Dante's Inferno

Dante’s Inferno

• Genre: Epic poem; allegory
• Originally Written: 1307
• Reading Level/Interest: Adult
• Structure/Length: Epic poem divided into cantos; approximately 108 pages in the original Italian; audiobook length approximately 4 hours
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Dante’s Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy. The central conflict revolves around Dante himself as he embarks on a journey through the depths of Hell guided by the Roman poet Virgil. Dante’s adventure is not only a physical journey but also a spiritual and moral odyssey. He encounters various sinners, demons, and damned souls in the nine circles of Hell, each circle representing different sins and their corresponding punishments. The poem explores themes of sin, redemption, divine justice, and the human condition. Dante Alighieri‘s epic work is a cornerstone of world literature and a profound exploration of the afterlife and morality.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of sin, punishment, and the afterlife; references to violence, sex, cannibalism, and death by suicide

Dante Alighieri, Author

• Bio: Born in 1265, deceased in 1321; Italian poet and writer known for his contributions to world literature; Dante is celebrated for his epic poem The Divine Comedy, which is considered one of history’s greatest literary works and is a cornerstone of Italian literature.
• Other Works: Purgatorio (second part of The Divine Comedy); Paradiso (third part of The Divine Comedy)