About the Dante Literary Prize
This semi-annual contest celebrates outstanding student writing on topics related to the great books of Western literature. We honor exceptional students who demonstrate intellectual creativity and insight into these classic works.
Upcoming Deadlines
Winter 2024 cycle: 31 December 2024
Spring 2025 cycle: 28 March 2025
Contest Format
Participants are invited to submit a short-form essay on a selected theme related to Western literature. Submissions will be evaluated and scored by a panel of literary scholars, educators, and authors. All finalists will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute oral defense to the judges on the Scholar’s Oratory Day.
Theme for Winter 2024
"Echoes of the Classics - Lessons from the Great Books"
Choose a work from classical Western literature (e.g., Aesop’s Fables, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Women, Treasure Island, The Secret Garden, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, Shakespeare’s plays, etc.) and write an original essay that reflects on how the work has influenced your understanding of human nature, moral challenges, or timeless virtues. You should connect a specific theme or lesson from the classic text to your own life or modern society.
Submission Guidelines
Length: 800-1200 words.
Writing Style: Submissions must be formal, well-researched, and exhibit originality and intellectual rigor.
Eligibility: Open to students ages 11-18 from around the world.
Division: Enter the division based on your age at the time of entry:
Junior Division: Age 11-14 years
Senior Division: Age 15-18 years
Judging Criteria: Depth of analysis, originality, relevance, and clarity.
AI Policy: AI-generated content is prohibited and will be checked for originality.
How to Submit: To complete your submission, please follow the above instructions and email your essay to us in WORD format. Name the document according to the division you are applying for:
Junior Division applicants: DantePrize_JuniorDiv_Winter2024_FIRST NAME LAST NAME
Senior Division applicants: DantePrize_SeniorDiv_Winter2024_FIRST NAME LAST NAME