Dante's Inferno Test Review

A compilation of key terms and definitions from Dante's Inferno, covering important concepts, characters, and circles of Hell.

Dante Alighieri

An Italian poet born in Florence, author of 'Divine Comedy'.

The Guelphs

A political party in Florence supporting the Pope's power.

La Divina Commedia

The original name of 'Divine Comedy', an epic poem divided into three sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

Beatrice Partinari

Dante's muse and inspiration for 'Divine Comedy'.

Inferno

The first section of Dante's 'Divine Comedy', which depicts Hell.

Contrapasso

The principle of poetic justice where the punishment fits the sin in Dante's Inferno.

Limbo

The first circle of Hell for unbaptized souls and virtuous non-Christians.

Circle 2 – Lust

In Dante's Inferno, this circle punishes those who succumbed to lust with an eternal storm.

Circle 3 – Gluttony

This circle punishes gluttons with continuous rain and mud.

Circle 4 – Greed

This circle punishes hoarders and squanderers who must roll boulders into each other.

Circle 5 – Wrathful and Sullen

In this circle, the wrathful fight each other while the sullen are submerged in the River Styx.

Circle 6 – Heresy

The circle of heretics who deny the immortality of the soul, punished in tombs with flames.

Circle 7 – Violence

In this circle, violent sinners are punished by being immersed in boiling blood.

Circle 8 – Fraud

Divided into ten pouches where various types of fraud are punished.

Sowers of Discord

Individuals who cause division, punished by being cut open repeatedly by demons.

Circle 9 – Traitors

The lowest circle of Hell where betrayers are trapped in a frozen lake.

Caina

Section of Circle 9 punishing those who betrayed family members.

Antinora

Section of Circle 9 for traitors of their country or political group.

Ptolomea

Section of Circle 9 punishing those who betrayed guests.

Judecca

The innermost circle of Hell punishing traitors to their benefactors.