Throughout the middle ages societal mannerisms played an immense role in the production of literature. Many of the works of writers in the medieval time period were poetry including both epic poems and short poems. Writers often wrote about experiences and emotions as well as their beliefs. The church was a very important part of people’s beliefs and played a big role in society during this time period. Religion was one of the biggest contributing factors to literature in the middle ages and is mentioned in many writers’ works.
The Inferno written by Dante Alighieri is one of the most recognized written works of the middle ages. He writes of a mans journey through the levels of hell to rediscover his faith in God and the purpose of divine justice. Although this book is just a small part of Dante’s complete epic poem it displays societies views on religion. In one of the first cantos Dante and his guide, Virgil, encounter sinners outside the gates of Hell. Bees and wasps on the face sting the souls damned to life forever outside the gates of Hell. These souls did not accept god readily into
Their lives, but also did not do anything worth going to Hell. This
Reflects belief during the time period it was written. Most people of
All classes believed that not accepting God would cause such things.
Religion plays a large role in other types of works such as poems and art. A large collection of works created during this time was entitled
"The dance of death". One didn’t make the dance of death collection
Artist or author but many over a period of time. Each gave their own rendition on what they thought death would look like. Religion played a large role in the personification of death. Many people believed that
God chose your time, and that he sent death. Each work has a basis of religion and references in individual ways of how it ties to it directly as a whole. If religion hadn't existed during the time of these works