Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri, pronounced DAHN tay ah lee GYA ree, (1265-1321), an Italian author, was one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages. His epic poem The Divine Comedy ranks among the finest works of world literature. Critics have praised it not only as magnificent poetry, but also for its wisdom and scholarly learning. Dante was one of the most learned writers of all time. Many scholars consider The Divine Comedy a summary of medieval thought. Dante had a tremendous influence on later writers, including the English authors Geoffrey Chaucer and John Milton.
Dante called his work Commedia (Comedy), because it had a happy ending. The searcher in the storyóDante himselfóprogressed from wickedness to goodness and was shown the path to God in Heaven. The word divine was added to the title in the 1500's. Today, Danteís great poem is known as The Divine Comedy.
Excerpt adapted from the "Dante Alighieri" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999