Inferno and Canterbury Tales Exam Study Sheet

A series of vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes focusing on important terms and concepts related to Dante's 'Inferno' and Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales.'

Symbolic Retribution

A concept in which the punishment of a sin reflects the nature of the sin itself.

In medias res

A narrative technique where the story starts in the middle of the action.

Allegory

A story in which characters and events symbolize deeper meanings and moral qualities.

Ghibellines

A political faction in medieval Italy that supported the Holy Roman Empire.

Guelphs

A political faction in medieval Italy that supported the Pope.

Virgil

The Roman poet who guides Dante through Hell in 'Inferno'.

Dante

The author and protagonist of 'Inferno,' who travels through Hell.

Beatrice

Dante's ideal woman and a symbol of divine love and inspiration.

Circles of Hell

The various levels of Hell in Dante's 'Inferno,' each corresponding to different sins.

Incontinence

Lack of self-control, representing one of the three major categories of sin in 'Inferno.'

Violence

One of the major categories of sin in 'Inferno,' encompassing violence against others, oneself, and God.

Fraud

A category of sin in Dante's 'Inferno,' representing deceit and treachery.

Styx

A river in Dante's 'Inferno' that souls must cross to enter Hell.

Acheron

The river in Dante's Hell that souls must cross, leading to the first circle.

Gate of Hell

The entrance to Hell, marked by an inscription that signifies the abandonment of hope.

Divisions of Hell

Hell is divided into upper (sins of passion) and lower (sins of intellect) regions.

Middle Ages

The historical period from approximately 476 to the 15th century, characterized by feudalism and the power of the Catholic Church.

Chivalry

The medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.

Misogyny

Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

Social Satire

A literary approach that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize societal norms.

Courtly Love

A medieval European literary conception of love emphasizing nobility and chivalry.

General Prologue

The introduction to the 'Canterbury Tales' that sets up the pilgrimage and describes the characters.

Wife of Bath

A character in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' known for her views on marriage and gender.

Moral

The lesson or principle contained in a literary work or story.

Chaucer

The author of 'The Canterbury Tales' who uses various characters to provide social commentary.

Feudalism

The dominant social system in medieval Europe where land was held by lords and worked by vassals.