Dante's Divine Comedy or Paradise Lost?

[Noremac]

Which is better in its religious out look? I know both have a different subject matter but they both are about Christian mythology and beliefs.

[ket222]

I am no scholar but Dante is just much more powerful and more beautifully written to me, lots of interesting psychological understanding on human nature. it is more catholic, and milton seems more protestant with lots of battles between angels which I find less interesting than the motives and punishments (really self punishments) of individual human souls.

I spent a year at yale divinity school taking a course in dante and barely scratched the surface.

[Ummon]

The Divine Comedy.

[Von Dukklestein]

To be fair, Angels and War is very catholic. If you don't read both Italian and English I don't think it is fair to comment on which one is more beautifully written.

Milton's work is more scholarly while Dante's in deeply founded in popular and religious mythology.
I like Dante better only because I was forced to study PL in university and it was so boring.

[Ummon]

Dante's Italian is better and more important contribution to Italian literature than Milton's English is to English literature. Moreover, Dante's work is an incredible piece of mystical speculation and encyclopedic knowledge.

[Von Dukklestein]

Yes, but being an important contribution to Italian literature is much much easier than being the same to English literature.

[Ummon]

Not exactly. By the time, Italian literature was much more important than English literature.

[Von Dukklestein]

Not exactly. By the time, Italian literature was much more important than English literature.

At that time it was, exclusively. The last four hundred years, which define western lit, belonged to the brits.
I am speaking in more totality though. There isn't a lot of great Italian literature when compared to the Brits.

[antares24]

At that time it was, exclusively. The last four hundred years, which define western lit, belonged to the brits.
I am speaking in more totality though. There isn't a lot of great Italian literature when compared to the Brits.

and you say that with what knowledge of Italian literature? Saying what literature is great literature is subjective, and i suggest you to study more about the Italian one.

For the Op, Dante Divina Commedia is a masterpiece, i especially liked the Inferno part, i suggest a version full of notes that explain fully who are the characters Dante speak about and what they had done in life, to better understand what Dante write. I'm not sure about how much of the beauty of the work is lost in the translation however. So be careful of wich translation you pick.

Milton work is nice too, there are some boring part, but some great dialogues too, who can forget the "better to reign in hell than serve in heaven!" line

In the end why don't read both?

[Thanatos]

They are both great works. However, if you are reading the Divine Comedy in English, I highly suggest you get the Longfellow translation. Trust me, just read a few pages, and you'll see why I recommend it.

[Legio]

They are both great works. However, if you are reading the Divine Comedy in English, I highly suggest you get the Longfellow translation. Trust me, just read a few pages, and you'll see why I recommend it.

I agree with most of the posts here, Dante is the way to go.
I have the edition with Durer's engravings as illustration plates, from the early 1900s.
The Inferno is a good work, and is a very enjoyable read.

[Giuliano Taverna]

Dante, its as critical of Catholicism as it is an explanation of it. Plus, I like the idea of limbo, I can't wait to go to that form of hell.

[Thanatos]

I prefer Dore's illustrations.

Real men read all three: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

[Legio]

I prefer Dore's illustrations.

Real men read all three: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

I meant Dore.
It is a three-in-one volume. I read them all back to back, so that I get everything at once.
Out of the three, I liked Inferno and Purgatory the most.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Which is better in its religious out look? I know both have a different subject matter but they both are about Christian mythology and beliefs.

Neither have much to do with Christianity. I've only studied Paradise Lost but it's very much an English protestant Epic Poem, rather than focused on Christianity. I mean, Satan is the hero, pretty much.