The purpose of this book is educational. I have read, studied, and taught Dante's "Divine Comedy," and I wish to pass on what I have learned to other people who are interested in studying Dante's "Divine Comedy." In particular, I think that the readers of this short introduction to Dante's "Divine Comedy" will be bright high school seniors and college first-year students, as well as intelligent adults who simply wish to study "The Divine Comedy" despite not being literature majors.

This book uses a question-and-answer format. It poses and then answers relevant questions about Dante, background information, and "The Divine Comedy." This book goes through the "Inferno" canto by canto. I recommend that you read the relevant section of the "Inferno," then read my comments, then go back and re-read the relevant section of the "Inferno." However, do what works for you. I also do the same thing for the "Purgatory" and the "Paradise" in other discussion guides.

Teachers may find this discussion guide useful. Teachers can have students read cantos from the epic poem, then teachers can ask students selected questions from this discussion guide.