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Canto 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Paradiso, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Earthly and Heavenly Justice
Creation and God’s Providence
God’s Character and Will
Vision, Knowledge, and the Pursuit of God
Language and the Ineffable
Summary
Analysis
The circling lights are soon surrounded by a second circle of lights, which moves and sings in harmony with the first. After the two circles of lights rest from their joyous song, one light emerges from the rest and speaks to Dante. He explains that God draws him to praise Dominic—since, after all, Francis and Dominic “soldiered to a single end.”
Just as Aquinas, a Dominican, praised St. Francis, now a Franciscan (St. Bonaventure, as he soon reveals himself) will praise the founder of the Dominican order. Once again, this shows the harmony that prevails in Heaven, even among earthly rivals.
Themes
The soul describes Dominic’s birth in Spain, and how the young boy prompted prophecies of future renown. As Dominic grew, his only desire was truth, and he became a celebrated scholar and resister of heresy. Despite Dominic’s great service to the Church, however, his successors no longer follow his example. The soul now identifies himself as Bonaventure. He introduces some of the other souls who have joined them, including the Old Testament prophet Nathan, John Chrysostom, St. Anselm, and Joachim of Fiore.
Bonaventure’s eulogy of Dominic parallels Aquinas’s eulogy of Francis, including youthful promise and distinguished service to the Church by leading it back from error. In Francis’s case, he summoned the Church back from worldly indulgence, while Dominic attempted to save it from false theological teaching. Unfortunately, both men’s successors failed to uphold their founders’ example. The other souls in Bonaventure’s circle include prophets (the biblical Nathan and the medieval Joachim), renowned preachers (the ancient Chrysostom), and theologians (Anselm). All the figures in the sphere of the Sun pursued both love and learning in their lifetimes, showing that love and intellect were closely connected for Dante.
Themes
