The Banquet (Il Convito) by Dante Alighieri
"The Banquet" by Dante Alighieri is a philosophical treatise written in the late 14th century. This work serves as Dante's exploration of the relationship between knowledge, love, and divinity, as it seeks to elevate the human intellect through the discussion of various themes, including virtue and love. The text connects with Dante's earlier work "The Vita Nuova," revealing a matured perspective and the intention to guide readers through a banquet of knowledge.
The opening of "The Banquet" introduces Dante's purpose and the structure of his treatise. He discusses the natural human desire for knowledge and the barriers that inhibit access to it, encompassing both internal struggles and external circumstances that distract individuals from true understanding. In a poetic and allegorical tone, Dante emphasizes the importance of nurturing the soul and intellect, framing the discourse as a banquet where wisdom is the food being served. This section establishes a contemplative atmosphere for the reader as Dante prepares to elucidate his ideas via a series of songs that will explore love, virtue, and the divine, setting the stage for a profound philosophical journey. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321 |
|---|---|
| Author of introduction, etc. | Morley, Henry, 1822-1894 |
| Translator | Sayer, Elizabeth Price |
| Title | The Banquet (Il Convito) |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convivio |
| Note | Reading ease score: 56.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Credits | Produced by Paul Murray, Marc André Selig and PG Distributed Proofreaders |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Subject | Philosophy |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 12867 |
| Release Date | Jul 9, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated | Dec 15, 2020 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 159 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
