It is Beatrice, a spiritual being, who guides Dante through Paradise. By turning his focus from the physical realm of Virgil to the spiritual realm of Beatrice, Dante is able to go through Paradise and ultimately see God. ... This is an extremely powerful position as it is the final thought we read, and it tends to stay in our minds longer than does the rest of the poem. ... When reading the poem, one may wonder why Chaucer even bothers putting these last six stanzas in the poem. ... So why would Chaucer include this last section of the poem? ...

• Word Count: 3564
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The poem summarizes his theology, philosophy, and life (Kuiper). ... The Latin poet Virgil, who was sent by Dante's lost love Beatrice, rescues Dante. ... The top of Purgatory merges with the beginning of Paradise or heaven and those entering are cleansed by fire (Durant, 1075). ... Instead Dante's lost lover, Beatrice, comes to guide Dante on the rest of his journey. Dante envisions paradise as nine crystal spheres revolving around the earth. ...

• Word Count: 1843
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The woman Dante loved, Beatrice, is his guide through paradise. ... He named the poem La commedia (The Comedy) because it ends happily, in heaven. ... His poem is most complemented for his symbolic meanings behind each of the cantos. ... In the opening of the poem, Dante finds himself lost in dark woods, which symbolizes his new life of exile. ... Then after Dante traveled with him, Dante would meet up with another guide who would take him to paradise. ...

• Word Count: 1592
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School