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Walking With Dante: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Mark Scarbrough
Ever wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy? Come along with us! We're not lost in the scholarly weeds. (Mostly.) We're strolling through the greatest work (to date) of Western literature. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I take on this masterpiece passage by passage. I'll give you my rough English translation, show you some of the interpretive knots in the lines, let you in on the 700 years of commentary, and connect Dante's work to our modern world. The pilgrim comes awake in a dark wood, then walks across the known universe. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday.
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- Today41 min
A Polyvocal Passage With All Its Dissonances: PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 13 - 36
Our poet moves from his scholastic and even (medieval) scientific opening of PARADISO into his invocation . . . to Apollo?This passage has often embarrassed Dante scholars who feel the need to excuse various pieces of it.But we can let those pieces stand as part of the polyvocality of the text.Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we move back and forth from the Christian to the pagan as we walk through this second part of Dante's opening lines of PARADISO.Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[01:11] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 13 - 36. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me via a comment on this episode, please find its entry on my website, markscarbrough.com.[03:09] This passage embarrasses too many Dante scholars.[09:14] This passage is polyvocal, a two-part fugue or invention.[17:59] These two voices lead to dissonances in the passage.[23:36] Did Dante intend these dissonances?[25:20] Three small dissonances: Dante crowns himself, fights in an arena, and find his worth in two places at once.[28:32] Marsyas, a comedic tragedy.[32:01] The flame of the tongue, Pentecost, or maybe Ulysses.[34:48] A high-toned, perhaps red-flag reference to Cyrrha.[35:55] An inaccurate but telling reference to Parnassus.[39:07] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto I, lines 13 - 36.
- 3 days ago37 min
Welcome to a Renegotiated Poem: PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 1 - 12
From its opening lines, it's clear that PARADISO is not like what has come before in COMEDY. Dante seems to be renegotiating the terms of his poem, establishing a new voice, a new model, and a new methodology for who he will proceed.These opening lines are already packed with the sort of theological and philosophical stumbling blocks that make PARADISO a challenge, not just for a modern reader, but even for a medieval one.Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we slowly walk throug the first twelve lines of what is assuredly the most imaginative canticle, PARADISO.Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[02:42] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto I, lines 1 - 12. If you'd like to read along, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com.[03:56] The glory of the unmoved mover.[09:39] The varying illuminations of the universe.[13:27] The finite geography of heaven.[15:54] A passing glance at the highest heaven.[17:34] Dante and St. Paul, renegotiated.[19:25] The interrelations of desire, intellect, memory, and potentially Beatrice.[22:23] The memory of a memory--or knowing by not knowing, the core of the aphophatic revelation.[29:37] The key paradox of the mystical experience: the cross-currents of the material and the immaterial.[33:02] The resurrection of Brunetto Latini.[35:25] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 1 - 12.
- 1 weeks ago3 min
WALKING WITH DANTE is coming back to start PARADISO on 26 July!
We're about to start our flight among (and even through!) the stars on WALKING WITH DANTE. We've been on hiatus for several weeks, but we'll be back with Dante and stepping off into the insurmountable wilds of PARADISO on 26 July 2026. I hope you're ready for the most mind-blowing part of the incredible poem, COMEDY. See you soon!
- May 28, 20262 min
An Update about PARADISO and WALKING WITH DANTE
Here's just a brief episode about where I am and how the podcast will start again in about six weeks. Hang tight and we'll be walking . . . no, actually flying through the spheres of PARADISO in a few weeks.Until then, gird up your loins. PARADISO is not for those weak in spirit . . . or leggings.
- Apr 30, 20263 min
Walking With Dante is going on a short hiatus
Hey there. We're going to pause our slow-walk for a couple of months as I get out from under chemotherapy. We've come to the end of PURGATORIO and it also seems natural that we rest a little before the big ascent ahead in PARADISO. Look for more announcements here, but let's plan on being back on our walk (or what will become our flight) in mid-summer. See you then!
- Apr 26, 202619 min
Final Thoughts On PURGATORIO
We've reached the end of our time on the great mountain of Purgatory . . . and in the great second canticle of COMEDY.Here are some final thoughts, an attempt to bring our time with this part of the poem to a close.Dante has worked hard to make PURGATORIO the hinge of his entire poem. Let's explore some ways it reflects back on INFERNO and looks ahead to PARADISO.Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[01:01] PURGATORIO is an inversion of INFERNO.[02:54] PURGATORIO is most human part of COMEDY.[04:34] PURGATORIO is a rehearsal of the structure of the New Testament.[07:29] PURGATORIO is a meta-commentary on the writing of INFERNO.[09:45] PURGATORIO is the end of one sort of poem and the beginning of another.[10:35] PURGATORIO ends with two unique creations by Dante.[12:01] Where do the souls go when they are lifted out of Limbo?[13:46] Why does PURGATORIO end with the virtue of purity?[15:48] Is the will truly the necessary, sufficient, and final cause of a soul's purgation?
- Apr 19, 202625 min
The Seven Addresses To The Reader In PURGATORIO
Dante, the poet, steps out of the story seven times in PURGATORIO to address his reader directly--sometimes to spur the reader on to action, sometimes to put a bridle on the reader's intentions or thoughts.If we trace these seven addresses, can we find a developmental pattern? Or uncover Dante's changing attitude toward his work? Or toward his reader? Can we see a growing frustration or even fear about what lies ahead in COMEDY?Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we work our way through these seven call-outs to find ways to summarize the greater work and ingenuity of PURGATORIO.Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[01:31] PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, Lines 19 - 21.[05:23] PURGATORIO, Canto IX, Lines 70 - 72.[08:00] PURGATORIO, Canto X, Lines 106 - 111.[11:55] PURGATORIO, Canto XVII, Lines 1 - 9.[15:39] PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, Lines 97 - 105.[19:20] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 124 - 126.[22:22] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 136 - 138.
- Apr 12, 202630 min
Dante's Theories Of Writing Across INFERNO and PURGATORIO
As one of three sum-up episode to conclude our time on Mount Purgatory, this one’s about Dante’s conception of what he’s doing when he’s writing, outlined in nine selected passages from INFERNO and PURGATORIO.We’ve moved far enough into the poem that we can see the ways the poet has changed, hedged, and developed his theories of how and why he’s writing COMEDY. Given that one of my theses is that COMEDY is a poem in process, we can then trace some sort of developmental curve in Dante’s thinking about what he’s doing as a poet.Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we work through Dante's possible theories on his own craft.If you'd like to help underwrite this work, consider a one-time donation or a small monthly stipend using this PayPal link right here.Here are the nine selected passages for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[01:21] INFERNO, Canto III, lines 1 - 12[05:02] INFERNO, Canto XV, lines 88 - 96a.[09:42] PURGATORIO, Canto II, lines 106 - 114.[13:01] PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, lines 70 - 72.[15:36] PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, lines 49 - 60.[19:24] PURGATORIO, Canto XXVI, lines 97 - 102.[22:05] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, lines 52 - 57.[24:53] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, lines 76 - 78.[27:33] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, lines 139 - 141.
About Walking With Dante
Ever wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy? Come along with us! We're not lost in the scholarly weeds. (Mostly.) We're strolling through the greatest work (to date) of Western literature. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I take on this masterpiece passage by passage. I'll give you my rough English translation, show you some of the interpretive knots in the lines, let you in on the 700 years of commentary, and connect Dante's work to our modern world. The pilgrim comes awake in a dark wood, then walks across the known universe. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday.
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