Yet today this great poem is often dismissed by modern scholars for its unabashed Catholic theology and deep spiritual vision. Shrug off these skeptical scholars disdain and discover for yourself the true grandeur, Christian nature, and sheer artistry of Dante's Divine Comedy.
- Cantos 1–3: Where Are You Going, Traveler?
Dante, bewildered in sin, meets Virgil, sent to him by Beatrice. Together, they enter the terrible gates of Hell. - Cantos 4–8: Loving Good Things in an Evil Way
Dante and Virgil, after meeting the virtuous pagans in Limbo, the rim of Hell, meet the adulterers, gluttons, avaricious, wrathful, and slothful. - Cantos 9–12: Intellectual Terror
Virgil and Dante enter the first ring of the City of Dis, which includes the materialist heretics, who reveal to us the terrible constriction of the intellect entailed by sin. - Cantos 13–17: A World of Violence
Dante and Virgil encounter the violent against self, God, Nature, and human industry. These are not simply murderers -- they are suicides, blasphemers, sodomites, and usurers. - Cantos 18–22: Liars and All Such Filth
Dante and Virgil travel through the Malebolge, the pouches of evil on the eighth circle of Hell where they meet various practitioners of fraud, including seducers, simonists, and grafters. - Cantos 23–27: The Fire of a Perverted Mind
As they continue around the Malebolge, Dante and Virgil journey past those who used their intellects to deceive: hypocrites, thieves, and evil counselors. - Cantos 28–31: Destroying the Community of Man
In the ninth pouch, Virgil and Dante find the schismatics, who are punished by division in their bodies. In the final pouch, they meet the counterfeiters who are punished by disease. - Cantos 32–34: When Hell Freezes Over
Dante and Virgil come to the very last circle of Hell, and encounter the impotence of evil in the frozen pit where the Father of Lies is trapped in ice.
With Professor Esolen you will enter the terrible gates of Hell and progress level by infernal level to its diabolical depths. Professor Esolen places a special emphasis on the drama of the poem, leading you through each canto in succession. Along the way, he will highlight Dante's astonishing human and theological insights and discuss the destiny of man, how to find our way out of the wilderness of sin, the relationship between love and knowledge, and the integral unity between body and soul.
Professor Esolen will more than satisfy your curiosity about Hell and the fate of the damned. He will reveal in all its starkness the horror of sin, and awaken in your heart a longing for divine love.
The Homeschooling Set includes the Streaming Video and Homeschooling Course Guide. Each Course Guide contains everything needed for a student to complete the course, including:
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- Lesson Plan
- Quizzes
- Final Essay
- Lecture Notes
- Answer Key
MEET YOUR PROFESSOR
Dr. Anthony Esolen is a writer, social commentator, translator of classical poetry, and Writer-in-Residence at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts. He taught at Furman University and Providence College before transferring to the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in 2017 and Magdalen in 2019.
Dr. Esolen has translated into English Dante’s Divine Comedy, Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things, and Torquato Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered. He is the author of numerous books and articles in such publications as The Modern Age, The Catholic World Report, Chronicles, The Claremont Review of Books, The Public Discourse, First Things, Crisis Magazine, The Catholic Thing, and Touchstone, for which he serves as a senior editor. He is a regular contributor to Magnificat, and has written frequently for a host of other online journals.
Dr. Esolen's web magazine, Word and Song, features fascinating weekly analyses of language, poetry, hymns and film in his signature humorous intellectual style.
- Product Format:
- Streaming Video
17 Reviews
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A wonderful companion for your trip through the Divine Comedy!
I loved this course! I have watched these lectures three times now and each time I learn something new. Dr. Esolen's passion for Dante is infectious and his knowledge of the Divine Comedy is obvious in how he can explain the subtleties of Dante's poetry. I must admit that this was a book that I thought was beyond my ability to grasp thoroughly, but Dr. Esolen has made this wonderful work of art extremely approachable. Can't wait to enter Purgatory, and then, God willing, Paradise!
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Dante's Inferno
A brilliant and passionate discourse of the most significant poem of the Middle Ages - I absolutely love Anthony Esolen's commentary on Dante's Inferno. His expertise and engaging style draw the listener to ponder the reality of life after death. Professor Esolen is a treasure, and I look forward with anticipation to other lectures in this series,
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Anthony Esolen is Amazing!
He teaches with great passion and is very full of knowledge. Love listening to his discourse on numerous subjects. This is very well done!
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Passionate Teaching
Am truly grateful for Professional Esolen’s teaching on Dante’s Inferno. His love for what he is teaching shines through and guides gently and honestly to a deeper understanding of very complex text! Thank you for making this available!
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Dante's Inferno
The lecture if full of knowledge and wisdom. I would recommend to anyone who love to learn.
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Is wonderful. Definitely recommend it.
Is wonderful. Definitely recommend it.
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Very informative and easy to
Very informative and easy to understand. The breakdown and explanation of Dante's work is second to none.
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I enjoyed it very much.
I enjoyed it very much. I thought Prof. Esolen did a great job. He is a genius. I appreciate his putting it online so that I could listen to it as I have always been interested in The Diving comedy. What a blessing!
