Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, written in the early 14th century, is an epic poem that stands as one of literature's greatest achievements. This excerpt presents the Inferno (Hell), the first of three parts, where the poet journeys through the underworld guided by the Roman poet Virgil. Readers should expect a richly allegorical vision of sin and divine justice rendered in terza rima verse, where Dante encounters famous historical and mythological figures whose earthly deeds have determined their eternal punishments.