Has anyone read Dante's Inferno? If so, did you like or dislike it?

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BlueCoral

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I tried reading it twice but couldn't. I didn't get the language, was uninterested in Dante's twisted fantasy, and was bored to death.

Although, I know there's people out there that love it. Plus, it's been in print for ages! I wish to know why it's a classic. I know the book must have some awesome qualities that I never caught onto.
Could someone please explain why it is a great book, because I would truly like to understand why it's a classic. Then, perhaps when and if I try to read it for a third time, I'll know what good qualities to look for and actually make it through!
 
cuz it describes 7 stages of hell. and is very descriptive and figuritive in tht regards
 
I absolutely loved it. You might try an updated version if the language was an issue. The novel I read had it side by side with the original version.

It's a classic for many different reasons. First of all, it was the first book written in the vernacular of Italy (read: Italian) and not Latin, so the common folk could read it. Secondly, it criticizes many prominent figures of the day, not to mention some church practices, such as selling indulgences. Criticism of the Church, especially at that time, was something no one really dared to do. Dante was ballsy. And the idea was quite different. Someone journeys through seven levels of hell? It's wonderfully written, too. Very descriptive. It's a criticism of society at that time and is still true for much of society today, which is the main reason it's an enduring classic.
 
I think it's partly because of the style he uses in writing his poem. He really "plays" with the words in such a way that the idea in the sentence is reflected by the words in it, like if he's talking about being confused, he uses certain words where the reader will get confused while reading that sentence and have to re-read it a couple of times to understand, and so on. Lots of other examples like it. You dont have to read it if you dont want to, just move on to other classic books, there are lots of books i'm sure you'll enjoy
 
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