Lookup the references as I go or read it all through once then read it again with the references?
Looking up the references really interrupts the flow.
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Anonymous2012-03-17 22:12
Fuck it, watch the movie.
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Anonymous2012-05-20 20:45
Research before reading is what I did. Read classical literature (some Virgil,etc. I'm Catholic so I liked digging into some of the other religious works at the time.)
Place the novel. Read the history of the era.
Skim the references. If you get a basic feel but ignore the devil in some of the details you'll be alright.
I thought it was an amazing read. Hope this helps anon.
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Anonymous2012-05-22 21:50
What I do is I read the narrative once without stopping so that I can get the narrative, then go back again and read while looking up the references so that I can get the context.
I'd recommend the Signet Classics edition. It is a very good, rhyming translation by John Ciardi, and it has an annotated note section after every Canto explaining stuff.
I really loved the books; the Inferno was phenomenal, Pugatorio was deeply moving, and Paradiso was the most moving book I've ever read. I'd recommend it to anyone with an IQ over 120.
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Anonymous2012-12-06 7:31
>>5
If you don't like it this way then simply read it without paying too much attention to the references or researching. Still enjoyable that way
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Anonymous2012-12-11 14:57
All Italian forms of Christianity are actually Roman paganism. The ironic punishments make sense only if you know about Roman mythology. This is also why the Italian pope approved of Hitler's reign of terror. They never believed that the Jews were significant. Zeus chose the Italians.
Dude... Hollander translation. Dedicated and faithful translation on the left page, easy to understand and absorb explanation on the right page. Blows your mind.
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Anonymous2013-01-14 16:02
>>9
Zeus was Greek, goddamnit! The head god for the Romans was Jupiter!