Dante Alighiere, Paradiso, Session 6 of 7, Cantos 25 - 29

Session 6 of 7
Dante's Paradiso, the final part of his Divine Comedy, holds immense significance in literature, theology, and philosophy. This masterpiece offers a profound exploration of the human soul's journey towards divine perfection and ultimate union with God.

Paradiso presents a complex theological framework that reflects medieval Christian thought. Dante's vision of Heaven is structured as a series of concentric spheres, each representing different virtues and levels of divine understanding. This celestial hierarchy not only showcases Dante's intricate knowledge of theology but also serves as a metaphor for the soul's progression towards God.

The poem delves into profound philosophical questions about the nature of God, creation, and human existence. Dante grapples with concepts such as divine justice, free will, and predestination, offering readers a rich intellectual discourse that continues to provoke thought and debate centuries later.

Paradiso stands out for its unique poetic approach. Unlike the vivid, tangible descriptions found in Inferno and Purgatorio, Dante faces the challenge of depicting the ineffable nature of Paradise. He employs innovative literary techniques, often emphasizing his inability to fully capture the divine experience in words. This self-awareness about the limitations of language in describing transcendent experiences adds a layer of depth to the poem.

At its core, Paradiso serves as a guide for spiritual growth and moral perfection. Through his encounters with various saints and blessed souls, Dante presents exemplars of virtue and wisdom. The poem emphasizes the importance of faith, hope, and love as essential virtues for achieving spiritual fulfillment. [Perplexity, 12-14-24]

Pre-Reading for each session:
Jan 12, 2025: Cantos 1 - 5 [Moon]
Jan 26, 2025: Cantos 6 - 9 [Venus]
Feb 9, 2025: Cantos 10 - 14 [Sun]
Feb 23, 2025: Cantos 15 - 19 [Mars/Jupiter]
Mar 9, 2025: Cantos 20 - 24 [Saturn]
Mar 23, 2025: Cantos 25 - 29 [Starry/Chystalline]
April 6, 2025: Cantos 30 - 33 [Empyrean]
April 20, 2025: Inferno, Cantos 1-4

To review our Purgatorio sessions:
Download the Zoom A.I. Summary
Also, summaries of our prior Paradiso sessions

Recommended editions (available from libraries or online$)
Review this upload on Google Drive to help choose an edition.

Jean and Robert Hollander, 2008, Paradiso. Anchor Books. ISBN: 9781400031153 [It/En, 1024 pp.] Used: $9+
Robert Durling, 2013, Paradiso. Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN: 9780195087468. [It/En, 576 pp.] Used: $31+
Robin Kirkpatrick, 2008, Paradiso. Penguin Classics. ISBN: 9780140448979. [It/En, 720 pp.] Used: $7+
Michael Palma, 2024, The Divine Comedy. Norton [Liveright]. ISBN: 9781324095545. [En in terza rima, 624 pp.] ($20+; available 12-3-24)

Outside sources are welcome if they help us understand the poems, here are four academic websites plus the national Dante society (100 podcasts available on YouTube):
https://digitaldante.columbia.edu
http://dantelab.dartmouth.edu
https://dante.princeton.edu
https://www.dantesociety.org
YaleCourses on Dante
Walking with Dante podcasts
Dante Video with Catherine Illingworth

ONLINE
Please RSVP, join us via broadcast link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86447148571

Our 2025 Schedule (subject to change):
-Paradiso by Dante Alighiere
-The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
--Norton Anthology of Poetry. Edited by Marilyn Ferguson, et al. Fifth Ed, 2005, pages: 1424. ISBN: 9780393979213, Used $6+
--Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism [Third Ed. 2018] Ed. by Cain, et al. pp. 2848. ISBN: 9780393602951
Or:
--Second Edition, 2010, pp. 2758. ISBN: 9780393932928. Used: $10+
--First Edition, 2001, pp. 2624. ISBN: 9780393974294. Used: $7+

Here are links to the other book groups I host on Meetup:
Reading Proust's In Search of Lost Time in French and English:
4142298.xyz/proust/
Reading the most influential Non-Ficton works of the last 3K yrs:
4142298.xyz/history-of-ideas/