The Humanities Index

The epic hero has a double role. He (there are no epical woman heroes as far as I know) is an individual person with an habitual virtue from which his exploits flow, and he is representative of the group to whom the exploit is important. Since the performance of the exploit is important because of [...]

An epic is a long narrative poem an a great subject, related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.

Dante seems to climb the ladder of love literally, metaphorically, and contextually to achieve the supreme artistic expression.

Dante’s journey begins in Hell where he hears the stories and witnesses the suffering of many sinners, some of which he empathizes with, and most of which he pities.