Which literary genre does Dante's Inferno belong to?

Dante's Inferno belongs to the genre of epic poems. This classification is primarily due to its grand scale, narrative structure, and the themes it explores. An epic poem typically features a heroic journey, significant events, and addresses important cultural or moral issues.

In Dante's work, the protagonist, Dante himself, embarks on a journey through the realms of the afterlife, specifically Hell, which serves as a backdrop for broader philosophical, theological, and moral discussions. The poem uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to explore human sin, redemption, and divine justice, further aligning it with the characteristics of epic poetry.

Unlike tragedy, which focuses on human suffering and often ends in disaster for the protagonist, or lyric poetry, which emphasizes personal emotion and typically explores individual experiences, epic poetry encompasses a larger narrative that conveys complex ideas and societal values. Fables, on the other hand, are brief stories that usually convey moral lessons through anthropomorphized animals, which is not the focus of Dante's narrative. Thus, identifying Dante's Inferno as an epic poem is accurate given its narrative depth and thematic richness.