Dante Alighieri ​

Dante Alighieri, known simply as Dante, was an Italian poet during the Late Middle Ages. He authored the Divine Comedy, one of the greatest and monumental works in literature. Dante is considered the "Father of the Italian language".

Quick Facts ​

• Wrote the 'Divine Comedy', which is considered one of the greatest works of world literature.
• His works are read and studied all over the world and he is regarded as the greatest Italian poet.
• His depictions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven provided inspiration for countless other writers and artists.
• Early Italian literature was written in Latin, but Dante wrote in the Tuscan dialect, making it accessible to more readers.
• He was exiled from his native Florence and wrote his best known work, the 'Divine Comedy', while on the move.
• His exact date of birth is unknown but is generally believed to be around 1265.

Background ​

Dante Alighieri was born into a lower middle class family in 1265 in Florence, Italy. He embarked on a career as a poet at a young age, and by the age of 30, had gained renown as one of the most prominent poets in Italy. Dante's masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, was composed towards the end of his life while he was in exile from Florence. The poem, written in Italian rather than Latin, cemented Dante's reputation as a literary genius. Much of his work focused on love, morality, and social justice, all depicted through rich allegorical language.

Dante was also politically active, serving at various times on the city council, as a diplomat, and even in the military. But after falling out of favor with the powerful factions in Florence, he was sentenced to exile on pain of death. Dante spent the last two decades of his life on the move, seeking protection at various Italian courts and writing The Divine Comedy during these years. He died in Ravenna, Italy in 1321.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Dante's writing style is characterized by its layered complexity, deep allegory, and epic scale. His most notable work, The Divine Comedy, is considered one of the greatest literary works of all time and has had an immeasurable influence on literature and culture. It is characterized by its imaginative vision of the afterlife, its profound exploration of moral and philosophical issues, and its vivid and passionate language. In many ways, Dante's work represents the pinnacle of medieval literature and the transition to the Renaissance.

Notable Works ​

• Divine Comedy (1320)
• Vita Nuova (1295)
• Convivio (1307)
• De Monarchia (c. 1313)