4 most important WORKS by DANTE Alighieri

In today's lesson we are going to travel to the Italy of the late Middle Ages to talk about the most important works of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). One of the most recognized writers in history and the father of Humanism.

Our protagonist lived in a Florence on the way between the Middle Ages and Modern Ages and throughout Throughout his life he wrote both in prose and poetry, in Tuscan and Latin, and on different themes. Standing out among his literary production: Vita nuova (1292-1293), By vulgari eloquentia (1303-1305), Il Convivio (1303-1309), Monarchia (1313) Y The Divine Comedy (1303-1321). If you want to know more about the works of the father of Humanism, he continues reading because in a PROFESSOR we explain everything to you. The class begins!

Dante was born in Florence in 1265 to a bourgeois family, belonging to the commercial elite and Guelph political trend (supporter of the power of the popes in Italy against the power of the German emperor). Although little is known of his childhood and youth, it is quite possible that he received a careful education at home with private tutors and that he studied at the University of Bologna.

At the age of 12 he was engaged to Gemma di Manetto Donati, with whom he did not marry until after the year 1290. Year in which his great platonic love and muse died, Beatriz Portinari (married to Simone de Bardi).

Also, throughout his life, Dante was heavily involved in the politics of his city. Getting to participate in the Battle of Campaldino (confrontation between Guelphs and Ghibellines) and trying to reach a peace agreement with his opponents, however, he was taken prisoner and sent into exile under death penalty.

Finally, in 1316 Dante was pardoned after the promulgation of a amnesty that he himself rejected, fixing his place of residence in Ravenna and dying five years later victim of strong fevers.

Our protagonist, he wrote both in prose and in poetry, in Tuscan and Latin and on different themes. In this way, among all his works, the following stand out.

Vita Nuova (New Life), 1292-1293

It is the first of his works, written two years after the death of his beloved Beatriz. In it the lyric is mixed with the prose (prosimetror: 31 chapters in lyric and 42 in prose) and its central theme is the polite and platonic love from Dante to Beatriz, after meeting her when she was only 9 years old. A love treated by the author from the perspective of the vital renewal that it supposes to him to know the muse of her. In this way, New Life is divided into three main thematic parts:

1. The emergence of love after meeting Beatriz.
2. I meet him with Beatriz at 18 years old.
3. Beatriz's denial and her death.

De vulgari eloquentia (About popular speech), 1303-1305

By vulgari eloquentia It is another of Dante Alighieri's best works. It is an essay (made up of two books) written in Latin in which Dante studies and analyzes the origin and evolution of thevernacular or vulgar. Something unusual and novel in its time, since we are in a period when Latin was considered the intellectual language. In this sense, in this work our protagonist establishes the following ideas:

• The vulgar language is just as dignified as Latin.
• Language is not static, but evolves throughout history and is closely linked to the context in which it takes place.
• In the beginning of time they spoke a single language which later gave way to other languages ​​= The Tower of Babel.
• Create a linguistic map of Europe (Greek, German and Romance languages) and identifies 14 vernacular languages ​​for Italy.

Il Convivio (The banquet), 1303-1309

It's about a philosophical essay unfinished, since Dante's intention was for it to be composed of 15 books, of which he only wrote 4. In all of them, he talks to us about issues of various kinds, such as:

• The defense of the vulgar language as one that has not been corrupted throughout history and one that can offer knowledge to the majority of the population.
• Exposes his defense against exile imposed by the Florentine Ghibellines.
• In Praise of Wisdom and Exaltation of Philosophy, defining the relationship of the individual with the philosophy as a love relationship and as the necessary tool to achieve perfection.
• Defense of a monarchical government in the style of the ancient Roman empire.

Monarchia (On the universal monarchy), 1313

Monarchia It is another of Dante Alighieri's most important works. A work composed of three books written in Latin and in which, Dante, exposes his political theoryand define what it is ideal model. In this way, he establishes the following ideas:

• The function of the empire is to obtain peace and provide welfare to the population: advancement, intellectual progress and tranquility.
• The power and dignity of the empire they belong to the people.
• Power and authorityof the emperor they derive from God, but are not bestowed by the Church.
• Church and State they have to come to a balance and possessdifferent powers: the State provides welfare to the subjects temporarily and the Church provides welfare to Christians in a timeless way.

The Divine Comedy, 1303-1321

The Divine Comedy is one of the most important works of world literature, written by Dante over 20 years. This is one allegorical epic which is divided into three large parts (Hell, Purgatory, Paradise) composed of 33 songs (in triplets) and whose protagonist is Dante himself, who makes a journey through the Hell, the Purgatory and the Paradise, from the hand of the poet Virgil and with the objective of redeeming his earthly sins and being able to ascend to the Sky.