Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was instrumental in establishing the literature of Italy, and is considered to be among the country'snational poetsand the Western world's greatest literary icons. His depictions ofHell,Purgatory, andHeavenprovided inspiration for the larger body ofWestern artandliterature. He influenced English writers such asGeoffrey Chaucer,John Milton, andAlfred Tennyson, among many others.