Dante Alighieri's Purgatorio and Paradiso Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the key terms and concepts from Dante Alighieri's *Purgatorio* and *Paradiso*, designed for exam preparation.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses for emphasis.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Palinode

A poem in which the poet retracts a statement or sentiment expressed in a previous poem.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical figure in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures to make a larger point.

Ineffability Topos

A literary convention where the speaker claims an experience is too great to be expressed in human language.

Antithesis

A figure of speech where an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are opposites.

Dante’s “Incarnational Poetics”

The idea that the poet uses earthly language to convey divine truths, making the poem a vessel for divine reality.

Mount Purgatory

An inverted cone divided into Ante-Purgatory, Seven Terraces, and the Earthly Paradise, where penitents undergo purification.

Purgatory vs Hell

Purgatory purges repented sin and is characterized by reversal, while Hell punishes unrepented sin and is marked by stasis.

Cato the Younger

A historical Roman Stoic who chose suicide over submission to tyranny and serves as the gatekeeper of Purgatory.

Casella

Dante's Florentine friend and musician; his song emphasizes the beauty of earthly love contrasted with spiritual duty.

Francesca vs Pia

Francesca blames love for her sin and is eternally fixed in her despair, while Pia shows humility and desires purification.

Buonconte vs Guido da Montefeltro

Both are warriors who repent at death; Buonconte's sincere tear leads to divine mercy, while Guido's is flawed.

farsi belli

The phrase meaning 'to make oneself beautiful,' used by Dante in connection to humility and repentance in Purgatory.

Form of Penitence for Pride

The proud crawl under heavy boulders to counteract their former arrogance by enduring physical humility.

Virgil's Definition of Love

Love is the seed of every good and evil act, indicating the moral structure of Hell based on misdirected love.

Statius and Virgil

Statius, a Roman poet, reveals Virgil's poetry guided him to Christianity, showing grace can work through unexpected channels.

Forese Donati

Dante's childhood friend whose ascent is attributed to his wife Nella's prayers, exemplifying ideal marital love.

Boccaccio's sub-title of Prince Galeotto

Refers to the go-between of Lancelot and Guinevere, used ironically to suggest the moral purpose of his stories.

Ser Cepperello

A character in The Decameron who deceives society into viewing him as a saint, contrasting Divine Comedy's justice.

Divine Optics

The process by which the soul perceives divine truth through light; Beatrice serves as a visual mediator for Dante.

The Role of St. Bernard

Serves as Dante's guide representing contemplation; he highlights Mary as the ultimate Mediatrix to divine truth.

The Universe as a Book

Dante perceives the universe held together by love, suggesting all creation is unified in God's essence and will.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses for emphasis.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Palinode

A poem in which the poet retracts a statement or sentiment expressed in a previous poem.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical figure in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures to make a larger point.

Ineffability Topos

A literary convention where the speaker claims an experience is too great to be expressed in human language.

Antithesis

A figure of speech where an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are opposites.

Dante’s “Incarnational Poetics”

The idea that the poet uses earthly language to convey divine truths, making the poem a vessel for divine reality.

Mount Purgatory

An inverted cone divided into Ante-Purgatory, Seven Terraces, and the Earthly Paradise, where penitents undergo purification.

Purgatory vs Hell

Purgatory purges repented sin and is characterized by reversal, while Hell punishes unrepented sin and is marked by stasis.

Cato the Younger

A historical Roman Stoic who chose suicide over submission to tyranny and serves as the gatekeeper of Purgatory.

Casella

Dante's Florentine friend and musician; his song emphasizes the beauty of earthly love contrasted with spiritual duty.

Francesca vs Pia

Francesca blames love for her sin and is eternally fixed in her despair, while Pia shows humility and desires purification.

Buonconte vs Guido da Montefeltro

Both are warriors who repent at death; Buonconte's sincere tear leads to divine mercy, while Guido's is flawed.

farsi belli

The phrase meaning 'to make oneself beautiful,' used by Dante in connection to humility and repentance in Purgatory.

Virgil's Definition of Love

Love is the seed of every good and evil act, indicating the moral structure of Hell based on misdirected love.

Statius and Virgil

Statius, a Roman poet, reveals Virgil's poetry guided him to Christianity, showing grace can work through unexpected channels.

Forese Donati

Dante's childhood friend whose ascent is attributed to his wife Nella's prayers, exemplifying ideal marital love.

Boccaccio's sub-title of Prince Galeotto

Refers to the go-between of Lancelot and Guinevere, used ironically to suggest the moral purpose of his stories.

Ser Cepperello

A character in The Decameron who deceives society into viewing him as a saint, contrasting Divine Comedy's justice.

Divine Optics

The process by which the soul perceives divine truth through light; Beatrice serves as a visual mediator for Dante.

The Role of St. Bernard

Serves as Dante's guide representing contemplation; he highlights Mary as the ultimate Mediatrix to divine truth.

The Universe as a Book

Dante perceives the universe held together by love, suggesting all creation is unified in God's essence and will.

Ante-Purgatory

The lowest part of Mount Purgatory, where those who repented late or neglected their spiritual duties undergo a period of waiting before beginning their purification on the Seven Terraces.

Seven Terraces (Mount Purgatory)

The main section of Mount Purgatory, divided into seven levels, each dedicated to purging one of the seven deadly sins through specific forms of penance.

Earthly Paradise

The summit of Mount Purgatory, representing humanity's original state of innocence and the garden of Eden, where souls are fully purified and prepared for ascent to Heaven.

Terrace of Pride

Penitents afflicted by pride are burdened with heavy boulders, compelling them to crawl and embody humility.

Terrace of Envy

Penitents afflicted by envy have their eyelids sewn shut with wire, symbolizing their inability to look upon others without bitterness or jealousy.

Terrace of Wrath

Penitents afflicted by wrath walk through thick, acrid smoke, blinding them and symbolizing the 'smoke' of uncontrolled anger that clouded their judgment.

Terrace of Sloth

Penitents afflicted by sloth continuously run with urgency, counteracting their former sluggishness and lack of spiritual zeal.

Terrace of Avarice/Greed

Penitents afflicted by avarice or greed lie face down, bound hand and foot, to show their excessive attachment to earthly goods and their inability to look towards heaven.

Terrace of Gluttony

Penitents afflicted by gluttony suffer from extreme hunger and thirst while surrounded by tempting fruit and water, symbolizing their former lack of moderation and self-control.

Terrace of Lust

Ante-Purgatory

The lowest part of Mount Purgatory, where those who repented late or neglected their spiritual duties undergo a period of waiting before beginning their purification on the Seven Terraces.

Seven Terraces (Mount Purgatory)

The main section of Mount Purgatory, divided into seven levels, each dedicated to purging one of the seven deadly sins through specific forms of penance.

Earthly Paradise

The summit of Mount Purgatory, representing humanity's original state of innocence and the garden of Eden

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses for emphasis.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Palinode

A poem in which the poet retracts a statement or sentiment expressed in a previous poem.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical figure in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures to make a larger point.

Ineffability Topos

A literary convention where the speaker claims an experience is too great to be expressed in human language.

Antithesis

A figure of speech where an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are opposites.

Dante’s “Incarnational Poetics”

The idea that the poet uses earthly language to convey divine truths, making the poem a vessel for divine reality.

Mount Purgatory

An inverted cone divided into Ante-Purgatory, Seven Terraces, and the Earthly Paradise, where penitents undergo purification.

Purgatory vs Hell

Purgatory purges repented sin and is characterized by reversal, while Hell punishes unrepented sin and is marked by stasis.

Cato the Younger

A historical Roman Stoic who chose suicide over submission to tyranny and serves as the gatekeeper of Purgatory.

Casella

Dante's Florentine friend and musician; his song emphasizes the beauty of earthly love contrasted with spiritual duty.

Francesca vs Pia

Francesca blames love for her sin and is eternally fixed in her despair, while Pia shows humility and desires purification.

Buonconte vs Guido da Montefeltro

Both are warriors who repent at death; Buonconte's sincere tear leads to divine mercy, while Guido's is flawed.

farsi belli

The phrase meaning 'to make oneself beautiful,' used by Dante in connection to humility and repentance in Purgatory.

Virgil's Definition of Love

Love is the seed of every good and evil act, indicating the moral structure of Hell based on misdirected love.

Statius and Virgil

Statius, a Roman poet, reveals Virgil's poetry guided him to Christianity, showing grace can work through unexpected channels.

Forese Donati

Dante's childhood friend whose ascent is attributed to his wife Nella's prayers, exemplifying ideal marital love.

Boccaccio's sub-title of Prince Galeotto

Refers to the go-between of Lancelot and Guinevere, used ironically to suggest the moral purpose of his stories.

Ser Cepperello

A character in The Decameron who deceives society into viewing him as a saint, contrasting Divine Comedy's justice.

Divine Optics

The process by which the soul perceives divine truth through light; Beatrice serves as a visual mediator for Dante.

The Role of St. Bernard

Serves as Dante's guide representing contemplation; he highlights Mary as the ultimate Mediatrix to divine truth.

The Universe as a Book

Dante perceives the universe held together by love, suggesting all creation is unified in God's essence and will.

Ante-Purgatory

The lowest part of Mount Purgatory, where those who repented late or neglected their spiritual duties undergo a period of waiting before beginning their purification on the Seven Terraces.

Seven Terraces (Mount Purgatory)

The main section of Mount Purgatory, divided into seven levels, each dedicated to purging one of the seven deadly sins through specific forms of penance.

Earthly Paradise

The summit of Mount Purgatory, representing humanity's original state of innocence and the garden of Eden, where souls are fully purified and prepared for ascent to Heaven.

Terrace of Pride

Sin: Pride

Distortion of Love: Love Perverted (Malice)

Contrapasso: Penitents are burdened with heavy boulders, compelling them to crawl and embody humility, counteracting their former arrogance.

Terrace of Envy

Sin: Envy

Distortion of Love: Love Perverted (Malice)

Contrapasso: Penitents have their eyelids sewn shut with wire, symbolizing their inability to look upon others without bitterness or jealousy, and forcing them to rely on others.

Terrace of Wrath

Sin: Wrath

Distortion of Love: Love Perverted (Malice)

Contrapasso: Penitents walk through thick, acrid smoke, blinding them and symbolizing the 'smoke' of uncontrolled anger that clouded their judgment and intellect.

Terrace of Sloth

Sin: Sloth (Acedia)

Distortion of Love: Defective Love (Insufficient love for God/good)

Contrapasso: Penitents continuously run with urgency, counteracting their former sluggishness and lack of spiritual zeal.

Terrace of Avarice/Greed

Sin: Avarice/Greed

Distortion of Love: Excessive Love of Worldly Goods

Contrapasso: Penitents lie face down, bound hand and foot, to show their excessive attachment to earthly goods and their inability to look towards heaven or spiritual matters.

Terrace of Gluttony

Sin: Gluttony

Distortion of Love: Excessive Love of Worldly Goods

Contrapasso: Penitents suffer from extreme hunger and thirst while surrounded by tempting fruit and water, symbolizing their former lack of moderation and self-control.

Terrace of Lust

Sin: Lust

Distortion of Love: Excessive Love of Worldly Goods

Contrapasso: Penitents walk through immense flames, burning away their carnal desires, and then engage in loving greetings representing chaste affection, while crying out examples of purity and lust.