The Cross That Dante Bears : Pilgrimage, Crusade, and the Cruciform Church in the Divine Comedy

Mary Watt proposes that the __Divine Comedy__ employs a series of strategically placed textual cues to create a meta-textual structure beyond Dante’s literal narrative. Dimly perceptible at first, the structure becomes ever more knowable as the protagonist reaches his ultimate goal. As the pilgrim wends his way through the three realms of the afterlife, references to medieval maps and to medieval cruciform churches, together with images of crusading and pilgrimage, ultimately reveal the shape of this structure as the reader becomes aware that Dante’s journey traces the figure of a cross. Watt explores the textual cues, codes, and other strategies that Dante employs to discover how and why he conjures up the shape of a cross. She considers the visual arts and medieval cartographic and architectural conventions in addition to traditional texts as potential sources for the literal narrative of the __Comedy__. While the image of the cross within the __Comedy__ has been frequently noted, Watt approaches the observation and the poem in holistic fashion, arguing that this image is a clue to the greater underlying structure that gives form and therefore meaning to the entire work.

mary Watt Proposes That The divine Comedy Employs A Series Of Strategically Placed Textual Cues To Create A Meta-textual Structure Beyond Dante’s Literal Narrative. Dimly Perceptible At First, The Structure Becomes Ever More Knowable As The Protagonist Reaches His Ultimate Goal. as The Pilgrim Wends His Way Through The Three Realms Of The Afterlife, References To Medieval Maps And To Medieval Cruciform Churches, Together With Images Of Crusading And Pilgrimage, Ultimately Reveal The Shape Of This Structure As The Reader Becomes Aware That Dante’s Journey Traces The Figure Of A Cross.  
 
watt Explores The Textual Cues, Codes, And Other Strategies That Dante Employs To Discover How And Why He Conjures Up The Shape Of A Cross. she Considers The Visual Arts And Medieval Cartographic And Architectural Conventions In Addition To Traditional Texts As Potential Sources For The Literal Narrative Of The comedy. while The Image Of The Cross Within The comedy Has Been Frequently Noted, Watt Approaches The Observation And The Poem In Holistic Fashion, Arguing That This Image Is A Clue To The Greater Underlying Structure That Gives Form And Therefore Meaning To The Entire Work.
 

Cover 1 Table of Contents ix 10 List of Figures x 11 Preface and Acknowledgments xi 12 Introduction 1 14 1 Crossing Jordan: The Cruciform Journey to Jerusalem 8 21 2 Leaving Jerusalem: The Journey into Exile 17 30 3 Exodus: The Journey Back 38 51 4 Let Him Go Up to Jerusalem 62 75 5 Sign of the Cross: The Medieval Cruciform Church 76 89 6 Navata infernale 90 103 7 Toward the Light 117 130 8 Beyond the Rood Screen 147 160 Epilogue: The Cross That Dante Bears 164 177 Notes 183 196 Bibliography 215 228 Index 223 236