By Dante Alighieri INFERNO. DANTE ALIGHIERI’S LIFE Born in Florence, Italy in 1265 – Family of...
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By Dante Alighieri INFERNO. DANTE ALIGHIERI’S LIFE Born in Florence, Italy in 1265 – Family of old lineage and noble birth but no longer wealthy Arranged
DANTE ALIGHIERIS LIFE Born in Florence, Italy in 1265 Family of
old lineage and noble birth but no longer wealthy Arranged to marry
Gemma Donati when he was 12 years old Eventually married and had
two sons and one daughter Studied at the University of Bologna one
of the most famous universities of the Medieval world Influenced by
Ser Brunetto Latini (famous scholar of the time) He appears in
Canto XV of Inferno.
Slide 3
DANTES INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS Completely involved in political
causes Florence had two political parties Guelphs: Supported the
Pope as the ruler of the Roman Catholic Church, but believed he
should NOT be involved in secular affairs Separation of church and
state Dante belonged to this party - this often put him at odds
with the Pope Ghibellines: Believed the Pope should rule BOTH
secular and religious factions
Slide 4
DANTE WAS OFTEN SENT TO ARRANGE PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO WARRING
PARTIES. On a mission to Rome to arrange a truce between the two
parties, trumped-up charges were made against Dante. Accused of
GRAFT: getting money or a position by unjust means Intrigue against
the peace of the city and hostility against the Pope He was fined
heavily and ordered to report to the council to defend himself He
did not appear His property was confiscated, and he was sentenced
to burn at the stake if caught. 1302- Dante was exiled form his
native city of Florence However, he was well received in other
cities due to the popularity of The Divine Comedy.
Slide 5
DANTE DIES Dies in Ravenna, Italy in 1321 Florence has tried to
secure his remains many time, but has failed Hes buried in the
monastery of Franciscan friars in Ravenna.
Slide 6
BACKGROUND ON INFERNO Dante wrote the epic poem The Divine
Comedy which is divided into three parts: Inferno Purgatario
Paradisio
Slide 7
INFERNO Means hell or huge fire Dante used a legend that a huge
hole was made in the earth when God threw Satan (Lucifer) and his
band of rebel angels out of heaven with such force that they
created a giant hole Therefore, hell is a giant funnel-shaped hole
Sinners whose sins were the least offensive are in upper circles
near the entrance. More offensive sins/sinners were on descending
circles toward Satan in the center Dante chose a well-known figure
of the time or from history / legend to illustrate the sin.
Slide 8
RIVERS OF HELL Acheron River of Woe Styx River of Hate
Phylegethon River of Fire (Blood) Lethe- River of Forgetfulness
Cocytus River of Ice (Satan is here)
Slide 9
PURGATORIO Also known as Purgatory Place between heaven and
hell where a soul is purged of sin
Slide 10
PARADISIO Also known as Paradise or Heaven Also has circles but
filled with levels of angels
Slide 11
MORE BACKGROUND INFO. It is called The Divine Comedy because in
classic terminology, it is a work that begins in confusion and
misery, but ends in happiness. That is the definition of a comedy.
Each of the three sections contains 33 cantos (chapters) Inferno
does have one extra canto Dante is so well-respected because The
Divine Comedy made the Italian language unified.
Slide 12
IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS - THREE Number of the Holy Trinity
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) Number of the parts of The Divine
Comedy Number of divisions in hell Number of the days of Dantes
journey through hell
Slide 13
IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS - NINE Multiple of three Nine circles in
hell
Slide 14
IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS - TEN Perfect number Nine circles in hell
plus the vestibule
Slide 15
INFERNO RELATES TO THE 7 DEADLY SINS MENTIONED BY SAINT THOMAS
ACQUINAS 7 Deadly Sins Pride Envy Anger Sloth/Laziness Greed/
Avarice Gluttony Lust 7 Cardinal Virtues Wisdom Courage
Temperance/Patience Justice Faith Hope Charity
Slide 16
CHARACTERS IN INFERNO-DANTE At the age of 35 on the night of
Good Friday in the year 1300, Dante finds himself in a dark wood
full of fear Lost hope/no faith in his life Meets Virgil who
promises to lead him on a journey through Hell so he may be able to
repent and enter Paradise
Slide 17
CHARACTERS IN - VIRGIL A shade who takes Dante on his journey
Greatest poet Symbol of human reason Considered a great person
represents the Truth or True Way for Dante Father of the Italian
people Wrote The Aeneid epic about the founding of Rome
Slide 18
CHARACTERS IN INFERNO-BEATRICE She was the real platonic love
of Dantes life His inspiration Example of Divine Love She is in
Paradise and sends Virgil to guide Dante because she is concerned
for Dantes soul.
Slide 19
TO GET YOU STARTED Canto I Midway through Dantes live (35 years
old) he realizes he has strayed from The True Way into the Dark
World of Error. Sees the first light of sunrise (Divine
Illumination) lighting on a hill (Mount of Joy) Its Easter Season
time of repentance and rebirth He sets out to climb the hill but is
blocked by 3 beasts Three Beasts of Worldliness
Slide 20
TO GET YOU STARTED Three Beasts of Worldliness: Leopard of
Malice and Fraud Lion of Violence and Ambition She-Wolf of
Incontinence (failure to restrain appetites and passions) Each
beast represents types of sins in increasing harshness = levels of
Hell
Slide 21
TO GET YOU STARTED Beatrice sends Virgil to guide Dante First,
he must descend through Hell recognize his sin Then, he must ascend
through Purgatory renounce his sin Last, only then can he reach the
pinnacle of joy and come into the Light of the Lord Virgil can only
guide Dante as far as Human Reason can go Another guide Beatrice
(symbol of Divine Love) will guide him for the final assent
Slide 22
CANTO II Invocation of the Muse Vestibule of Hell Evening of
the first day (Good Friday) Dante is following Virgil and despairs
because he doesnt feel worthy of the vision Virgil describes.
Virgil tells him that Beatrice (Divine Love) is concerned about
Dante, and she came to Virgil in Limbo and asked him to guide Dante
Dante understands Beatrice and other heavenly forces cannot fail
him, and he travels onward
Slide 23
CANTO II CONTINUED Three Ladies in Heaven: Virgin Mary Saint
Lucia (Lucy) patron saint of eyesight (Divine Light) Saint Rachel
represents the contemplative life (Old Testament) All of these
ladies care for Dante.
Slide 24
CANTO III Vestibule of Hell The Opportunists- pursue their
self-interests only Sin: They are neither in Hell or out people who
wont choose IRONY Punishment: Chase an empty banner in a whirlwind
of insects They pursue the ever-shifting illusion of their own
advantage chase an ever-shifting blank banner Gate of Hell- Abandon
all hope ye who enter here.