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Textual or Investigative

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Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy has been a central focus in medieval poetic scholarship. As a distinctly allegorical work, Dante's epic poem perfectly situates Christian teachings alongside paganism to reinforce a Christian moral order. One of the cornerstone teachings of the 14th century became Bishop John Thorseby's Seven Deadly Sins. While the Seven Deadly Sins teachings were obviously present in Purgatorio, the second part of Dante's poem, they also appear in Inferno. Dante positions them alongside pagan mythological figures in Inferno to strengthen his allegory for Christian moral order.

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Apr 22nd, 11:00 AM Apr 22nd, 11:30 AM

Myth in Service of Sin: Theology and Mythology in Dante's Inferno

Textual or Investigative

Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy has been a central focus in medieval poetic scholarship. As a distinctly allegorical work, Dante's epic poem perfectly situates Christian teachings alongside paganism to reinforce a Christian moral order. One of the cornerstone teachings of the 14th century became Bishop John Thorseby's Seven Deadly Sins. While the Seven Deadly Sins teachings were obviously present in Purgatorio, the second part of Dante's poem, they also appear in Inferno. Dante positions them alongside pagan mythological figures in Inferno to strengthen his allegory for Christian moral order.

 

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