Inferno work by Dante Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Inferno Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Inferno Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 19, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Inferno, the first section of The Divine Comedy (c. 1308–21), a long narrative poem by Dante Alighieri that is composed of three sections (or canticles) written in Italian. The Inferno traces the character Dante’s journey from darkness and error to the revelation of the divine light, culminating in his beatific vision of God. The work follows Dante, accompanied by the shade of the Roman poet Virgil, through Hell, where he witnesses a harrowing roster of the damned and their gruesome punishments. After navigating Hell, Dante journeys through Purgatory and Heaven, which are treated in the sections Purgatorio and Paradiso, respectively. ...(100 of 1428 words)

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