Writing a review of Clive James's new translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy last month, critic Tom Bissell used the word theodicy to great effect. (The review appeared in Harper's Magazine.) Bissell wrote:
The Divine Comedy is at once an adventure story, a formidable chunk of theodicy, and a fourteenth-century Florentine’s attempt to liberate poetic language from the maximum-security prison of Latin.
You may notice the similarity between theodicy and theology. Both derive from the Greek word theos, meaning "god." Theology refers to a system of beliefs held by members of a religious group; theodicy is a type of theology in which, even in the face of great evil, God is seen to be inherently good.
If you're planning on making Dante your beach read — Bissell's review suggests it's "hugely enjoyable" — just make sure to bring theodicy with you. As you travel with Dante through the circles of hell, the word will help you understand the cultural context in which this masterwork was written.