SH+2015-16+P6+Dante+Alighieri



Aim (Keeley): Who is Dante Alighieri? Dante Alighieri is a poet and a philosopher. He is the author of //The Divine Comedy//, also known as Dante’s //Inferno//, that talks about the three different levels of hell, and the 7 deadly sins. When he was a young child, his mother died, which led him to “ immerse himself in the study of philosophy and the machinations of the Florentine political scene” (Biography.com). Also, because of his religion, he was set to marry a young girl at age 20 but he had been in love with another girl since the age of 9. So, even though he went through with the proposed marriage, he still loved the other girl and mentioned her in some of his writing. After a while, he got exiled from where he lived because the political leaders did not like his philosophies and the way he acted. After that, he traveled to many places, learning more and more about religion, specifically Roman Catholic. This really influenced his writing because it helped him to write his most famous book, //The Divine Comedy//. Though he died more than 700 years ago, his book and the legacy of him still live on today.

Works Cited "Dante." //Bio.// A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 26 Aug. 2015

"Dante Alighieri." //Poets.org//. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

Historical (Alyssa Sotelo): 3. How does the historical events affect the written text? Dante Alighieri’s historical background affects his written text by providing context. Dante was very involved in the political conflicts in Florence and in the process was exiled. An article reported that, “Dante may have been driven out of Florence, but this would be the beginning of his most productive artistic period”(Biography.com). His exile provided an influence to his writings where the journey that takes place in //The Divine Comedy// ends before the day he was exiled. Also, Dante’s previous studies of the arts gave him the inspiration of using and having the poets that he had previously explored in his story line. Moreover, some of the figures Dante encounters in the //Inferno//, Dante’s journey through hell, were also figures that took part in Florentine politics. These opponents were placed in horrific punishments for their sins. Dante’s history of beliefs and experiences in his physical life placed great context on his fictional journey.

Works Cited

"Dante." //Bio.// A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

"Dante Alighieri." //Poets.org//. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.



Cultural (Ana Gonzalez):

2. How does Dante affect the cultural context of the written text?

Dante Alighieri's culture affected the context of his written text because he was able to portray realistic depictions of human suffering and he emphasized the consequences for evil deeds as was taught. Dante experienced suffering many times in his life . Early in his life, his parents died; later on the love of his life died. In the “A Divine Life: The Life of Dante Alighieri” the author states, “ Distraught, he began to write poetry dedicated to his dead love's memory, filled with references to the sweet, pure love he had found with Beatrice but now lost to him forever” (Nantus). This created a lot of distress for Dante which was brought into his writing of suffering. His father’s teachings also influenced his writing, “He took great pains in teaching him the meaning of duty and honor” (Nantus). From this, it can be considered that Dante had a great understanding of right and wrong and that wrong leads to consequences. According to Dante Alighieri’s culture, //Dante’s Inferno // portrays his experiences because he speaks of the sufferings in hell as a consequence of evil deeds.

Works Cited

"Dante." //Bio.// A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

Nantus, Sheryl. //"Dante Alighieri."// Dante Alighieri. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.




 * Audience (Sydney): **


 * How does Dante Alighieri’s writing affect his audience? **

Dante Alighieri wrote several epic poems that explored very provocative and touchy subjects for his time period. One of his most well known epic poems is Dante’s Inferno, this work of literature suggests that there are seven levels of hell and illustrates each level, in addition, it addresses heaven, hell, and purgatory. This was extremely provocative for his time period because he was attempting to fix a “corrupt society” and help people get into heaven once they died, not only this, but it also inspired several different types of art illustrating Heaven and Hell as depicted in the Divine Comedy. For example, “ The classical struggle of virtue versus faults and the extreme difference between Heaven and Hell is shown largely in Dante’s poem. Another way that Dante’s work has impacted modern society is by inspiring and influencing others” (Biography.com). Not only did the writings of poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri have a large effect on the audience of his time period, but they still affect today’s modern society. His ideas have been the center of much analysis and thought throughout time. In other words, Dante Alighieri’s epic poems have caused his audience to question religion, afterlife and how your decisions may affect you later on.

Works Cited "Dante." //Bio.// A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 26 Aug. 2015

"Dante Alighieri - Biography." //Dante Alighieri.// N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.

Wetherbee, Winthrop. "Dante Alighieri." //Stanford University//. Stanford University, 29 Jan. 2001. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.