Go back
The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy

Spirituality

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Is anybody interested in reading through and discussing Dante's fantastic poem? It would be slow going, but this forum moves at such a glacial pace that the thread should never be too far away! (If you don't have it I recommend the Everyman edition in Allen Mandelbaum's compelling, light-handed translation).

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Great idea, but I've read it a long time ago and I don't remember almost any specifics. Why not start by posting the first Canto and then comment on it, and so on?

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Palynka
Great idea, but I've read it a long time ago and I don't remember almost any specifics. Why not start by posting the first Canto and then comment on it, and so on?
I'm reading it again now, so I'm in the same boat as you.

Do you mean posting entire Cantos here?!

One canto at a time sounds good--what pace? One a week? There are online translations but they are a bit turgid (the English ones anyway), so unless you can read the Italian, which is also online, I'd recommend buying the book.

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
I'm reading it again now, so I'm in the same boat as you.

Do you mean posting entire Cantos here?!

One canto at a time sounds good--what pace? One a week? There are online translations but they are a bit turgid (the English ones anyway), so unless you can read the Italian, which is also online, I'd recommend buying the book.
Isn't this one the one you were talking about?

http://dante.ilt.columbia.edu/comedy/index.html

There's two English translations, one of which Mandelbaum's and the original Italian version.

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Palynka
Isn't this one the one you were talking about?

http://dante.ilt.columbia.edu/comedy/index.html

There's two English translations, one of which Mandelbaum's and the original Italian version.
You're a genius.

All set then. What pace do you fancy?

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
You're a genius.

All set then. What pace do you fancy?
One canto at a time for the start. If it doesn't work out it can always be changed.

I'm not a literary or a Dante expert, so don't expect much from me. I'm mostly interested in hearing what others have to say and will attempt to provide some input from time to time...

catfoodtim

Joined
08 Oct 04
Moves
22056
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by catfoodtim
One a week sounds a good enough pace, though, like Palynka, I suspect I'll be dipping in and out if that's ok?
How do you scream "Nein!" in Italian?

I'm sure that'll be fine...there are 100 cantos in all, so if we're all here in 2 years time, we'll be frigging well up on Dante...(Think we can make it two a week? They're only a few pages long each.)

bbarr
Chief Justice

Center of Contention

Joined
14 Jun 02
Moves
17381
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
How do you scream "Nein!" in Italian?

I'm sure that'll be fine...there are 100 cantos in all, so if we're all here in 2 years time, we'll be frigging well up on Dante...
This is a great idea, and we can always skip Purgatorio.

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by bbarr
This is a great idea, and we can always skip Purgatorio.
Yes...Paradiso is exceptionally mysterious and takes twice as long to read, so that's probably the right way to go.

S

Joined
19 Nov 03
Moves
31382
Clock
25 May 06
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Yes...Paradiso is exceptionally mysterious and takes twice as long to read, so that's probably the right way to go.
I've read Paradise Lost several times and adore it, but for some reason I've never read anythign by Dante, so this would be of great interest to me.

Bosse de Nage
Zellulärer Automat

Spiel des Lebens

Joined
27 Jan 05
Moves
90892
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Starrman
I've read Paradise Lost several times and adore it, but for some reason I've never read anythign by Dante, so this would be of great interest to me.
OK. Let this not be another Apology, everyone. (Mandelbaum's a much better translator than whoever translated that text, and Dante is, to me at least, much more interesting than Plato).

d

Joined
12 Jun 05
Moves
14671
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

I'm in, too.

R

Joined
30 Oct 05
Moves
3072
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is anybody interested in reading through and discussing Dante's fantastic poem? It would be slow going, but this forum moves at such a glacial pace that the thread should never be too far away! (If you don't have it I recommend the Everyman edition in Allen Mandelbaum's compelling, light-handed translation).
I'm in. I'm currently rereading the whole Divine Comedy (Ciardi translation) and am near the end of the Purgatorio (the earthly paradise). The Ciardi version is fantastic for anyone interested. He maintains a cohesive rhyme scheme throughout the entire poem which I believe is similar if not the same as Dante's.

P

North Carolina

Joined
04 Oct 05
Moves
1332
Clock
25 May 06
Vote Up
Vote Down

I've only read the Inferno, but I'd love to hear some thoughts on the deeper meaning of the story. I understand (sort of) the levels and who goes there, but are there any deeper ideas?

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.