How does virgil guide dante

However, Dante's early works show little special, or more than conventional, admiration either for Virgil or for classical poetry in general. This stance is also evident in De vulgari Eloquentia , as is perhaps only to be expected in a work dealing with contemporary poetry in the vernacular, a work written by a poet who wants to put his contemporaries and himself especially himself on something like an equal footing with glorious antecedents.

The case of Convivio is more complicated. Its first three treatises are written more or less in a similar spirit, revisiting classical sources in a nearly perfunctory way. In the fourth treatise, however, we find a major change, as was first noted by Ulrich Leo in a justly celebrated article Leo. Virgil and some other classical writers now become important more for what they are saying than for the nobility of their expression.

The case of Monarchia is a complicated one. The question of its date is essential and difficult to resolve. The author of this article sides with those who argue for a later dating ca. If the work is composed after the Commedia was begun, the thickness of allusions to Virgil divinus poeta noster ["our divine poet"] -- 2.

The sudden shift, however, is more likely to indicate rather a change in strategy discussing theological matters he will resort only to theologically valid texts than a change of heart with regard to the Latin poet. One must also be aware of the indisputably Virgilian spirit, essentially one of imitation of his Eclogues , found in Dante's own Latin Eclogues , composed late in his career. Concerning the minor works composed before the Commedia one may say that, with the exception of the last treatise of Convivio , which should probably be understood as being composed at a moment of considerable pressure and of a consequent change in direction toward a new writerly identity, there is little by way of a deeply involved reading of classical text evident in his texts.

If one considers the question from a later vantage point, however, one can hardly overestimate the importance of Virgil for Dante. Here is the evaluation of Curtius: "The conception of the Commedia is based upon a spiritual meeting with Virgil. In the realm of European literature there is little which may be compared with this phenomenon. The 'awakening' to Aristotle in the thirteenth century was the work of generations and took place in the cool light of intellectual research.

The awakening of Virgil by Dante is an arc of flame which leaps from one great soul to another. The tradition of the European spirit knows no situation of such affecting loftiness, tenderness, fruitfulness. It is the meeting of the two greatest Latins" Curt. There can be no doubt that Virgil plays an essential role in almost every aspect of Dante's composition of his great poem, and probably with his very decision to write an "epic" poem, leaving incomplete his two treatises, Convivio and De vulgari Eloquentia , in order to attach himself firmly to the great Latin tradition of writing about serious things in verse.

As has frequently been pointed out, Virgil's example may be found as seminal for many aspects of Dante's poetic strategies in the Commedia : to write a poem that prominently features a visit to the underworld Dante did not know Homer's texts, if he did know about them -- thus he can behave as though Virgil were uniquely qualified to serve as his model and that celebrates the Roman concept of political order as exemplified in the empire; that is narrated by a poet who has been lent prophetic powers.

But Virgil is not hoping for Dante to get hurt. He does his best to protect Dante, and he does get them safely past every guardian of Hell he incites. To his credit, he also risks his own life errr, afterlife?

As stern as Virgil tries to be, we know that deep down inside, he just wants to share a beer with Dante while watching the big game. Virgil likes Dante, and his affection shows in their pseudo-familial relationship. How many times have we heard Virgil call Dante "son," or heard Dante call Virgil "father"? Dante is like the son Virgil never had. This comes to light most apparently in their flight from the two-timing demons.

In lifting Dante to his chest and carrying him as he sprints toward safety, Virgil becomes a mother figure to the terrified Dante. Hmmm, father and mother? As an unofficial poet laureate of the Romans, Virgil is a kind of patron spirit of Italy. II, The phrase in Italian is "parole ornate" which translates literally as "decorated word. We figure that Virgil spent so much time writing the Aeneid —invoking the Muses, speaking in dactylic hexameter, and pulling epic similes out of the air—that he simply got stuck speaking that way.

Not only that, but Virgil's requests are often granted. Have you noticed how every time Virgil talks to someone, he gets what he wants?

When he appears powerless outside the gates of the city of Dis in Canto VIII, his helplessness appears very ominous, signifying that Lower Hell offers far darker dangers than Upper Hell.

When Dante appears slow to learn these lessons—such as when he sympathizes with sinners or attempts to remain too long in one region of Hell—Virgil often grows impatient with him, a trait that humanizes this otherwise impersonal shade.

Dante the character and Dante the poet seem to regard Virgil differently. Dante the character regards Virgil as his master, constantly swearing his admiration for, and trust in, him. But, because he led a good life on Earth, Virgil was given a place among the virtuous pagans in the Hall of Kings within the circle of Limbo. Virgil found himself being called by a beautiful woman , asking him to help a friend that she feared went astray, and in exchange for that, she would praise him to God.

She told him that appearing at the Gates of Hell , Virgil met the Crusader Knight named Dante where he offered to guide him throughout the circles of Hell. From now on, Virgil helped Dante traverse the Nine Circles from the outer boundaries of Limbo to the frozen wastelands of Treachery , offering guidance and advising him about the purpose of each circle.

Virgil also gave Dante his first spell when they first met each other.