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Dante’s Inferno

Dante’s Inferno. AP Senior English. Who was Dante?. Born in 1265 to a prominent family in Florence. Supported the Guelphs (Papacy), who were opposed to the Ghibellines (Holy Roman Empire). His marriage was arranged. Continued to love Beatrice, his childhood love.

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Dante’s Inferno

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  1. Dante’s Inferno AP Senior English

  2. Who was Dante? • Born in 1265 to a prominent family in Florence. • Supported the Guelphs (Papacy), who were opposed to the Ghibellines (Holy Roman Empire). • His marriage was arranged. Continued to love Beatrice, his childhood love. • Was exiled from Florence. Traveled around Italy, finishing his epic poem, The Divine Comedy. • Died in exile, but Florence created a tomb for him.

  3. Guelphs and Ghibellines • rival parties in medieval Germany and Italy • The Guelphs are… • associated with the papacy. • represented by the more democratic 'middle classes' and  'merchant class' who desired a constitutional government. • represented an indigenous Italian stock and looked to the Pope for help against the Ghibellines. However this distinction became more and more blurred as we shall see in Dante's case.

  4. Ghibellines • Aristocratic, contemptuous of the church, supported the emperor.

  5. Guelphs vs. Ghibellines • The Ghibellines, with the help of Frederick II, won the first round and banished the Guelphs from the city (1249). • When Frederick II died in 1250, the Guelphs came to power again for 10 years. • After fateful battle of Montaperti (1260), in which the Florentines lost to the Sienesethe Ghibellines resumed power.

  6. Dante’s Politics • In 1300, the Guelph split into two factions the moderate but 'disaffected faction' (Whites- Bianchi) and than the 'pure papal extreme faction' (Blacks - Neri). • Dante, one of the six newly elected priors of the Republic belonged to the White faction opposed to Pope Boniface VIII.

  7. Dante’s Death Mask

  8. The Divine Comedy • An epic poem, composed between 1308 and 1321. • Divided in to 3 cantos: • Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise) • Dante is lead by Virgil and Beatrice through each. • This is a very politically charged poem. Dante’s foes appear in hell.

  9. "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" • There are nine cirlces, including an “anti-hell”. Each more fearsome & gruesome than the next. • First Circle: Limbo • Second Circle: Lust • Third Circle: Gluttony • Fourth Circle: Avarice • Fifth Circle: Heresy • Sixth Circle: Blasphemy • Seventh Circle: Violence • Eight Circle: Fraud • Ninth Circle: Treachery

  10. Things to note… • The number 3. • Dante’s age when beginning his journey and the Biblical implications. • When his journey begins. • The verse and rhyme scheme used. • The last word in each cantos is “stars”. What could this imply? • What part do politics play? Literally and figuratively. • Biblical, mythological, and political allusions.

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