English Dante's Inferno Test

what language was the divine comedy written in?

Italian

About what year was the divine comedy written in?

around 1321

Why is it called a comedy when the subject matter is so serious?

It has a happy ending

Define an allegory. Apply the definition to the divine comedy.

an allegory is the discussion of one subject by disguising it as another, there must be some similiarity between the two subjects. an allegory may be read on two levels: literally and figuratively. it uses symbols and teaches a moral lesson

examples of symbols:

dante’s lost in the woods = he’s a lost soul (not saved)

woods = sinfulness

hill = closer to god

animals = temptation

alone = without god

moral lesson:

process

use of human reason, not animal instinct - 5: let body rule, satan’s fur, bat wings

have a choice - no gods, no magic

overcome sin to not be trapped in hell, overcome satan

(especially in medieval literature allegory is the use of physical realities to express what is in invisible or intangible)

In the Divine Comedy, the physical journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven symbolizes the soul's journey towards salvation.

the divine comedy IS an allegory.

why does Dante love the number three?

The number three represents the Holy Trinity in Christianity, symbolizing perfection and completeness.

what is the significance of the number three to divine comedy (structurally and in terms of content/setting)?

It takes place in 3 days (good friday to easter sunday)

divided into 3 books: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso

33 cantos per book

3 line stanzas

3 types of sin: incontinence (2-5), violence(7), and fraud(8-9)

where does Canto I take place?

Canto I takes place in a dark wood, known as the "selva oscura," representing a state of confusion and sin. Dante finds himself lost and struggling to find the right path.

why does dante tell this story?

Dante tells this story in order to give his testimony for finding the right path to salvation and show readers how to do the same as he did. he was succesful, and he wants to share his experience.

how does canto I set up the whole divine comedy?

Canto I of Dante's Inferno sets the stage for the entire Divine Comedy by showing dante lost in the woods and wanting to climb the hill but it is blocked by 3 beats etc. this all explains why he goes to the afterlife and gives a background to his journey. the only way to get over the hill is to go down, through hell, purgatory, and heaven. virgil then is introduced as dante’s guide through his journey.

Canto I explains why Dante spiritually needs to take a trip (he’s a sinner)

to what part of the afterlife is Virgil condemned and why?

Virgil is condemned to Limbo, a part of Hell reserved for virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized infants. He is unable to enter Heaven because he lived before Christ.

Why is Virgil Dante’s guide on two different levels? what does he represent?

Virgil serves as Dante's guide on both a literal and symbolic level. Literally, he guides Dante through Hell and Purgatory; symbolically, he represents reason and human wisdom, guiding the soul towards salvation.

Virgil knows what its like to NOT be Christian, but since he has died and learned the truth, he has become Christian, which is what Dante needs to do, so virgil can help him.

He represents human reason.

what is his advice to Dante and what does it mean?

he tells dante that he must go by another way who would escape this wilderness. This means that he must take the long way; he must work for salvation, it isnt just a desicion, it takes time/is a process (dante must change)

describe the role of Minos

Minos is the judge of the dead in the underworld, who determines the fate of souls by wrapping his tail around himself a certain number of times to signify their circle of Hell.

what is circle 2’s punishment

Circle 2 punishes the lustful by blowing them eternally in a turbulent storm, reflecting their lack of self-control in life.

who is in circle 2 and why

They all committed lust, the conflict between their body and mind, or lust and reason. they allowed their bodies to win, reflecting the idea that human reason saves us from sinning.

Dido - she was attracted to Aeneas, but she promised her dead husband no remarriage

Cleopatra - she desired to be with marc antony (roman) but she knows that he is married to roman emperor’s sister

Helen - lusts after paris bc her husband zMenelaus was old and it was an arranged marriage, but she knows a queen running away with a foreign prince is trouble

Achilles - lusted for Polyxena = Hektor’s sister, but knows that he is Greek so this would be wrong

Paris - same as helen

Tristan - desires Isolde, but he has sworn loyalty to his uncle Mark (her fiance)

why does Dante put Sinners who did something more serious who could go lower down in circle 2

he punished the sinners for their motivation/intention, not their action. no thought = less serious.

why doesn't Dante excuse Sinners who gave into lust due to in divine intervention

there are no excuses, all humans have free will and human reason, were not animals. and dante denies the supernatural (pagan, magic) he says they are just excuses

What conflict exists between Dante the poet and Dante the character and why

Dante the poet believes that all of these sinners deserve their punishment while dante the character feels confusion and pity for them. the two dantes are different because the one in the story is not yet saved, hes still a sinner on his journey, therefore he doesnt fully understand sin yet.

while the author condemns sinners, the character doesnt yet believe they should be condemned.

what is the punishment of most sinners in circle 9 and why is this appropriate

The punishment of most sinners in circle 9 is to be encased in ice in various positions, symbolizing their total betrayal and how they tried to move up in life figuratively when they shouldh’t have, but now they literally cannot move

why is Satan's punishment significant for him specifically

Satan's punishment is significant because he is trapped in ice, symbolizing his failure to try and be above God himself

define parody. how does the term apply to the divine comedy’s depiction of satan?

A parody is a humorous, mocking imitation of a literary work etc. In the context of Dante's "Divine Comedy," it applies as the depiction of Satan takes aspects of the Holy Trinity and twists them around, showing how Satan is trying to be a deity trying to be as powerful as God but it just doesn't work out. it's a sad imitation

He wanted to be “3-in-1” like God is, so dante gave his head has 3 faces to mock him (parody of the Trinity) each is a different color (white, red, black/brown)

his wings - he has 3 pairs from his angel days but they are not feathered like an angels, they are like bat wings

he has a shaggy coat - makes him more like an animal (proving human reason is needed to overcome animal instinct)

he wanted to be at the top (above god) so dante put him at the very bottom of hell

satan has to eat judas in his middle mouth, and he has to eat brutus and cassius on each other side for eternity (represents crucifixion and the last supper - eating for damnation, not salvation)

how do dante and virgil exit hell? of what is this symbolic, especially given the time frame?

they escape hell by climbing down and up Satan on the other side, this symbolizes that in order to not be in hell, you must overcome your sin (satan) before you die. it takes place from good friday to easter sunday.

what are the dates for the medieval period and why?

450-1300 AD. between the classical era and the renaissance. It a time of significant political, social, and cultural shifts in Europe, marked by the rise of Christianity, the establishment of new kingdoms, and the development of unique societal structures.

Some say that it ended a bit later in 1400 or 1500 because the Renaissance wasnt in full swing in northern europe (england) until that time.

what was courtly love?

courtly love was originally referred to love poetry associated with royal courts.

later it became: the hopeless adoration of a distant woman by a young man of inferior social standing, such as a knight and his queen; this was an “innocent” way to experience romantic love since most marriages were political/based on economics.