The Life of Dante Alighieri

The Life of Dante Alighieri: Birth and Formation

• Dante was born in Florence in 1265 to a family of minor nobility of the Guelph party.
• He lived as a gentleman, receiving a refined education.
• Brunetto Latini taught him rhetoric and the art of speaking and writing with elegance, skills necessary to participate in public life.
• Dante read Provençal and Sicilian poets, Guittone, and Guinizzelli, and was influenced by his friend Cavalcanti.

Beatrice and the Sentimental Life

• Dante found inspiration in the figure of Beatrice, the woman who represented the ideal of his love and poetry.
• Dante married Gemma Donati, with whom he had three children.
• Beatrice's death in 1290 marked a period of great pain and grief for Dante.
• To cope with his grief, he devoted himself enthusiastically to philosophical studies, deepening his poetic culture.

Political Activity and Condition of Exile

• In 1293, Florence's government excluded the city's nobility from public office, but in 1295 the situation changed, and nobles were allowed to enter office if they belonged to a corporation.
• Dante entered the art of medicine and spices (pharmacists).
• In 1300, Dante was elected among the priors, the supreme city magistracy, in a difficult time for Florence, torn between the factions of the White Guelphs and Black Guelphs.

Exile and Travels

• In 1301, the Black Guelphs took control of Florence and persecuted the White Guelphs.
• Dante was sentenced to exile in 1302 on charges of corruption and bribery.
• After being sentenced to death (at the stake), Dante began his pilgrimage through various Italian regions.
• He was hosted by Malaspina of Lunigiana, the Scaligeri of Verona, and the Polenta of Ravenna, but Dante never adapted to the condition of a courtier, refusing to live thanks to the generosity of others.

Reflections on Italy's Crisis

• During his exile, Dante was able to get to know the Italian and European reality, noting the corruption of the Church and the political difficulties in Italy.
• The Italian cities, dominated by money and business, were living in a deep crisis, accentuated by the lack of an emperor who could regulate civil life.

The "Comedy" Project

• During his exile, Dante began working on his "Comedy", a work that represents his desire for justice and the restoration of order.
• The poet dreamed of a restoration of imperial power that could solve the world's ills.
• In 1310, with the arrival of the new Emperor Henry VII of Luxembourg, Dante hoped that this dream would come true, but his illusions vanished due to the ambiguous conduct of the Pope.

Last Years and Death

• In 1315, Dante received an amnesty on the condition that he admit his guilt, but he refused the offer.
• Dante lived in Ravenna with Ida Polenta who was surrounded by the reputation of being a great poet.
• Died on September 14, 1321.

Vita Nuova: Beginning of Poetic Career

• Dante, growing up in a vibrant cultural environment, began to write verses, choosing the refined lyric of love.
• Withthe friendship of Guido Cavalcanti, Dante founded a new poetic movement, the Dolce Stil Novo, which expresses love as torment and suffering.

Evolution Of The Concept Of Love

• After Beatrice's death, Dante evolved his conception of love, transforming it from an earthly passion to a more mystical and spiritual love.
• His poems, collected in the book Vita Nuova, are commented in prose, which enriches them with a deeper meaning.
• The alternation between prose and poetry makes the work a prosimeter.

Symbolism of Number 9

• Dante recounts that he met Beatrice for the first time at age 9, a number that has a strong symbolic value (the Trinity).
• Beatrice's greeting gives him a sense of bliss, a symbol of salvation.
• From that moment on, Dante places all his happiness in his gestures and actions.

Mystery of Courtly Love

• Following the rituals of courtly love, Dante tries to hide Beatrice's identity, pretending to address his love to other women, called "window women".
• La Vita Nuova then becomes a reflection on love as a sentimental and intellectual experience, a path that blends life and poetry.

Deep Meaning Of Love

• Beatrice's denial of greeting leads Dante to understand that happiness does not depend on external gratification, but on something that lies within him.
• His love for Beatrice is no longer tied to what he can get, but becomes pure love, which leads him to contemplate and praise the woman, without seeking anything in return.

Love As Universal Force

• Love for Beatrice is no longer an earthly passion, but becomes the means by which Dante's soul rises to God.
• Love becomes a universal force that raises all creatures to unity with God.

The Poem "Tanto Gentile E Tanto Onesta Pare"

• Dante describes Beatrice as a woman of extraordinary beauty and grace.
• Her presence inspires joy and respect, and her figure is compared to that of an angel.
• Dante describes Beatrice's angelic beauty and the love she spreadsa around her,
• Dante uses enjambments and rhymes like "pare" and "guardare" in the sonnet, to make the poetry more fluid and harmonious.
• Thanks to his words, even those who have not seen Beatrice can imagine her beauty and the enchanting power she exerts on anyone she meets.

Convivio: The Banquet Of Knowledge

• The Convivio was written in vulgar, to be able to tell people who speak in Latin that it is time to use the vernacular.
• The Convivio has a second sense that of the banquet of wisdom and knowledge.
• The first work represents the food of the soul.
• The author wanted it to be a vast encyclopedia to collect all human knowledge.
• It goes to demonstrate the highest level of wisdom reached to defend its fame from the false accusations made by the peasants who had exiled it.
• It would have comprised 15 treatises.
• The Convivio also belongs to the genre of the prosimeter, and exposes doctrines and philosophical concepts.
• Dante's love in the Convivio is only for Wisdom.
• Dante addresses it to a wider audience and proposes a real task of cultural promotion.
• The project was not completed, only the first four treatises were composed.
• It became an abandoned work when the idea of the comedy took shape.
• Dante wanted to offer a Convivio, that is, a feast of wisdom to all those who have not been able to devote themselves to studies because of their civil family occupations, while still being endowed with a gentle, elevated and virtuous soul.
• For this he writes it in vernacular.
• The public to which the book is addressed is of high condition, not only male, but female.
• Dante does not aim at the traditional clergy, but not even at the public of the new communal culture.
• Dante aims at a noble public, of a nobility that can be by birth but also only spiritual and ethical.
• It distinguishes four senses of the scriptures: the literal, the allegorical (i.e., the truth hidden under the poetic dress), the moral (the moral teaching imparted to the reader) and the anagogic (which alludes to the supernatural and transcendent reality of God).
• It is all a hymn of wisdom, which for Dante is the highest perfection of man, reaching here the culmination of that cult of intelligence and knowledge.
• It addresses a moral problem, that of true nobility, to the readers.
• Nobility is not only a privilege of blood but a personal conquest through the exercise of virtue.
• The goal was to awaken with his words the desire for an orderly civil coexistence.
• There are various reasons for blaming or not blaming a person who does not want to have more Wisdom.
• Those inside the man, from the part of the body (blind, deaf or mute) not to be blamed, from the part of the soul (militia, vice etc.) to be blamed.
• Those outside it, from family and civil Cure (necessity) not to be blamed, from the defect of the place (laziness) to be blamed.

The Meaning Of The Convivio

• There once was a man who eagerly desired knowledge, finding learning and understanding the path to higher happiness.
• He realized access wasn't equal: some faced physical barriers, others were absorbed in daily life, and some succumbed to laziness.
• Dante initiated "Convivio" to offer learning to those deprived, equating knowledge to a feast and "bread of angels" to select learning.
• Dante wanted to share it with anyone who had 'hunger'.

Distinctions Of Dante's Convivio

• Dante distinguishes between excusable and blameworthy hindrances to knowledge
• Physical issues or family duties are understandable.
• Laziness it's guilty.
• Dante presents himself as a knowledge gatherer aiming to share knowledge with all.

Allegory

• allegorically, knowledge is essential nourishment for the soul.
• The "bread of angels" signifies divine knowledge to those dedicated with pure intent.
• Dante hopes to guide those who desire to learn and illuminates their path towards truth and happiness.

Rhymes Written In Latin

• Dante's "Rhymes" aren't a structured collection but a compilation by modern editors.
• They encompass Dante's poetic journey from youth in 1283 to maturity around 1307.
• Youthful rhymes mirror contemporary courtly trends (Guittonian, Guinizzellian, Cavalcantian).
• Dante later developed a passion for philosophy, allegorically equated to the consoling "gentle lady".
• This interest birthed songs blending the sweet style with allegorical approach, where love for a woman mirrors knowledge pursuit
• "The sweet rhymes of love" (circa 1295) marked Dante's shift, abandoning allegory for direct moral and philosophical themes.

Style

• a shift from gentleness, introducing a harsh, precise edge to the complex ideas.
• Dante adopted a critical, conservative stance on his era's social issues, denouncing chivalric and courteous decline.
• Dante championed past virtues with increasingly shifted which reflected his social and political concerns.
• His transformed visions of life and morality led to a morality and civil commitment.

Rime Petrose

• The "Rhymes of Stone" reflect poet exploration inspired by troubadour poetry, notably Arnaut Daniel's "trobar clus".
• in these pieces, Dante cultivated a harsh language to communicate erotic passion far from Stilnovismo.
• The violent imagery predicted sections of Hell.

Exile

• Throughout exile, Dante's worldview darkened.
• In compositions like "Three Women Have Come Around My Heart", he voiced the agony of the innocent exile, decrying the world's depravity.
• He yearned for justice and peace

Guido, I Wish That You And Lapo And I

• Dante pictures himself, Guido, and Lapo sailing together obstacle-free
• They'd also love to bring their wives in order to spread happiness.

De Vulgari Eloquentia: Dignity of the Vulgar Language

• Dante chose to grow the conversation on how worthy the vulgar tongue is, Dante decides to elevate the discourse about the dignity of the vernacular
• The goal of the essay, which will address vulgar style, is setting the standards.
• As a result of this activity, the affirmation of the vulgar culture it is concluded.
• Dante's aim is solely to express.
• Written in Latin since it's meant exclusively for intellectuals, Dante addresses.
• Dante examines dialects composing the yes language for prestigious style fitted for high matters; said Style must be- cardinal- Aulic and courtly.

Characteristics Of The Vulgar <>

• In De Vulgari Eloquentia, Dante defines illustrious vulgar as unifying language, exceeding dialects.
• Dante connects to finding a universal language with a difficult job.

Assigning The Language 4 Qualities

• Illustrious- noble, elevates users
• Cardinal- references to many dialects
• Regal- symbol to the nation
• Courtly- refined

Dante Defends

• Dante viewed the spread of the language as divine that prevents a stable nation. finally- views his home language being forced and unrecognized.

The Monarchy: Crisis In Medieval Institutions

• The 14th century was a phase of mass destruction, especially in the medieval times.
• Dante acknowledged the loss humans lived with.
• New Emperor "Henry VII" came to power and aimed to bring back his strength.
• The paper/the book written in latin was intended for scholars. -Dante's doctrinal opera was structured a lot like his other pieces
• Monarchy's 1st book- Shows the empire's necessity, everyone is ruled by the emperor (above all powers)
• 2nd Dimostra book- Demonstrates how the empire can self-concede by the grace of God.
• and how they took to uniting and uniting Earth.
• the book is a report of relationships between both church and state, how two powers are independent.
• Both are said to derive right from god, similar to two suns.
• The Empire meant people were happy through each stage of life whereas the church, gave eternal achievements.

Aides

• Every leader must respect each other.
• Dante saw that the world was a Utopia doomed to remain in place.

The Emperor, The Pope, And The Two Purposes Of Human Life

• Humans were said to have two major goals, happiness on earth and blessing their spirits through faith.
• Earthly success came through guidance of Leaders and emperors.

Dante's Affirmations

• Dante stated only God can impact the empire and that humans can choose how to apply to it.
• They view the world as happy, until bad events happen.
• Emperors must sustain themselves through both spiritual and earthly events to ensure peace.

The Epistles

• Dante adds 13 letters, all being thought and political in their own ways.
• They feel as though it is their job to give justice.
• Dante refuses and is un able to return to the old city, making her lack of respect, and personal freedom clear.
• Related to the letters is a song where all media shows how interpretations have varied so well.
• The letter contains all key factors in the reading and meanings, some include...
• Plurality (allegorical, literal, moral, and anagogic)