This is an excerpt from David Thompson's book Dante's Epic Journeys, which explores the relationship between Dante's Commedia and classical epic poetry, particularly Homer's Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid. Thompson argues that Dante's allegorical journey is comparable to those undertaken by the allegorists' Ulysses and Aeneas, representing a twofold itinerary of physical and spiritual progress. The book examines various interpretations of Ulysses and Aeneas throughout classical and medieval literature, demonstrating how these figures provided models for Dante's depiction of spiritual journeys. Thompson ultimately concludes that Dante's Commedia uses the epic tradition to create a unique allegorical mode that reflects both his personal spiritual journey and his understanding of the classical literary heritage.
You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
https://linktr.ee/book_shelter
Get the Book now from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Dantes-Epic-Journeys-David-Thompson/dp/1421436299?&linkCode=ll1&tag=cvthunderx-20&linkId=9ad6987fd9c05a5e0c04c9c12e74d473&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl