Dantes Inferno Full Book Study Guide + Footnotes + Background + Class Notes

Who was Dante Alighieri?

An Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy

Why was Dante Alighieri excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church?

Because he was on the wrong side of politics and the Church disagreed with what he said

At what age was Dante Alighieri excommunicated?

35 years old

What did excommunication mean for a person's soul during Dante's time?

Their soul was considered lost and sent to hell

Where was Dante Alighieri exiled from?

Florence, Italy

What major work did Dante Alighieri write?

The Divine Comedy

What are the three parts of The Divine Comedy?

Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise)

What type of work is The Divine Comedy?

A religious allegory

When was The Divine Comedy written?

1300

What is an allegory?

The discussion of one subject by disguising it as another which resembles it in a striking way

What do characters, setting, and plot represent in an allegory?

They have a hidden symbolic meaning beyond their literal meaning

What is the purpose of an allegory?

To teach a moral lesson

Who is Virgil?

A Roman author of The Aeneid, the national epic of Rome

What role does Virgil play in Dante's Inferno?

He is Dante's guide through Hell

Why can't Virgil enter Heaven?

Because he lived and died before the establishment of Christ's teachings in Rome

Who was Dante's favorite author?

Virgil

Is Dante's version of Hell the same as the biblical Hell?

No

How many circles of Hell did Dante create?

9 circles

When does Dante begin and end his journey through Hell?

He begins on Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday

What does the timing of Dante's journey symbolize?

It symbolizes the journey of Jesus, who was crucified on Good Friday, descended into Hell, and was resurrected on Easter Sunday

What is the first circle of Hell?

Limbo

What is the second circle of Hell?

The Lustful

What is the third circle of Hell?

The Gluttonous

What is the fourth circle of Hell?

Misers and Spendthrifts

What is the fifth circle of Hell?

The Wrathful and Sullen

What is the sixth circle of Hell?

Heretics

What is the seventh circle of Hell?

The Violent

What is the eighth circle of Hell?

The Fraudulent

What is the ninth circle of Hell?

Traitors

Which circles are considered sins without malice?

The Lustful, the Gluttonous, Misers and Spendthrifts, and the Wrathful and Sullen

What does it mean for sins to be without malice?

They do not intentionally harm others

Which circle includes murder and suicide?

The Violent

Which circle is associated with deception and trickery?

The Fraudulent

Which is the final and worst circle of Hell?

Traitors

What is contrapasso?

A punishment that fits the crime

What type of references are commonly used in Dante's Inferno?

Allusions to mythology

Who was Dante in love with?

Beatrice, a married woman

What personal struggle was Dante Alighieri experiencing when he wrote The Divine Comedy?

A midlife crisis and a crisis of faith

What events contributed to Dante Alighieri feeling lost?

He was abandoned and exiled by both the Church and his country

What does "canto" mean?

Chapter or song

What does the "Dark Wood of Error" symbolize?

Dante's lost faith

What do the three beasts represent in Canto I?

Manifestations of Dante's sins

What are the three beasts chasing Dante?

The leopard, the lion, and the she-wolf

What does the leopard symbolize?

Malice and fraud

What does the lion symbolize?

Violence and ambition

What does the she-wolf symbolize?

Incontinence (lack of self-restraint, especially sexual)

What does it mean that the beasts are chasing Dante?

His sins are driving him toward Hell

In Canto III, who leads Dante through the Gates of Hell?

Virgil

What does Dante read as he passes through the Gates of Hell?

An inscription written on the threshold

Who wrote the inscription on the Gates of Hell?

The Devil

What is a rhyme scheme?

The pattern of end rhymes in lines of poetry

What rhyme scheme is used in Dante's Inferno?

Terza rima

What is the famous final line of the inscription on the Gates of Hell?

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

Who would read the inscription on the Gates of Hell?

All of the damned entering Hell

How is the Italian language of Dante's time described today?

Archaic, meaning old-fashioned or outdated

Who is the ferryman in Dante's Inferno?

Charon

What must souls do to cross the River Acheron?

Pay Charon to ferry them across

Why are the souls eager to cross the river?

They are desperate to begin their punishment and face judgment

Who judges the souls after they cross the river?

King Minos

How does King Minos determine a soul's punishment?

He wraps his snake tail around the sinner, and the number of wraps determines their circle of Hell

Why does Charon initially refuse to take Dante Alighieri across the river?

Because Dante is still alive and does not belong in Hell

Who convinces Charon to take Dante across the river?

Virgil

What mythology is Charon an allusion to?

Greek mythology

What mythology is King Minos an allusion to?

Greek mythology, specifically the Minotaur

What happens to the fallen angels in Circle I?

They endlessly chase a blank flag

Why are the fallen angels punished by chasing a flag?

Because they refused to take a side during the War in Heaven

Who are the innocent souls in Limbo?

Blameless but unbaptized babies, Old Testament figures, and great pagan philosophers and poets

Name examples of Old Testament figures in Limbo

Noah, Abraham, and Moses

How are the souls in Limbo treated?

They live in relative comfort but are separated from God

What is the only sin of the souls in Limbo?

They were not baptized as Christians

In Canto V, which circle do Dante and Virgil enter?

The second circle of Hell

What is the punishment for the lustful in Circle II?

They are swept in a violent tornado, symbolizing being controlled by passion

Who are the two lovers Dante speaks with in Canto V?

Francesca and Paolo

How did Francesca and Paolo fall into sin?

They were influenced by reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere and became lovers

What happened to Francesca and Paolo after their sin?

They were murdered by Francesca's husband before they could repent

What is the significance of Dante swooning in the Inferno?

It shows his empathy and acts as a transition in the story

What happens to Dante's behavior as he goes deeper into Hell?

He stops swooning and eventually begins to support the punishments

What literary references are common in Canto V?

Allusions to Greco-Roman mythology

What famous lovers are also found in Circle II?

Dido, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, Polyxena, and Isolde

Who was Dido the lover of?

Aeneas

Who was Cleopatra the lover of?

Mark Antony

Who was Helen the lover of?

Paris

Who was Polyxena the lover of?

Achilles

Who was Isolde the lover of?

Tristan

What is the symbolic meaning of the tornado in Circle II?

It represents how the sinners were controlled by their passions in life

What happens to the lovers in the tornado?

They are endlessly blown around, reaching for each other but never able to stay together

What does Dante mean by "threescore years and ten"?

Seventy years, the biblical lifespan

What does Dante's age of 35 represent at the start of the poem?

Midway through the human lifespan

What does the "True Way" symbolize?

The path of righteousness and faith

What does the "Dark Wood of Error" represent in Dante's journey?

A state of sin, confusion, and worldliness

What emotion does Dante feel upon realizing he is in the Dark Wood?

Fear and confusion

What does the "little hill" Dante sees represent?

The Mount of Joy and the path toward salvation

What does the sunrise symbolize when Dante looks up at the hill?

Divine illumination and guidance from God

What time of year is Dante's journey set in and why is it important?

Easter season, symbolizing rebirth and resurrection

What does the spring equinox symbolize in Dante's journey?

Renewal, balance, and spiritual rebirth

Why does Dante initially feel hope when he sees the hill?

Because it represents a way out of sin toward salvation

Why is Dante unable to climb the Mount of Joy directly?

Because his sins, represented by the beasts, block his path

Which of the three beasts is the most powerful obstacle to Dante?

The she-wolf

What does the she-wolf's dominance over Dante symbolize?

The overwhelming nature of incontinence and lack of self-control

What happens to Dante after the beasts block his path?

He is driven back into the darkness and despair