The Divine Comedy

Cultural  

1. An epic poem written by Dante in the early fourteenth century, describing the author's journey through the afterlife. It has three parts, each of which is concerned with one of the three divisions of the world beyond: the Inferno (hell), the Purgatorio (purgatory), and the Paradiso (heaven).

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Dante's idealized love, Beatrice, is his guide in heaven.

Example Sentences

The "Divine Comedy" follows the journey of a pilgrim across the three realms of the Christian afterlife – hell, purgatory and paradise.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2021

Written in his own native dialect, the Tuscan of the city of Florence, The Divine Comedy describes Dante’s descent into hell, guided by the spirit of the classical Roman poet Virgil.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

I found myself thinking of Dante Alighieri, coming to himself at life’s midpoint “in a dark wood” as The Divine Comedy opens.

From Nature • Sep. 15, 2019

Dante’s The Divine Comedy continues to resonate – arguably with new urgency in what many feel are dark times.

From The Guardian • Jul. 14, 2017

The Divine Comedy is one of the greatest monuments of human genius.

From Handbook of Universal Literature From the Best and Latest Authorities by Botta, Anne C. Lynch