Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An epic poem of epic proportions. I'm currently writing an essay on this, so I don't want to exhaust my abilities to write on Dante for non-graded output. I'll try to write something thoughtful once I'm done, or maybe I'll just ⌘C ⌘V my essay in here...
Inferno describes Dante's descent into hell with Virgil as a guide.
I enjoyed this much more than I expected to, and I'm so glad I read this after reading Homer and studying Medieval history in our homeschool within the past 5-6 years. Without some understanding of the context and those reference points, I would have struggled much more and definitely wouldn't have appreciated it. I also used several resources to guide me, and I'm glad I invested the additional time.
What I found the most fascinating was Dante's, the character, response to the sins and their punishments. Of course that reflects on Dante the poet as well. And while it's easy to judge his lack of pity, I caught myself feeling similiarly when reading about the fate of Caiaphas. Whew, that was uncomfortable. Powerful poetry.
Regarding translations, I tried several before landing on a mix of Longfellow (beautiful) and Clive James (accessible). Both are terrific on audio.
I enjoyed this much more than I expected to, and I'm so glad I read this after reading Homer and studying Medieval history in our homeschool within the past 5-6 years. Without some understanding of the context and those reference points, I would have struggled much more and definitely wouldn't have appreciated it. I also used several resources to guide me, and I'm glad I invested the additional time.
What I found the most fascinating was Dante's, the character, response to the sins and their punishments. Of course that reflects on Dante the poet as well. And while it's easy to judge his lack of pity, I caught myself feeling similiarly when reading about the fate of Caiaphas. Whew, that was uncomfortable. Powerful poetry.
Regarding translations, I tried several before landing on a mix of Longfellow (beautiful) and Clive James (accessible). Both are terrific on audio.
A complex and intriguing depiction of the afterlife. Dante's conceptions of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise have informed centuries of writers since. I think that Inferno (hell) is the strongest of the three, and it is interesting to see in which circles he placed various historical figures.
I DID IT. I FINISHED IT. BLESS.
This is such an interesting book, though definitely very hard to get through. I think if I was able to read it in Italian it would be a little easier as it would actually be read like Dante intended, but it's still really cool to see all the concepts! This is such an influential piece of literature and is referenced SO MUCH in culture that it is really cool to have a basis for it. I think I may reread this in a different rhyming translation next time to see what that would be like, though I know the rhyming translation leaves a lot of the content out, or I may read a more modern translation so it will be easier for me to understand. Either way, I'm really glad I read this! Dante's version of hell is so interesting and poetic (har har) that it's hard not to like it.
NOTE TO SELF AND OTHER READERS: LONGFELLOW TRANSLATION IS OLD ENGLISH. If you would rather NOT read old english, pick something else. I read Longfellow's translation the whole way through and just looked at another (why i waited this long I have no idea) and the other was a lot easier to read! SO JUST FYI!
This is such an interesting book, though definitely very hard to get through. I think if I was able to read it in Italian it would be a little easier as it would actually be read like Dante intended, but it's still really cool to see all the concepts! This is such an influential piece of literature and is referenced SO MUCH in culture that it is really cool to have a basis for it. I think I may reread this in a different rhyming translation next time to see what that would be like, though I know the rhyming translation leaves a lot of the content out, or I may read a more modern translation so it will be easier for me to understand. Either way, I'm really glad I read this! Dante's version of hell is so interesting and poetic (har har) that it's hard not to like it.
NOTE TO SELF AND OTHER READERS: LONGFELLOW TRANSLATION IS OLD ENGLISH. If you would rather NOT read old english, pick something else. I read Longfellow's translation the whole way through and just looked at another (why i waited this long I have no idea) and the other was a lot easier to read! SO JUST FYI!
3.5 stars.
This was really interesting and I learned a lot (especially being an Atheist). I realise that this was going to be very religious, but I found that it got almost unbearably so towards the very end.
It was nicely written and I wasn't terribly confused. (The explanation of what I was about to read at the beginning of each Canto was a big factor in helping me to understand.)
This was really interesting and I learned a lot (especially being an Atheist). I realise that this was going to be very religious, but I found that it got almost unbearably so towards the very end.
It was nicely written and I wasn't terribly confused. (The explanation of what I was about to read at the beginning of each Canto was a big factor in helping me to understand.)
Definitely much easier to listen to as an audiobook than read on paper. The version I listened to was a BBC version with John Hurt and David Warner, who sounds just like Paul Bettany. I love a good cast performance.
The content of the story is too date to judge fairly. It's upsetting to think so many were condemned to the second to last circle of Hell just for loving someone of the same sex. I will say I was surprised by how in your face political it was. I knew there were some politics behind its authorship, but I didn't expect to get slapped with them upside the head every other line.
The content of the story is too date to judge fairly. It's upsetting to think so many were condemned to the second to last circle of Hell just for loving someone of the same sex. I will say I was surprised by how in your face political it was. I knew there were some politics behind its authorship, but I didn't expect to get slapped with them upside the head every other line.
Como si fuera posible puntuar esta obra maestra que tematiza lo humano como ninguna.
