ENG2301World Lit Tuesday, March 3, 2015 DANTE ALIGHIERI, 1265-1321 ~ 13th C, base of Renaissance, end of medieval period The Divine Comedy ~ The artistry of the creation of this poem cannot be ignored -- Specific form~> the entire book is an epic poem -- This is translated version, so we miss allot of the rhyming & scheme ~ Tiled first as theCommedia -- Boccaccio later added theDivine -- Signaling not just the subject matter of the work, but also the elevated style in which it was written ~ Tragedyv. Comedy -- Tragedies end in misery, usually w/ people dying >> Has an exalted state >> Usually written in Latin or Greek (academic languages) >> Important characters (people who consorted w/ kings & kings) >> Events of grand important - Major transfers of powers, wars, etc. -- Comedy was simply a story that ended on a high note, w/ joy >> Ends in happiness, [Dante's only BEGINS in hell] >> Range of styles >> More about common people [Dante did not discriminate who he put in jail] -- Everyday lives >> Written in vernacular, the language of the people (Dante wrote in Italian) -- So, everyone that could read was able to understand; it was very accessible -- It was scandalous >> The narrator in theDivine Comedyis lifted up into the heavens at the end -- Ends in supreme happiness ~ Dante uses names of many past religious icons as being residents of hell -- He put many well-known people in hell & names their names! -- Many popes & political figures were included >> Created great scandal w/ the families ~ Dante’sDivine Comedy: 1.Inferno/Hell~> 33 cantos + into = 34 cantos 2.Purgatorio/Purgatory~> 33 cantos 3.Paradiso/Heaven~> 33 cantos >>Cantos--songs, or chapters >> 100 cantos total [singular, cantical] -- Each line of text has 11 syllables >>Tercet = 3 lines - 11 syllables in every 3 lines = 33 syllables in every tercet >> Specific rhyme scheme ~>terza rima (aka 3s) [she wants us to really think about this] - aba bcb cdc... -- Each cantical ends w/ the same word, Stella (means star) *The point is, it is so full of art! World Lit Final! [Eng 2301]1 of 17
*Common question: With what number is Dante obsessed? Three, (3), tres, toi, III... Tuesday, March 10, 2015 ~ Nine levels of hell -- Very topographical [Know the torments of each circle for test purposes!] ~Many themes-- not Church teaching -- Christianity -- Mythological -- Greek/Roman ideas -- Some he just made up According to Greek/Roman ~ Underworld aka Hades/Pluto -- No heaven in afterlife -- Always underground >> Tararus--the hood >> Elysian Fields--middle >> Asphodel Meadows--River Oaks *They are ALL still hell! --Wandering shades~> best possibility in the afterlife ~Christian ideal of afterlife: -- Hell is still underground -- Heaven is awesome >> Makes Christianity pretty appealing Many heroes go to hell --Aeneas -- Hercules >> After all, it is the ultimate quest! -- Dante makes himself the hero in this poem >> Although he's NOT the archaic type of hero... He's a poet... ~ Beatrice -- He loved her from afar -- She arranges for someone who has been in hell before to be Dante's guide ~ Dante chose Virgil to be his guide -- Dante was Italian -- Remember that Aeneas founded Rome >> Virgil is their national poet!
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