as Guide Three Blessed Women: Virgin Mary St. Lucia Beatrice

36. Canto 3 Gates of Hell Vestibule “Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” Cowards The Indecisive Angels Punishment: They are stung by insects and endlessly chase banners. Acheron River Charon Canto 3 Gates of Hell Vestibule “Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” Cowards The Indecisive Angels Punishment: They are stung by insects and endlessly chase banners. Acheron River Charon

37. Canto 4 Circle 1: Limbo The Unbaptized and Virtuous Pagans Punishment: Boredom Forever separated from God Virgil, Homer, Horace, Ovid, Socrates, Plato Canto 4 Circle 1: Limbo The Unbaptized and Virtuous Pagans Punishment: Boredom Forever separated from God Virgil, Homer, Horace, Ovid, Socrates, Plato

38. Canto 5 Circle 2 Lust Punishment: The lustful souls are blown about in a violent storm, without hope of rest. Minos Francesca da Rimini and her lover Paolo Canto 5 Circle 2 Lust Punishment: The lustful souls are blown about in a violent storm, without hope of rest. Minos Francesca da Rimini and her lover Paolo

39. Canto 6 Circle 3 Gluttony Punishment: They are forced to live in vile freezing slush, guarded by Cerberus. Ciacco of Florence Florentine Politics Last Judgment Canto 6 Circle 3 Gluttony Punishment: They are forced to live in vile freezing slush, guarded by Cerberus. Ciacco of Florence Florentine Politics Last Judgment

40. Canto 7 Circle 4 Avarice Prodigality Punishment: The Miserly and Spendthrift push great heavy weights together, crashing them time and time again Plutus Fortuna Canto 7 Circle 4 Avarice Prodigality Punishment: The Miserly and Spendthrift push great heavy weights together, crashing them time and time again Plutus Fortuna

41. Cantos 7-8 Circle 5 Wrath Sullenness Punishment: The Wrathful fight each other on the surface of the Styx, while the Sullen gurgle beneath it. Phlegyas Filippo Argenti Fallen Angels Cantos 7-8 Circle 5 Wrath Sullenness Punishment: The Wrathful fight each other on the surface of the Styx, while the Sullen gurgle beneath it. Phlegyas Filippo Argenti Fallen Angels

42. Cantos 8-9 City of Dis Lower Circles of Hell Circles 6-9 Furies and Medusa Harrowing of Hell Theseus Hercules Cantos 8-9 City of Dis Lower Circles of Hell Circles 6-9 Furies and Medusa Harrowing of Hell Theseus Hercules

43. Canto 10 Circle 6 Heresy Punishment: Heretics are trapped in flaming tombs Farinata Cavalcanti Guelphs and Ghibellines Epicurus Canto 10 Circle 6 Heresy Punishment: Heretics are trapped in flaming tombs Farinata Cavalcanti Guelphs and Ghibellines Epicurus

44. Canto 11 Tomb of Pope Anastasius The Stench Intermission Virgil pauses to explain the structure of Lower Hell and God’s plan outlined by Aristotle in his Nichomachean Ethics. Canto 11 Tomb of Pope Anastasius The Stench Intermission Virgil pauses to explain the structure of Lower Hell and God’s plan outlined by Aristotle in his Nichomachean Ethics.

45. Cantos 12-17 Circle 7 Violence: Punishment: Cantos 12-17 Circle 7 Violence: Punishment: Murderers: They drown in the river Phlegethon, filled with boiling blood, while the Minotaur guards them, and if they attempt to escape, they are shot with bows and arrows by centaurs. Suicides: They have become stunted and gnarled trees with poisoned fruit and twisting branches from which their bodies will hang while the Harpies, foul birdlike creatures with human faces, make their nests. Blasphemers, Sodomites and Usurers: They are showered with flakes of fire that rain down against their naked bodies, while they are stretched, running, or huddled on burning sand. Sodomites can't stop running just as they couldn't stop their passions. Usurers have to stare at the money they made on earth with fire raining down on them.

46. Panderers and Seducers: They are forced to march, single file around the circumference of their circle, constantly lashed by horned demons. Flatterers: They are immersed forever in a river of human excrement, like what their flatteries were. Simonists: They are turned upside down in large baptismal fonts cut into the rock, with their feet set ablaze by oily fires. The heat of the flames burns according to the guilt of the sinner. Astrologists, seers, sorcerers, diviners: Their heads have been twisted around to face backwards, and thus they are forced to walk backwards around the circumference of their circle for all of time. Grafters : They are thrown into a river of boiling pitch and tar. If they try to escape the pitch, a horde of demons armed with grappling hooks and barbs stands guard over them, ready to tear them to pieces. Cantos 18-22 Circle 8 Bolges 1-5 Fraud Cantos 18-22 Circle 8 Bolges 1-5 Fraud

47. Cantos 23-30 Circle 8 Bolges 6-10 Fraud Cantos 23-30 Circle 8 Bolges 6-10 Fraud Hypocrites : They are forced to wear heavy lead robes as they walk around the circumference of their circle. The robes are golden and resemble a monk’s cowl but are lined with heavy lead, symbolically representing hypocrisy. Thieves: Serpents, dragons, and other vengeful reptiles torture the thieves endlessly. The bites of some of the snakes cause the thieves to spontaneously combust, only to regenerate their bodies for further torment in a few moments. They are pursued by the monstrous fiery Cacus. Deceivers: They are constantly ablaze, appearing as nothing so much as living, speaking tongues of flame. Creators of discord and scandal: They are forced to walk around the circumference of the circle bearing horrible, disfiguring wounds inflicted on them by a great demon with a sword. Falsifiers: They endure different degrees of punishment based on horrible, consumptive diseases such as rashes, dropsy, leprosy and consumption.

48. Cantos 31-34 Circle 9 Betrayal Cantos 31-34 Circle 9 Betrayal Caïna—Traitors to kindred: They are immersed in ice up to their faces. Antenora—Traitors to country/political entities: They are immersed in ice and forced to eat out the skull of another sinner or have their skulls eaten by another sinner. Ptolomaea—Traitors to their guests: They lie supine in the ice, which covers them, except for their faces. Their bodies on Earth are immediately possessed by a demon, so what seems to be a walking man has reached the stage of being incapable of repentance. Judecca—Traitors to their lords and benefactors: They are completely encapsulated in ice, distorted in all conceivable positions. Satan appears upside down with three faces, and in each mouth eternally being eaten are Brutus, Cassius, and Judas Iscariot.

49. Let’s Recap…

50. Let’s read… A Classical Quest through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise