Inferno Cantos I–VII Key Terms and Concepts

Vocabulary terms, characters, allegorical figures, and settings from Dante's Inferno (Cantos I–VII).

White Guelphs

Dante's political group in Florence before he is exiled

Black Guelphs

The political group who exiles Dante from Florence, causing Dante to write The Inferno

Beatrice

Dante's real life love interest who helps Virgil lead him through hell

Virgil

Represents human reason

lion/leopard/she-wolf

"Block" Dante's path from continuing on the bad road, encouraging him to see Virgil

Charon

"The old man with the white bush of hair" serving as our ferry driver in hell

the 4 poets

Dante and Virgil join them early in their journey. Dante is excited to be a part of this group because he idolizes them.

Aeneas and Paul

Dante compares himself to them because he does not think he is worthy of a safe trip through hell

Minos

The snake-like monster in hell who gets to judge people and send them to their circle for punishment

swoon

A fancy way to say "faint"

the terrain (setting) of limbo (circle 1)

It's really green and not so terrible at all

Dante

Upon being exiled from Florence, wrote an allegorical story in which he himself stars

shades

Another name for the souls or ghosts in hell

The terrain (setting) of circle 2: Lust

A dark ledge and a circular wind

epic poem

The story of a "hero" and their journey through hell or the underworld

The terrain (setting) of circle 3: gluttony

A stinking snow and freezing rain, forming a vile slush all over