Discover Dante

Discover Dante

A resource produced in collaboration with the Leeds Centre for Dante Studies and the Devers Program in Dante Studies at the University of Notre Dame

We promote the study of Dante from a variety of disciplinary and methodological perspectives.

Explore the work, life and impact of Dante Alighieri

Welcome to the Discover Dante web resource. The site introduces Dante, focusing in particular on the Commedia, or Divine Comedy. It is intended for students, teachers, and for members of the public interested in Dante. The resource can be dipped into, or used to accompany a full reading of the text. (See more about how to use the resource here.)

Discover Dante was written by Matthew Treherne (University of Leeds), Vittorio Montemaggi (University of Notre Dame) and Abi Rowson (University of Leeds).

This resource is a collaboration between the Leeds Centre for Dante Studies at the University of Leeds, and the Devers Program in Dante Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Find out how to use Discover Dante

An overview of Dante's life, of the cultural and political context in which Dante lived and worked, and of Dante's major works of literature.

More on Introducing Dante

This section introduces Inferno. We begin with an overview of Dante's idea of Hell, before working through the text canto by canto, and then considering some of the major themes in the text.

More on Inferno

Discover Purgatorio. We begin with an overview of Dante's idea of Purgatory, before working through the text canto by canto, and then considering some of the major themes in the text.

More on Purgatorio

Explore Dante's idea of Paradise and the cosmos. In the case of the final cantica, the cantos are divided into the different Heavens of Paradise, and major themes are discussed.

More on Paradiso