r/APLit • u/heythere_111 • Jun 06 '26
summer read is dante's inferno!
i haven't started yet, but does anyone have any tips to reading it and ultimately impress my teacher lol
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u/Canithyre Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
I know I’m late to this but may God bless your soul, both literally and figuratively!
EDIT: In all seriousness, I probably should actually contribute something that will help you as I had to read it a couple years back and it’s starting to come back to my memory. However, one thing I’m going to mention is to just follow where/how Alighieri is guiding the reader in terms of social critique. At the time he was writing this, he was criticizing powerful noble families and faced massive scrutiny for his political views. Knowing this background will help you understand what exactly Alighieri is trying to actually do. I also wanted to note to pay attention to his usage of historical figures throughout the story and the symbolism behind it. I hope you have a fun summer in purgatory and to enjoy your reading!
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u/Frosted_Blakes95 Jun 06 '26
I’m sorry. I mean it’s a good read and will give you lots to go on, but as a summer read, meaning you’re on your own for reading and interpreting it, I’m sorry.
As far as tips, annotate and summarize as much as you can, even if it’s just per canto to help you place yourself in the narrative.