Smarr Publishers
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Classical Studies
A Student’s Companion to
La Vita Nuova
by Robert W. Watson
Copyright © Watson Educational Services, Inc., 2006
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La Vita Nuova / 1
L
Introduction to La Vita Nuova
A VITA NUOVA, or The New Life, is a love story. This
book by Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) marks a unique
experience in literature, because Dante not only narrates
his story in prose, but uses the events to write poems. Not only
this, but Dante offers a running commentary of the poems,
breaking them down into sections and offering a look into his
mind towards his workmanship. Indeed, many scholars would say
that Dante is the greatest poet in the world of literature.
Not only was he a creative genius with poetry, but Dante was a
very active political philosopher and statesman as well. Even
though Florence, Italy, was technically an independent republic,
the city-state had become a corrupt oligarchy ran by businessmen,
not unlike the central government of the United States today. It
was a time of constant bickering and warfare between the two
major factions. Dante unfortunately supported the wrong side and found himself banished from
Florence for the rest of his life. In his Divine Comedy, Dante expresses many of his political
ideas. In fact, one can argue that this single piece of literature defines the medieval worldview
regarding philosophy, religion, art, and science.
Such a magnificent work could not have been accomplished without the classical education that
Dante received. Reportedly, Dante memorized the entire Aeneid. Indeed, Vergil represented to
Dante the best of human reason and intellect, which suggests his attraction to the past and his
writing with hopes for a better future. Yet his works reveal his society as corrupt and
unenlightened. After his banishment, Dante lived predominately in Ravenna and lived quite
well from the proceeds of the first two parts of the Comedy—Inferno and Purgatory. Dante
managed to finish Paradise before he died in 1321.
La Vita Nuova is one of Dante’s earliest works. As a young poet, Dante was influenced by the
Provençal poets from France and experimented with the Italian vernacular poetry. This book
reflects Dante’s style that emphasizes feeling, being genuine, not contrived, and having
substantial ideas, not pure emotion. Beatrice, which means “giver of blessings,” had become the
ideal woman to Dante, and this work is an autobiography of his spiritual journey, often reading
like an allegory. However, this work is much more than a mere story centered on the medieval
theme of the worship of women, a tradition from the code of chivalry. La Vita Nuova is a
philosophical and moral work as well.
As you read La Vita Nuova, give attention to the numbers whenever they are mentioned. Dante
believed that the numbers 3 and 9 were especially significant. Interestingly, La Vita Nuova was
written in Dante’s twenty-seventh year of his life (3 x 9).
ROBERT W. WATSON
2 / La Vita Nuova
La Vita Nuova
Lesson One
1.1 Vocabulary
rubric n.
beatitude n.
vouchsafe v.
ruth n.
1.2 Vocabulary Recognition
1. And now (for I must rid thy name of ___________) / Behoves me speak the truth….
2. [T]here is a ______________, saying, “Here beginneth the New Life.”
3. Love…______________(d) to me a life so calm and sweet….
4. Your ________________ hath now been made manifest unto you.
1.3 Reading Assignment: La Vita Nuova, I–XI
1.4 Recall Questions
1. How old was the author when he first saw “the glorious Lady” of his mind?
2. In the author’s vision, the “lord” was holding Beatrice in his arms, and he held something
that was burning in his hand. What was this something?
3. In order to interpret the meaning of his vision, the author sends what to the famous poets of
his day?
4. In order to conceal his love for Beatrice, how does the author “screen” his love?
5. In section VII, what is the occasion that prompted the author to write a “grievous” sonnet?
6. While the author was traveling away from his city, who meets him along the way and gives
him a message?
7. What caused Beatrice to deny the author “her most sweet salutation”?
1.5 Critical Thinking

Consider the sonnet in section III. Does the sonnet contain enough details for someone to
make a valid evaluation of its meaning? When truth is the desired objective, is poetry a
better vehicle to use than prose? Why or why not?

Dante seems to make an extended effort to conceal his “love” for Beatrice. Does love ever
La Vita Nuova / 3
imply deception? Or does Dante merely express an immature love, and thus fails to
understand the true nature of mature, genuine love? Discuss.

In section VIII, does Dante reflect the Christian view of death? What does death mean to the
Christian? Support your discussion with the Bible.
1.6 Bonus Thoughts

Forms of Sonnets: A sonnet is a lyric poem that has only one stanza, using an intricate
rhyme scheme. All sonnets have fourteen lines with a meter of iambic pentameter. There are
two forms of the sonnet which are differentiated by their rhyme schemes. The first sonnets
were developed by the Italian poet, Petrarch, (a contemporary with Dante) and thus this
form is called the Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet. The Italian sonnet is divided into two parts:
an octave (eight lines) with the rhyme scheme a b b a a b b a and a sestet (six lines). The
sestet does not have a set rhyme scheme. However, c d e c d e is popular.
During the sixteenth century, the Earl of Surrey developed another form of sonnet, called
the English, or Shakespearean sonnet. Unlike the Italian sonnet, the English sonnet has three
quatrains and a rhyming couplet. The rhyme scheme is a b a b c d c d e f e f g g. There is a
notable variation to this scheme, which is the Spenserian sonnet developed by Edmond
Spenser. Spenser used a rhyme scheme which is a b a b b c b c c d c d e e.
Being forms of lyrical poetry, the subject matter of the sonnet generally centered on a
lover’s hopes and frustrations, which you no doubt already noticed with Dante’s poetry.
However, while this tradition of courtly love was well established by the sixteenth century,
William Shakespeare breaks the mold by centering his sonnets on his love for his wife.
Later John Donne takes the subject matter for the sonnet to a higher level with his Holy
Sonnets, where love for God is the theme.
4 / La Vita Nuova
La Vita Nuova
Lesson Two
2.1 Vocabulary
vulgar adj.
disquieted adj.
amorous adj.
dubious adj.
2.2 Vocabulary Recognition
1. And thus, being all unsure which path to take, / And lose myself in ____________
wanderings.
2. Our Beatrice hath heard from certain persons, that the lady whom I named to thee while
thou journeyedst full of sighs, is sorely ________________ by thy solicitations.
3. To the which he made answer in the _______________ tongue: “Demand no more than
may be useful to thee.”
4. And this difficulty it is impossible for any to solve who is not in equal guise liege unto
Love; and to those who are so, that is manifest which would clear up the _____________
words.
2.3 Reading Assignment: La Vita Nuova, XII–XIX
2.4 Recall Questions
1. Love appears to the author and now instructs him to do what concerning Beatrice?
2. After being confused about “which path to take,” the author became “irked” that he had to
call upon whom?
3. In section XIV, what was the custom regarding the bride and her constant companions?
4. When the author sees Beatrice among her friends, all of his senses fail him but one. Which
sense does not fail him?
5. In section XV, the sonnet states that the author suffers from “the great anguish.” What
caused this anguish?
6. While the author desired to write only about the theme of praise for Beatrice, why does he
decide that he dare not do so?
7. In section XIX, to whom does the author address his poem?
La Vita Nuova / 5
2.5 Critical Thinking

Support or refute the following proposition: “The name of Love is so sweet in the hearing
that it would not seem possible for its effects to be other than sweet; seeing that the name
must needs be like unto the thing named: as it is written: ‘Names are the consequents of
things.’”

Why does Dante call Pity an enemy? What are the traits of pity that most people loathe?
Discuss.

Does Love in today’s reading begin to take on a deeper meaning than just the mere
infatuation towards a girl? What evidence suggests that Love represents God, and that La
Vita Nuova is Dante’s testimony of his quest for spiritual happiness?
2.6 Bonus Thoughts

Florence and its society: Dante’s Florence was a prosperous city-state. This small
independent republic was the center of wool, leather, and silk industries. In addition to
these, trade merchants and bankers were some of the wealthiest in all Europe. In spite of its
good fortunes, Florence was the scene of bloody feuds. Generally, the nobility with its
conservatism clashed with the merchants and middle class, who deserved greater political
independence. During Dante’s time, the factions were called the Blacks (nobility which
supported the Pope) and the Whites (middle class). Dante was a “moderate” White, and
while he was on a diplomatic mission in Rome in 1302, Dante was accused of graft, tried
(even though he was absent), and convicted. When Dante refused to pay the fine, he was
banished from Florence for the rest of his life. This result happened because the White army
was defeated by the Black and foreign armies, and the Blacks had taken control of the city.
Because of his banishment, Dante never saw Florence or his wife, Gemma, again.
6 / La Vita Nuova
La Vita Nuova
Lesson Three
3.1 Vocabulary
aver v.
dolorous adj.
wax v.
fain adj.
3.2 Vocabulary Recognition
1. …and furthermore considering that this lady was good in the supreme degree, and her father
(as by many it hath been truly ________________(red) of exceeding goodness.
2. And saw Love coming towards me, fair and _________, / (That I scarce knew him for his
joyful cheer,) / Saying, “Be now indeed my worshipper!”
3. Whereby my spirit ______’d so dolorous / That in myself I said, with sick recoil: ‘Yea, to
my lady too this Death must come.’
4. And wherefore is thy grief so sore a thing / That grieving thou mak’st others ___________?
3.3 Reading Assignment: La Vita Nuova, XX–XXIV
3.4 Recall Questions
1. In section XX, what is the subject of the sonnet that the author wrote to his friend?
2. According to the author, how does Beatrice bring love into its power?
3. Who dies in section XXII, which was the source of great grief to Beatrice?
4. When the author becomes sick and contemplates that life is frail, what thought enters the
mind of the author regarding Beatrice?
5. Even though the author speaks Beatrice’s name aloud, why was the sound unintelligible to
the ladies, whom he perceived to have been gathered around his sickbed?
6. What allusion from the Bible does Love use to illustrate Spring’s preceding Beatrice in the
author’s vision?
3.5 Critical Thinking

Consider the sonnet in section XX. Is Love and “the gentle heart” the same thing? What
does the Bible teach about the heart? Can the heart be trusted? Discuss.
La Vita Nuova / 7
3.6 Bonus Thoughts

Beauty, Death, and Poetry: You may have noticed that Dante was somewhat preoccupied
with death. Edgar Allan Poe contended that beauty, death, and poetry are connected. Poetry
speaks to the soul and thus belongs to the realm of art. The only justification for poetry is
that it fulfills a purpose that prose is unable to do. Poe points out that “effects should be
made to spring from direct causes—that objects should be attained through means best
adapted for their attainment.” If the goal is to enlighten the mind with Truth, then the writer
should use prose because Truth requires precision. Likewise, if the goal is to raise the
passions of the heart, then prose is the better vehicle. But to elevate the soul, poetry is
necessary. Poe correctly states that Beauty is not a quality, but rather an effect. Spiritually
speaking, since the soul is the seat of our emotions, how we react to Beauty reveals the state
of our souls. The redeemed soul recognizes that Beauty inspires true worship and holiness
(Psalm 29:2).
Poe argues that “Beauty of whatever kind in its supreme development invariably excites the
sensitive soul to tears.” While joy and laughter can cause tears, sadness almost always does
so. For most of us, we think it strange to connect sadness with Beauty. However, if we
remember that Beauty is an effect, not a quality, then we can easily see the connection.
Profound sadness affects the soul like no other emotion. In Housman’s poem, “Terence,
This is Stupid Stuff,” Terence’s friends accuse the young poet of killing them with his
poetry “before their time / Moping melancholy mad.” Terence replies to his friends that
even though his poetry may be sad, the poetry has inoculated them against the coming
heartbreaks and “embittered” hours. Yes, sadness helps perfect the soul.
Referring to his “Raven,” Poe asks himself what is the most melancholy of subjects. Poe
concludes that it is death and that it is most poetical when connected with Beauty. Then he
adds, “the death then of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetic topic in the
world.” If the idea that Beauty is associated with sadness appears strange, then certainly
Beauty’s association with death may seem even stranger. A soldier who sees death on the
battlefield, or nurses and doctors who witness death daily may fail to see what is so
beautiful about death. But, once again, if Beauty is an effect, what then hastens a soul
towards perfection faster than the contemplation of death? Perhaps one of the most beautiful
passages of poetry ever written is found in the Bible, Isaiah chapter 53. While “there is no
beauty that we should desire him” (a quality), we reflect deeply concerning the sorrow of
the Savior and his rejection by men (an effect). Thinking about the death of Christ on the
cross moves the sensitive soul who has been touched by the Holy Spirit.
8 / La Vita Nuova
La Vita Nuova
Lesson Four
4.1 Vocabulary
compass n.
verity n.
infallible adj.
lament v.
4.2 Vocabulary Recognition
1. According to Ptolemy, (and also to the Christian __________) the revolving heavens are
nine; and according to the common opinion among astrologers, these nine heavens together
have influence over the earth.
2. And conceiving that I should not be able to say these things in the small ___________ of a
sonnet, I began therefore a poem with this beginning.
3. In the first, that is, in the first stanza, this my dear friend, her kinsman, ______________.
4. This is one reason that may be brought: but more narrowly considering, and according to
the ________________ truth, this number was her own self: that is to say by similitude.
4.3 Reading Assignment: La Vita Nuova, XXV–XXXIV
4.4 Recall Questions
1. According to the author, why was the vulgar language used to create poetry?
2. What reason does the author give for his personifying Love?
3. The author remarks that Beatrice seemed to impart grace and beauty wherever she went. It
was said by many that she was not a woman, but a what?
4. In section XXVII, Beatrice’s power is such that she alone is not perfect (holy), but she is
able to do what for her companions?
5. What number does the author associate with Beatrice?
6. What was the reason offered by the author for his not including in La Vita Nuova his Latin
“epistle” which he wrote to the leading men of the city?
7. In the second stanza of the poem found in section XXXII, what is the “most evil place” that
the author refers to?
8. What was the occasion for the author’s writing the sonnet in section XXXIII?
La Vita Nuova / 9
4.5 Critical Thinking

What is the purpose of section XXV? Is this section necessary? Why or why not?

Dante refers to an “infallible truth.” Some scholars suggest that truth is relative; that is, truth
is not necessarily constant. Is it possible for everyone to decide his own “truth”? Why or
why not?

If the human mind is incapable of determining objective truth (not created by man), then is
the Bible the only source for objective truth? Discuss.
4.6 Bonus Thoughts

Figurative Language and Rhetorical Figures: Dante refers to the use of metaphors and
rhetorical figures in today’s reading. Metaphor in this sense is the broad classification of
“figures of the thought,” or figurative language. Included under this category are similes,
metaphors, metonymies, synecdoches, and personification. What these devices have in
common is their affecting some kind of comparison by extending the standard meaning of
words. The master at using figurative language is William Shakespeare.
On the other hand, rhetorical figures, or “figures of speech,” depart from standard usage of
words, not in the meaning, but in the unusual ways the words are used to achieve a
rhetorical effect. Under this category are apostrophes, invocations, rhetorical questions,
chiasmuses, and zeugmas. The master at using rhetorical figures is Alexander Pope.

Numerology: Dante delves into a bit of numerology in today’s reading. Numerology is the
study of numbers, believing that they have occult meanings and that they influence human
life. The ultra-mystical tradition with Judaism, Kabbalah, believed that the Bible held
mysteries that could be discovered by using combinations of the letters in the Scriptures.
This was possible, because each Hebrew letter has a numerical value. The ancient Chinese
black and white symbol, yang-yin, represented the reciprocity between males and females.
White (yang) is odd numbers, and black (yin) is even numbers. The number 15 was believed
to be the magic number of the mystic Way.
In the early sixteenth century, the mathematician, Michael Stifel concluded that Pope Leo X
was the anti-Christ of the Bible. The Pope’s name in Latin was Leo Decimus. Stifel
arranged the letters of Leo’s name as “Leo DeCIMVs.” Using these numbers, one can get
the arrangement of MDCLVI. Stifel removes the M, because this stood for “Mystery.”
Since Leo’s name had an X in it, one can add this to the other numbers. The result is
DCLXVI, or 666.
More recently, the number “11” has come under scrutiny due to “9-11” (9 + 1 + 1 = 11).
Curiously, the twin towers looked like a gigantic 11, and one of the towers was hit by Flight
11. But strangest of all coincidences is that President Bush the First mentioned a “new
world order” in a speech on 11 September 1990 and exactly 11 years later, the towers came
down.

Ptolemy: A second century AD astronomer, Ptolemy (the “p” is silent) spent his years in
Alexandra, Egypt, and is known for his Almagest. This book contained what was known
about astronomy up to Ptolemy’s time, and he included his own model of the solar system.
Ptolemy asserted that the earth was at the center of the universe, with all of the heavenly
bodies rotating around the earth. The “geocentric” theory of the earth would be accepted as
fact until challenged with the “heliocentric” model by Mikolaj Kopernik, better known as
Copernicus.
10 / La Vita Nuova
La Vita Nuova
Lesson Five
5.1 Vocabulary
abject adj.
pallor n.
purport n.
pensive adj.
5.2 Vocabulary Recognition
1. Ye pilgrim-folk, advancing ____________(ly) / As if in thought of distant things….
2. Love’s _____________ and the semblance of deep ruth / Were never yet shown forth so
perfectly / In any lady’s face….
3. How ______________ and forlorn my life must be.
4. Wherefore I, (wishing that mine abandonment of all such evil desires and vain temptations
should be certified and made manifest, beyond all doubts which might have been suggested
by the rhymes aforewritten,) proposed to write a sonnet, wherein I should express this
________________.
5.3 Reading Assignment: La Vita Nuova, XXXV–XLIII
5.4 Recall Questions
1. While the author thought about Beatrice, what did he draw on some tablets?
2. In section XXXVI, the author writes a sonnet to a young lady whom he feared would see his
crying as a what?
3. In the sonnet in section XXXVIII, to whom does the author address in the poem?
4. To whom does the author address in his sonnet in section XXXIX? Why does he write this
sonnet?
5. What is the “red circle in sign of martyrdom,” which the author writes?
6. What are the three classes of those who take pilgrimages to the glory of God?
7. In section XLIII, what vision does the author see concerning Beatrice?
La Vita Nuova / 11
5.5 Critical Thinking

Dante is correct to point out the heart and the soul are different. However, is he correct
when he assigns the domain of the soul as reason? What is the heart’s domain; the soul’s?
What does the Bible say about the heart, the soul, the mind, and the body (strength), and
how are these things related? Discuss.
5.6 Bonus Thoughts

The Role of Beatrice in the Divine Comedy: Dante tells the reader of La Vita Nuova that
he would speak of Beatrice again only when he was able to fully develop the theme of
womanly affection. With the writing of Divine Comedy, Dante does write of Beatrice again.
The Divine Comedy is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. It is Dante
himself who journeys to these places. To guide him through Hell and most of Purgatory is
Vergil, whom Dante believed to be the wisest of mortals. Thus Hell and Purgatory can be
comprehended and understood through human reason, which Vergil represents. However,
reason cannot comprehend Paradise, and when Dante gets ready to enter, the Virgin Mary
sends Beatrice to be Dante’s guide. Beatrice is no longer the sweet girl that Dante loved, but
she has now become a spirit of bliss and represented God’s love and divine revelation.
12 / La Vita Nuova
Glossary for La Vita Nuova
abject (²b“jμkt”) adj. Brought low in condition or status; being of the most contemptible kind;
being of the most miserable kind; wretched
amorous (²m“…r-…s) adj. Strongly attracted or disposed to love, of or associated with love; being
in love; enamored
aver (…-vûr“) v. To affirm positively; declare; to justify or prove
beatitude (b¶-²t“¹-t›d”) n. Supreme blessedness or happiness
compass (k¾m“p…s) n. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority
disquieted (d¹s-kwº“¹-t¹d) adj. Uneasy; restless
dolorous (d½“l…r-…s) adj. Marked by or exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain
dubious (d›“b¶-…s) adj. Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; undecided; doubtful; of
questionable character
fain (f³n) adj. Ready; willing; pleased; happy
infallible (¹n-f²l“…-b…l) adj. Incapable of erring or failing; certain
lament (l…-mμnt“) v. To grieve; mourn; to regret deeply; deplore:
pallor (p²l“…r) n. Extreme or unnatural paleness
pensive (pμn“s¹v) adj. Deeply thoughtful; suggestive or expressive of melancholy
thoughtfulness
purport (pûr“pôrt”) n. Meaning presented, intended, or implied; import; substance; intention;
purpose
rubric (r›“br¹k) n. An authoritative rule or direction; a class or category; a title; a name
ruth (r›th) n. Compassion or pity for another; sorrow or misery about one's own misdeeds or
flaws
verity (vμr“¹-t¶) n. The quality of being true, factual, or real; an enduring truth
vouchsafe (vouch-s³f“) v. To condescend to grant or bestow; deign
vulgar (v¾l“g…r) adj. Of or associated with the great masses of people; common; expressed in
language spoken by the common people; vernacular
wax (w²ks) v. To increase gradually in size, number, strength, or intensity; to grow or become
as specified
La Vita Nuova
Vocabulary Quiz
1. ______ After the death of Beatrice, Dante ____________ his personal loss with a lot of
tears, mourning the death of his lady for many months.
(A) averred
(B) lamented
(C) purported
(D) vouchsafed
(E) waxed
2. ______ In La Vita Nuova, Dante did not include a letter written in Latin, because he wanted
his work about Beatrice to be written entirely in the ___________ language, the common
language being Italian.
(A) abject
(B) amorous
(C) dubious
(D) pensive
(E) vulgar
3. ______ During his __________ and quiet moments, Dante would ponder upon the
_____________ that he received from Beatrice, who gave him such happiness.
(A) vulgar . . verity
(B) pensive . . beatitude
(C) dubious . . pallor
(D) amorous . . ruth
(E) abject . . compass
4. ______ During his sickness, Dante alarmed those caring for him with his rapid change in
color, his ___________ appearing as though he were dead.
(A) verity
(B) beatitude
(C) pallor
(D) ruth
(E) compass
5. ______ Dante often received strange visions, the ___________ of such visions being
mysteries until Love would explain the meanings, making the visions ____________ and
unquestionable to the mind of the young poet.
(A) beatitude . . amorous
(B) compass . . dolorous
(C) pallor . . dubious
(D) purport . . infallible
(E) rubric . . vulgar
CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
1
11. ______ Dante was so filled with
dolorous imaginations that these griefs
became outwardly manifested in his
altered countenance.
6. ______
In order to keep his love for Beatrice a secret,
A
Dante were content to allow others to think his
B
C
affections were actually intended for another
D
girl. No error.
E
The word “dolorous” means
(A) enamored.
(B) sorrowful.
(C) doubtful.
(D) certain.
(E) prayerful.
7. ______
Whenever Beatrice greeted Dante, the young
A
man felt a divine force always forcing him to
B
pardon and forgive anyone whom may have
C
D
injured him. No error.
E
12. ______ While observing many pensive
pilgrims along the road, Dante felt the
travelers needed to know about the
sadness of the city due to the death of
Beatrice.
The word “pensive” means most nearly
in this sentence
(A) mourning.
(B) joyful.
(C) melancholy.
(D) thoughtful.
(E) festive.
8. ______
On one occasion, Dante found himself in an
A
B
embarrassing situation when he was not able to
C
do nothing but stare at Beatrice. No error.
D
E
13. ______ When he thought about his
Beatrice having to face death one day,
Dante stated his spirit waxed sorrowful.
9. ______
Finding himself unable to control his emotions.
A
Dante would resort to putting his thoughts in
B
C
verse, allowing his poetry to help his thoughts
D
and feelings. No error.
E
The word “waxed” means
(A) grew.
(B) revived.
(C) failed.
(D) declared.
(E) condescended.
10. ______
After walking along a stream, he was inspired
A
B
to write another poem about Beatrice, but
thought it to be unseemly unless he spoke to
C
other ladies, who would be his audience.
D
No error.
E
CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
2
In his La Vita Nuova, Dante anticipates his critics who would object to
him speaking of Love as though Love is a tangible and visible thing.
14
The critics objection centers on precision in writing, but Dante defends
15
his “imprecision” by appealing to the common use of metaphors and
rhetorical language. Indeed, Dante sees Love not only as a spiritual
essense. But as a bodily substance also. To Dante, his visions were real
16
enough. In fact, when he speaks about Love, he offers some reasons
17
why Love is tangible and even human. First, Dante sees Love coming
towards him; thus, since having locomotion, Love has a corporeal
nature. Second, Dante says Love smiles at him, and third, Love speaks to
him. According to Dante, these abilities are faculties which appear
proper unto common ordinary human beings. However, Dante even
18
14. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
he’s speaking
him talking
his speaking
15. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
critic objections
critics’ objection
critic’s objections
16. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
run-on sentence
fragment
misplaced modifier
17. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
his
him
Dante
18. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
common-ordinary
common, ordinary
common; ordinary
19. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
whom gave
who give
give
20. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
cannot
can not
couldn’t
points to the ancient Greek and Roman poets whom give human
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qualities to the pagan gods and other inanimate things, such as the winds.
If the ancients can use metaphors and rhetorical language, then he does
see why he can’t either.
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Answer Keys to La Vita Nuova
Vocabulary Recognition, Lesson 1
1. ruth
2. rubric
3. vouchsafed
4. beatitude
Lesson 1
1. The author was nine-years-old (the sun made nine revolutions).
2. The lord held the heart of the author in his hand.
3. The author writes a sonnet about his experience, which he sends to the famous poets of his
day.
4. The author writes poetry to honor another lady, who many of the author’s friends believed
to be the object of his love.
5. His “screen” was taking a long journey, and he feared that if he did make a show of sorrow
that his secret could be revealed.
6. The author meets Love along the journey.
7. When the author shifted his pretended affections to another lady, an evil rumor began to
circulate about him.
Vocabulary Recognition, Lesson 2
1. amorous
2. disquieted
3. vulgar
4. dubious
Lesson 2
1. The author is no longer to conceal his love for Beatrice, but to make it known to her.
2. The author was irked that he had to call upon Pity.
3. The companions were to accompany the bride until she sat down at the table of her husband
for the first time.
4. The sense is the sense of sight.
5. The anguish was caused by Beatrice’s scorn.
6. The theme appeared to be a subject too lofty for the author to accomplish well.
7. The author addresses his poetry to ladies that have intelligence in love.
Vocabulary Recognition, Lesson 3
1. averred
2. fain
3. wax’d
4. dolorous
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Lesson 3
1. The subject of the sonnet is the nature of love.
2. The author states that the eyes of Beatrice bring love into its power.
3. The father of Beatrice dies.
4. The author realizes that some day even Beatrice would die.
5. The author’s voice was broken by his sobbing and crying.
6. Love uses the allusion of John the Baptist preceding the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vocabulary Recognition, Lesson 4
1. verity
2. compass
3. laments
4. infallible
Lesson 4
1. Apparently, a gentleman wanted to express his love to his lady, who did not understand
Latin well. Therefore, in order be understood, the poet used the common language of the
people.
2. Since poets in Latin are given license to use such poetic devices, then poets who write in the
vulgar tongues should have the same license.
3. Beatrice was said to have been a beautiful angel of Heaven.
4. Beatrice is able to raise her companions to her attainments.
5. The author associates the number “nine” with Beatrice.
6. The epistle was written in Latin, and he wanted his book to be written completely in the
common tongue.
7. The most evil place is the world.
8. A friend of the author wished for him to write a poem about a woman (Beatrice) who died
recently.
Vocabulary Recognition, Lesson 5
1. pensively
2. pallor
3. abject
4. purport
Lesson 5
1. The author drew the likeness of angels.
2. The author feared that the young lady would think his crying would be a base thing.
3. The author addresses his eyes.
4. The author addresses the young lady who saw his crying in section XXXVI; the occasion
for the sonnet was to express his doubts about his being in love with the young lady.
5. The red circle is the mark around the eyes, which have been crying.
6. The classes are Palmers, Pilgrims, and Romers.
7. The vision reveals to the author that he is not to say anything further about Beatrice until he
can speak of her in more worthy terms.
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La Vita Nuova
1. B
2. E
3. B
4. C
5. D
6. C (S-V agreement)
7. D (pronoun case)
8. D (double negative)
9. A (fragment)
10. B (indefinite subj.)
11. B
12. D
13. A
14. D (pronoun case)
15. C (mechanics-possession)
16. C
17. D (indefinite subj.)
18. C (mechanics-comma)
19. C (pronoun case)
20. B (contraction)
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