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The Divine Comedy (view source)
Revision as of 17:26, September 27, 2008
, 17:26, September 27, 2008New section on styles.
Dante and Beatrice leave the Earthly Paradise and ascend into Heaven, which is located in what we would now call [[outer space]]. As Dante nears the edge of Heaven and approaches God's throne, he begins to comment on the inadequacy of his poetic gifts to describe what he has seen. The poem ends at this point, and it is implied that Dante then returns to Earth to begin the task of recounting his marvellous journey, the result of which is the Divine Comedy itself.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press. </ref>
Dante and Beatrice leave the Earthly Paradise and ascend into Heaven, which is located in what we would now call [[outer space]]. As Dante nears the edge of Heaven and approaches God's throne, he begins to comment on the inadequacy of his poetic gifts to describe what he has seen. The poem ends at this point, and it is implied that Dante then returns to Earth to begin the task of recounting his marvellous journey, the result of which is the Divine Comedy itself.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press. </ref>
==Style(s)==
One of the main differences between the Divine Comedy and the classical epics that partly inspired it is its varied style. At different times it is serious and comic, lyrical and plain, allegorical and personal. Some examples are:
*'''Comic''': Dante and Virgil's encounter with the demons in the eighth circle in cantos 21 and 22 of the Inferno is played as pure farce, with the mischievous demons tricking Virgil and undermining his attempts to remain dignified.
*'''Serious''': The Emperor Justinian's indictment of the Florentines' betrayal of the [[Roman Empire]]'s legacy in Paradiso, canto 7 is a heartfelt statement regarding the political scene of the time.
*'''Lyrical''': Francesca dei Rimini's account of her infidelity and murder in Inferno, canto 5 is a famously powerful treatment of the power of love.
*'''Plain''': Paradiso is home to numerous expositions on complex theological points such as [[free will]] and [[original sin]].
*'''Allegorical''': In the Earthly Paradise in Purgatorio, canto 29, Dante is shown a marvellous procession, in which each element symbolises part of the Christian church. For example, 24 old men represent the [[Old Testament]] and a [[griffon]] represents [[Jesus]].
*'''Personal''': Dante's first meeting with Beatrice in Purgatorio, canto 30 is where the poet's own feelings are laid bare, as he is rebuked for his real-life transgressions and his infidelity to Beatrice's memory.
==References==
==References==