Goals: Understand social and historical values as reflected and embodied in a literary work. Make connections between the historical and cultural

Goals:

Understand social and historical values as reflected and embodied in a literary work.

Make connections between the historical and cultural events of the 14th century, and Dante’s inspiration for The Inferno.

The InfernoThe Inferno

By Dante AlighieriBy Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri BiographyDante Alighieri Biography

• Born May of 1265 in Florence, Born May of 1265 in Florence, ItalyItaly

• Received early education in Received early education in FlorenceFlorence

• Attended the University of BolognaAttended the University of Bologna

• Experiences included a tour in the Experiences included a tour in the Florence ArmyFlorence Army


• His great love seems to have been Beatrice His great love seems to have been Beatrice Portinari.Portinari.

• They met when they were children; Dante They met when they were children; Dante worshipped her his entire life.worshipped her his entire life.

• Beatrice was DanteBeatrice was Dante’’s inspiration for s inspiration for The The Divine Comedy.Divine Comedy.

• After her death in 1290, he dedicated a After her death in 1290, he dedicated a memorial memorial ““The New LifeThe New Life”” ( (La Vita Nuova) La Vita Nuova) to to her.her.


• Dante entered an arranged Dante entered an arranged marriage in 1291 with Gemma marriage in 1291 with Gemma Donati, a noblewoman.Donati, a noblewoman.

• They had two sons and either one They had two sons and either one or two daughters.or two daughters.


• By 1302, Dante was a political By 1302, Dante was a political exile from Florence.exile from Florence.

• Most likely began Most likely began The Divine The Divine ComedyComedy after this exile. after this exile.


• Dante finished Dante finished The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy just just before his death on September 14, 1321.before his death on September 14, 1321.• He was still in exileHe was still in exile• Perhaps still bitter about his expulsion Perhaps still bitter about his expulsion

from Florence, Dante wrote on the title from Florence, Dante wrote on the title page of page of The The Divine ComedyDivine Comedy that he was that he was ““a Florentine by birth, but not in a Florentine by birth, but not in mannermanner”” (Bergin 444). (Bergin 444).

DanteDante’’s Inferno: Historical s Inferno: Historical BackgroundBackground

• End of the Middle Ages: God-End of the Middle Ages: God-centered; lived on earth to get into centered; lived on earth to get into HeavenHeaven

• Beginning of Renaissance: Man-Beginning of Renaissance: Man-centered; rebirth of learningcentered; rebirth of learning


• The Renaissance influenced all of western The Renaissance influenced all of western civilization.civilization.

• Trade flourished and prosperity thrived Trade flourished and prosperity thrived throughout much of the country.throughout much of the country.

• Florence became the richest of the Italian Florence became the richest of the Italian city-states.city-states.

• Italy had a wealth of conflicts during Italy had a wealth of conflicts during this time.this time.


• Multiple political units existed as a result Multiple political units existed as a result of internal struggles for power and of internal struggles for power and European states vying for influence.European states vying for influence.

• The Guelph Political party (which The Guelph Political party (which favored independence & the Popes) and favored independence & the Popes) and the Ghibelline Political party (which the Ghibelline Political party (which favored control by the Holy Roman favored control by the Holy Roman Empire) were two such rival factions.Empire) were two such rival factions.

• The French Kings supported the Popes • The Holy Roman Empire was

controlled by the Germans; the French Kings were afraid of the Germans becoming too powerful so they supported the Popes.

• Basically, Holy Roman Empire (Germans) vs. Independent city-states (Pope).

Dante’s Inferno: Historical Background


• DanteDante’’s birth in 1265 came at a time when the Guelph s birth in 1265 came at a time when the Guelph party (Independence) was in control of Florence.party (Independence) was in control of Florence.

• Dante turned away from his Guelph heritage to embrace Dante turned away from his Guelph heritage to embrace the imperial philosophy of the Ghibellines (H.R.E.)the imperial philosophy of the Ghibellines (H.R.E.)• His change in politics is best summed up in his His change in politics is best summed up in his

treatise treatise De MonarchiaDe Monarchia in which Dante states his belief in which Dante states his belief in the separation of church and state.in the separation of church and state.

• The Ghibellines, however, were pushed from power The Ghibellines, however, were pushed from power by the Guelphs during Danteby the Guelphs during Dante’’s adulthood and s adulthood and confined to northern Tuscany.confined to northern Tuscany.


• The Guelph political party eventually The Guelph political party eventually divided into two groups:divided into two groups:• The Whites (led by the Cerchi family)The Whites (led by the Cerchi family)

• The Blacks (led by the Donati family and The Blacks (led by the Donati family and later by Pope Boniface VIII).later by Pope Boniface VIII).

• Dante became a member of the Whites and Dante became a member of the Whites and served as an ambassador to talk with the served as an ambassador to talk with the Pope in Rome about conditions in Florence.Pope in Rome about conditions in Florence.


• While Dante was out of town, the Blacks took over While Dante was out of town, the Blacks took over Florence.Florence.• The Blacks sentenced Dante to banishment from The Blacks sentenced Dante to banishment from

the the city.city.• His punishment for return would be death.His punishment for return would be death.• His wanderings gave him time to write and to His wanderings gave him time to write and to

study the Scriptures.study the Scriptures.• This banishment also gave Dante his This banishment also gave Dante his

perspective on corruption of the fourteenth perspective on corruption of the fourteenth century papacy, a view that he would clearly century papacy, a view that he would clearly describe in describe in The Inferno.The Inferno.


• In the year 1310, Henry VII became Holy Roman In the year 1310, Henry VII became Holy Roman Emperor.Emperor.

• Dante believed that this German Prince would bring Dante believed that this German Prince would bring peace.peace.

• Henry VII died in 1313 and his Italian campaign Henry VII died in 1313 and his Italian campaign collapsed.collapsed.

• Dante became disillusioned and left the political lifeDante became disillusioned and left the political life

• He ceased work on other materials he had begun and He ceased work on other materials he had begun and concentrated on concentrated on The Divine Comedy.The Divine Comedy.

DanteDante’’s Inferno: Introductions Inferno: Introduction

• The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy was not titled as such was not titled as such by Dante; his title for the work was simply by Dante; his title for the work was simply CommediaCommedia or or Comedy.Comedy.• DanteDante’’s use of the word s use of the word ““comedycomedy”” is is

medieval by definition and meant ‘a tale medieval by definition and meant ‘a tale with a happy ending,’ not a funny story as with a happy ending,’ not a funny story as the word has since come to mean.the word has since come to mean.

• The work was a major departure from the literature of the day since it was written in Italian, not the Latin of most other important writing.

• Political beliefs = Unity• He felt a universal language

would help unify the country


• Dante felt the church of his time was no longer serving God

• Allegory of the process of the individual’s search for God

• Politics, history, mythology, religious leaders, and prominent people of the time, of literature, of the past, and of Dante’s personal life –including Beatrice – appear throughout The Divine Comedy.



• The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy is made up of three is made up of three parts, corresponding with Danteparts, corresponding with Dante’’s three s three journeys: journeys: InfernoInferno (or Hell); (or Hell); PurgatorioPurgatorio (or (or Purgatory); and Purgatory); and Paridisio Paridisio (or Paradise).(or Paradise).

• Each part consists of a prologue and Each part consists of a prologue and approximately 33 cantos.approximately 33 cantos.

• Since the narrative poem is in an exalted Since the narrative poem is in an exalted form with a hero as its subject, it is an epic form with a hero as its subject, it is an epic poem.poem.

DanteDante’’s s InfernoInferno: Introduction: Introduction

• The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy describes Dante describes Dante’’s imaginary s imaginary journey.journey.

• Midway on his journey through life, Dante realizes Midway on his journey through life, Dante realizes he has taken the wrong path.he has taken the wrong path.

• The Roman poet Virgil searches for the lost Dante The Roman poet Virgil searches for the lost Dante at the request of Beatrice.at the request of Beatrice.• He finds Dante in the woods on the evening of He finds Dante in the woods on the evening of

Good Friday in the year 1300 and serves as a Good Friday in the year 1300 and serves as a guide as Dante begins his religious pilgrimage to guide as Dante begins his religious pilgrimage to find God.find God.

• To reach his goal, Dante passes through Hell, To reach his goal, Dante passes through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.Purgatory, and Paradise.

DanteDante’’s Infernos Inferno

• Dante and Virgil enter the wide Dante and Virgil enter the wide gates of Hell and descend through gates of Hell and descend through the nine circles of Hell.the nine circles of Hell.

• In each circle they see sinners being In each circle they see sinners being punished for their sins on Earth; punished for their sins on Earth; Dante sees the torture as Divine Dante sees the torture as Divine justice.justice.

DanteDante’’s s InfernoInferno

• The sinners in the circles include:The sinners in the circles include:• Circle One – Those in limboCircle One – Those in limbo• Circle Two – The lustfulCircle Two – The lustful• Circle Three – The gluttonousCircle Three – The gluttonous• Circle Four – The hoardersCircle Four – The hoarders• Circle Five – The wrathfulCircle Five – The wrathful• Circle Six – The hereticsCircle Six – The heretics• Circle Seven – The violentCircle Seven – The violent

• Ring 1: Murderers, robbers, and plunderersRing 1: Murderers, robbers, and plunderers• Ring 2: Suicides and those harmful to the worldRing 2: Suicides and those harmful to the world• Ring 3: Those harmful against God, nature, art, as well Ring 3: Those harmful against God, nature, art, as well

as usurersas usurers


• On Easter Sunday, Dante On Easter Sunday, Dante emerges from Hell.emerges from Hell.

• Through his travels, he has Through his travels, he has found his way to God and is found his way to God and is able, once more, to look upon able, once more, to look upon the stars.the stars.

The Inferno: Themes

• Primitivity

• Man and the Natural World

• Lies and Deceit

• Justice

• Language and Communication

• Wisdom and Knowledge

• Compassion and Forgiveness

• Love

• Time

• Respect and Reputation

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Goals: Understand social and historical values as reflected and embodied in a literary work. Make connections between the historical and cultural