What is your opinion of Dante?

[Admiral Shran]

So, I was in the DS9 forum and I got into a discussion about how Dante's Inferno may have influenced certain aspects of that show. Since we have a thread on Shakespeare, I thought I'd start one about this other of my all-time favorite authors/poets.

T.S. Eliot once said that "Shakespeare and Dante divide the modern world between them; there is no third." I have to agree.

Do you love him, hate him, or are you completely indifferent about him?

 

[Jenee]

I like Dante. Not much of a fan of Shakespeare.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Dante is the man.

Really.

His life is just as crazy as his works. Fierce soldier, gifted orator, skilled chemist, passionate lover, skewed politician, sublime poet, hardened traveller: he was simply a force of nature.

Probably the best examples of the rough exterior and sensitive soul of the Tuscan people.

The reading of his works by Italian actor Roberto Benigni is simply awesome.

 

[Goliath]

I can't read Italian, so I probably underestimate Dante's importance. And I haven't read most of his work.

But I have read the Inferno a few times--I own four different translations. I thought it was brilliant. Some of the images therein are literally unforgettable.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I can't read Italian, so I probably underestimate Dante's importance.

Well, his works are more or less the main reason why there is an Italian language.

 

[Roshi]

I sympathize with Dante. It's not easy to deal with a girlfriend who sucked 37 seven dicks before him...

 

[Goliath]

I can't read Italian, so I probably underestimate Dante's importance.

Well, his works are more or less the main reason why there is an Italian language.

Oh--is that all? I thought he was a big deal.

 

[iguana_tonante]

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The reading of his works by Italian actor Roberto Benigni is simply awesome.

Well, Benigni is the man too.

Honestly, I first read the Inferno in English because I had to for a history class. I found it extremely difficult to understand and follow. Then I had to read it in Italian and found it simple, powerful, and beautiful (well, beautiful and ugly at the same time. He powerfully portrays the brutality of hell, but it's elegant at the same time).

Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate.

 

[Niorah]

Dante is fantastic. His command of the language is flawless, I could read his Divine Comedy and his La Vita Nuova over and over again (and I have) and never get bored.

And regarding the Divine Comedy in particular, it is incredible to dig through all the smallest details, the choice of words so spotless, it just flows effortlessly and harmoniously like music.

I'll say this though: in places he sounds a bit too technical, in my opinion...
But you can't really argue with perfection.

 

[Trekker4747]

Dante is shoe-polish smelling fuck who can't lift a gallon of milk.

 

[RoJoHen]

I am fairly certain I have never been exposed to Dante.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Actually, my knowledge of Dante is pretty superficial, but I find The Divine Comedy to be pretty strong in a literary sense. Many of his ideas, however, seem to arbitrary to possess useful insights.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I am fairly certain I have never been exposed to Dante.

It's impossible to not be exposed to Dante in the slightest. At the very least, the idea of the nature of Hell is borrowed heavily from the Inferno. The idea of hell being divided in 9 circles with different punishments and, in the center, is Satin being forced to gnaw on the heads of the betrayers of masters (which is torment for the betrayers, but also for Satin, who is weeping because he can't escape) is quite powerful.

Also, there's the famous quote when Dante arrives at the Gates of Hell, which says "Abandon all hope, you that enters". Just scroll down to TNZ and you'll be exposed to Dante.

Dante also gets mentioned in the movie Seven. Morgan Freemon tells Brad Pitt to read the book in order to understand the killer their investigating. Brad Pitt doesn't quite appreciate the author, however

 

[RoJoHen]

Yeah, I mean, I'm vaguely familiar with the idea behind the Inferno, but I've never actually read of it myself. I've only heard it being referenced by other things.

I've also never seen "Seven."

 

[Starbreaker]

Dante's Peak? Best. Movie. Ever.

 

[Rulius]

He's dead.

 

[trampledamage]

If anyone's interested in reading the Divine Comedy in English, I recommend the Penguin Classics translation by Dorothy L Sayers. The additional notes she provides are wonderfully detailed, and since she's a published fiction author in her own right, they're a good read by themselves!

 

[captcalhoun]

I sympathize with Dante. It's not easy to deal with a girlfriend who sucked 37 seven dicks before him...

Dante is shoe-polish smelling fuck who can't lift a gallon of milk.

i always found Randall funnier.

 

[Admiral Shran]

If anyone's interested in reading the Divine Comedy in English, I recommend the Penguin Classics translation by Dorothy L Sayers. The additional notes she provides are wonderfully detailed, and since she's a published fiction author in her own right, they're a good read by themselves!

I've never read that translation. The best I've read are the ones by John Ciardi and Mark Musa.

I sympathize with Dante. It's not easy to deal with a girlfriend who sucked 37 seven dicks before him...

Dante is shoe-polish smelling fuck who can't lift a gallon of milk.

i always found Randall funnier.

Okay, I'm obviously missing something here.