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dante's inferno 9th circle of hell analysis

by Ari Bradtke Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

In Dante’s inferno, there are nine circles of hell. The ninth and final circle those who reside here are buried in ice. The seriousness of the sin dictated In the poem, Hell is depicted as nine circles of suffering located within the Earth.

Ninth Circle of Hell
The ninth circle holds the souls of those who were guilty of treachery, or betrayal. All of the souls in the ninth circle are submerged in ice, but there are four layers. Those who committed the worst betrayals are deeper within the ice.
Jul 23, 2021

Full Answer

Was Dante's Inferno a true story?

And even though Inferno isn't a true story , that doesn't mean that there isn't some truth to the tale. The plot of the film revolves around the potential release of a virus, called Inferno, which could wipe out half the world's population.

Does Dantes inferno contradict the Bible?

Dante’s beliefs in Inferno upon salvation, the afterlife and sinful nature contradict the Biblical perspective, while agreeing with the Bible on contrapasso and just judgment. First, it is critical to be aware of what the Bible adheres about mankind.

Why does Dante go into the Inferno?

Virgil suggests that Dante is just feeling afraid and reassures Dante by telling him that he has been sent by Dante's deceased beloved, Beatrice, who resides in heaven. Dante does find this reassuring, and they proceed toward the entrance to the underworld.

Why does Dante use the Holy Trinity in the Inferno?

Dante reveals the true meaning of the Inferno through his leading motif, his interactions between the sinners, and the intertwining of other literary works into the Inferno. The repeated motif of the number three is used to represent the Holy Trinity and all things holy. The first Campaldino.

What does the ninth circle of Hell mean?

The Ninth Circle of Hell is a frozen lake and, like Dante's vision of Hell in general, the Ninth Circle itself is divided into rings of increasingly bad sections with the worst in the center. The people who are sent to the Ninth Circle are people who have betrayed the trust of someone or something close and special.

What are the nine circles of hell according to Dante?

We offer this short guide to the nine circles of Hell, as described in Dante's Inferno.First Circle: Limbo. ... Second Circle: Lust. ... Third Circle: Gluttony. ... Fourth Circle: Greed. ... Fifth Circle: Anger. ... Sixth Circle: Heresy. ... Seventh Circle: Violence. ... Eighth Circle: Fraud.More items...

Who guards the ninth circle of Hell?

The ninth circle of Hell is guarded by biblical giants, who ring the entire circle. This circle of Hell is divided into four rounds, and is named after people who symbolize the sin for that round. Round one is Caine, and it is where those who have betrayed their family go.

For what offenses are the sinners in the ninth circle punished?

In Dante's imagined descent through hell, he reserved the Ninth Circle—the “lowest, blackest, and farthest from Heaven”—for the sin of treachery. The worst sinners, in his underworld, were the traitors—those who betrayed their loved ones, their country, and their God.

Why is the ninth circle of hell cold?

Satan is at the center of Hell, below the ninth circle. Satan is being punished for betraying God and is therefore the furthest from God's light. T...

What are the layers of hell called?

The layers of Hell are called circles. The nine circles spiral downward until reaching the bottom point which is as far from heaven as possible.

What are the 9 circles of hell and what do they mean?

The 9 circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno hold the souls of sinners. Each circle contains those guilty of specific sins. Lower circles hold the soul...

What does Dante mean by the 9th circle?

Just as Dante sees Hell in general as concentric circles, meaning one circle within each other, the Ninth Circle has its own divisions within itself. The more serious the crime of betrayal, the further into the center of the lake a person would be sent, with Satan himself in the middle.

How many circles are there in Dante's Inferno?

In Dante Alighieri's long poem Inferno, Dante imagines that he is being led through Hell by the famous Roman poet Virgil. In Dante's imagining of Hell, there are nine concentric circles, meaning one circle within the other. Each circle has different punishments that are based on the sin that a person commits.

What does the Ninth Circle of Hell represent?

As you can see, the Ninth Circle of Hell in Dante's Inferno represents the worst kind of punishment for the worst kind of sins Dante can think of.

What is the next ring in the ninth circle?

The next ring of the Ninth Circle is called Antenora, named after the Trojan prince Antenor who is featured in Homer's Iliad. This layer is reserved for people who betray their political party or country, because many believe Antenor betrayed Troy.

What is the 9th circle of Hell?

The Ninth Circle of Hell is a frozen lake and, like Dante's vision of Hell in general, the Ninth Circle itself is divided into rings of increasingly bad sections with the worst in the center. The people who are sent to the Ninth Circle are people who have betrayed the trust of someone or something close and special.

Why is Dante's Ninth Circle frozen?

Contrary to popular depictions of Hell as a hot, fiery place, Dante's Ninth Circle is a frozen lake because it is devoid of love and warmth. Those who get sent to the Ninth Circle are stuck in the lake, their bottom halves frozen into it and unable to move.

What are the four sections of the Ninth Circle?

The four sections of the Ninth Circle signify different kinds of betrayal. The outermost layer is called Caina, named after the biblical figure Cain, who killed his brother Abel, and is for people who betray each other over money.

Who is in Dante's first circle of hell?

Dante’s First Circle of Hell is resided by virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized pagans who are punished with eternity in an inferior form of Heaven. They live in a castle with seven gates which symbolize the seven virtues. Here, Dante sees many prominent people from classical antiquity such as Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Cicero, Hippocrates, ...

Who were the heretics in Dante's Sixth Circle?

Here, Dante talks with a couple of Florentines – Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he also sees other notable historical figures including the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and Pope Anastasius II. The latter, however, is according to some modern scholars condemned by Dante as a heretic by mistake. Instead, as some scholars argue, the poet probably meant the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I.

How many Bolgias are there in the circle of Hell?

This circle of Hell is divided into 10 Bolgias or stony ditches with bridges between them. In Bolgia 1, Dante sees panderers and seducer. In Bolgia 2 he finds flatterers. After crossing the bridge to Bolgia 3, he and Virgil see those who are guilty of simony.

What are the 4 rounds of Hell?

Those who committed more severe sin are deeper within the ice. Each of the 4 Rounds is named after an individual who personifies the sin. Thus Round 1 is named Caina after Cain who killed his brother Abel, Round 2 is named Antenora after Anthenor of Troy who was Priam’s counselor during the Trojan War, Round 3 is named Ptolomaea after Ptolemy (son of Abubus), while Round 4 is named Judecca after Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

What are the two groups in the Fourth Circle of Hell?

They are divided into two groups – those who hoarded possessions and those who lavishly spent it – jousting.

What is the second circle of hell?

Second Circle (Lust) In the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and his companion Virgil find people who were overcome by lust. They are punished by being blown violently back and forth by strong winds, preventing them from finding peace and rest.

What are the three rings in the 7th circle of Hell?

Here, Dante sees Alexander the Great (disputed), Dionysius I of Syracuse, Guy de Montfort and many other notable historical and mythological figures such as the Centaurus, sank into a river of boiling blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the poet sees suicides who have been turned into trees and bushes which are fed upon by harpies. But he also sees here profligates, chased and torn to pieces by dogs. In the Inner Ring are blasphemers and sodomites, residing in a desert of burning sand and burning rain falling from the sky.

Dante's "Inferno"

Dante's "Inferno" is one of three volumes contained in "The Divine Comedy," written by Italian poet Dante Alighieri from about 1308 CE to 1320 CE. Told from Dante's point of view, the complete work contains 100 Cantos, or divisions.

Dante's "Inferno": Nine Circles of Hell

Dante envisions Hell as nine concentric circles, each circle fitting inside the other as they descend deeper into the Earth. Every circle except the first one contains spirits of the dead who are tormented according to the sins they committed.

What Is the Ninth Circle of Hell?

Dante's final circle of Hell is reserved for the worst of sinners in the author's perspective. In this last circle at the very center of the Inferno, Dante places those guilty of treachery and betrayal towards loved ones, close friends, their country, and their masters.

Dante's Inferno

In the early 1300's, the Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy. The first of the three cantiche, or sections, is Inferno. In Inferno, Dante takes a journey through each of the 9 circles of hell in an attempt to save the soul of the woman he loves, Beatrice.

9 Circles of Hell

Each of the 9 circles in hell represents a different sin, each with its own degree of wickedness. The punishment, which is relevant to each sin is inflicted in the corresponding circle. As Dante travels through each circle, he encounters notable figures from history who were guilty of sin.

What Are the Layers of Hell?

People who committed the nine sins during their lifetime were assigned to an analogous circle of hell and destined to receive punishment. The following subsections will describe the 9 circles of hell punishments and the historical figures encountered in each.

What happened to Dante in the Inferno?

The poem follows Dante after he strays off the path of moral truth and gets lost in the dark woods. In the woods, Dante is greeted by three beasts; Virgil saves him from them and becomes his guide through hell. In hell, Dante has the opportunity to speak with multiple sinners within the nine circles.

How many circles are there in the Inferno?

The Inferno is made into nine circles, the perfect trinity. He makes it so that the layout of Hell is representative of Christianity in more than just the sense of its existence but also in how it is set up. Nine circles being the perfect trinity, three sets of three, breaks up Hell. Even the formatting of Dante’s writing reflects the number three with each stanza containing three lines. In the very depths of Hell in the center of the earth the holy number is still present, in the bottomless pit of circle nine Satan locked up as a prisoner.

What is the sin in Circle V?

One of the sin is wrath or anger which is described as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility and a response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. Anger could lead to other major sins like violence, revenge and unforgiving. Near the fifth circle of Hell, Phlegylas transports Dante and Virgil by ferry across the Styx. The Styx is the river that encompassed this entire level.

Why are the sinners punished in Canto 7?

As found in canto 7, the sinners in this circle are degraded by making them so physically squalid of rolling weights. (Lines

What is the fourth circle of hell?

Greed, the fourth circle of hell, is the sin of intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food . Dante and Virgil see the souls being punished for their sins and notice that there is two distinct groups.To illustrate, plutus says,”All of them were asquint In intellect in the first time, so much That

What is the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy?

Inferno, the first part of Dante 's Divine Comedy that inspired the latest Dan Brown 's bestseller of the same title describes the poet 's vision of Hell. The story begins with the narrator (who is the poet himself) being lost in a dark wood where he is attacked by three beasts which he cannot escape. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice (Dante 's ideal woman). Together, they begin the journey into the underworld or the 9 Circles of Hell.

What is the main thrust of Hamlet?

Retribution, being the main thrust in the play Hamlet, is likewise one motivation behind why it is a catastrophe. Village makes his requital everything in his life, devouring him. It is this fury that in the long run drives him to frenzy and homicide. It appears to be humorous that Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet all kicked the bucket of the same sword. Requital was the main thrust behind three

How many circles of hell are there in Dante's Inferno?

Dante’s Inferno 9 Circles of Hell. Dante’s ‘Inferno’, an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri in 1300, chronicles the journey of Dante as he is guided through the Nine Circles of Hell by an ancient poet named Virgil. This lesson will focus on the Seventh Circle of Violence. Dantes Inferno 9 Circles of Hell.

Who are the heretics in Dante's Sixth Circle?

Here, Dante talks with a couple of Florentines – Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he also sees other renowned historical characters including the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and Pope Anastasius II. The latter, however, is according to some convenient scholars denounced by Dante as a heretic by confusion. Instead, as some scholars claim, the poet probably meant the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I.

What monster is in the third circle of hell?

When reaching the Third Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil find souls of gluttons who are faced by a worm-monster Cerberus. Sinners in this circle of Hell are penalized by being compelled to lie in a vile slush that is presented by never-ending icy rain.

What are the three rings in the 7th circle of hell?

Here, Dante sees Alexander the Great (disputed), Dionysius I of Syracuse, Guy de Montfort, and many other important traditional and imaginary figures such as the Centaurus, submerged into a river of boiling blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the poet sees self-murders who have been transformed into trees and bushes which are fed upon by harpies. But he also sees here profligates, scattered and torn to pieces by dogs. In the Inner Ring are blasphemers and sodomites, residing in a desert of burning sand and burning rain falling from the sky.

What are the two groups of people in the Fourth Circle of Hell?

They are divided into two groups – those who acquired possessions and those who lavishly filled it – jousting. They use great weights as a weapon, forcing it with their chests which symbolizes their selfish drive for fortune during their lifetime. The two groups that are guarded by a character called Pluto (probably the old Greek ruler of the underworld) are so controlled with their actions that the two poets don’t try to speak to them. Here, Dante speaks to see many clergymen including cardinals and popes.

What are the 4 rounds of Hell?

Those who performed more severe sin are more buried within the ice. Each of the 4 Rounds is called after an individual who represents the sin. Thus Round 1 is named Caina after Cain who killed his brother Abel, Round 2 is called Antenora after Anthenor of Troy who was Priam’s counselor during the Trojan War, Round 3 is named Ptolomaea after Ptolemy (son of Abubus), while Round 4 is named Judecca after Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

What is the first circle of hell?

1st Circle of Hell (Limbo) Dante’s First Circle of Hell is inhabited by virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized pagans who are punished forever in an inferior form of Heaven. They live in a palace with seven gates which symbolize the seven virtues.

Dante's Inferno: Summary and Analysis

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was a writer, philosopher, and politician from the medieval period in the Italian city-state of Florence. He is considered a significant contributor to the western canon of literature and especially the development of Italian literature in the medieval era.

Descriptions of Dante's 9 Circles of Hell

There is a specific order to Hell as described by Dante; the nine circles of Hell are definitive in their structure and purpose, and they each are a component part of Hell's geography. The chart below gives a brief glimpse at Hell's organization of each circle's number, name, the sin it represents, and a description of punishment for that sin.

Meaning & Symbolism of Dante's Circles of Hell

Dante's circles of Hell are graphic and symbolic depictions of punishment for those who had sinned against medieval Catholic interpretations of Christianity and God. Dante expressed a sure poetic justice for those trapped in Hell: each sin precisely fitted to a different punishment.

What does Dante see in Dis?

Dante looks around and sees a plain filled with sepulchers, with flames flaring up in between them. The tombs are left open and are burning in the flames. He hears screams from those inside the tombs.

What does Virgil tell Dante about the angels?

Dante asks him if anyone has made this journey past the gate before and Virgil tells him that he did once before, when he was sent to fetch a soul from the deepest, darkest circle of hell. Virgil reassures Dante that he knows the way.

Why does Virgil tell Dante to cover his eyes?

Virgil tells Dante to cover his eyes, because if he is turned to stone by Medusa he will be trapped in hell forever. Virgil's words again fail to have their usual effect on Dante here.

What does Dante hear in the Styx?

It seems that the forces of hell may overwhelm Dante and Virgil, may turn them to stone and trap them in hell…. But just then, Dante hears a loud crashing noise and turns to see an angel coming toward them across the Styx, walking on water and parting the crowd of souls in its way.

What does the angel tell the inhabitants of Dis?

The angel tells the inhabitants of Dis to stop trying to thwart the will of God, and then leaves without speaking to Dante or Virgil. … but then the angel almost effortlessly clears the way for Dante and Virgil, sending the Furies and fallen angels away with the power of its speech.

What is the name of the circle Dante is in?

These souls constitute the most evil of all sinners—the Traitors to their Benefactors. Their part of Hell, the Fourth Ring of the Ninth Circle , is called Judecca.

How many faces does Lucifer have?

He stands in the icy lake, his torso rising above the surface. Gazing upward, Dante sees that Lucifer has three horrible faces, one looking straight ahead and the others looking back over his shoulders. Beneath each head rises a set of wings, which wave back and forth, creating the icy winds that keep Cocytus frozen.

What is the degree of wickedness of a deed?

A deed’s degree of wickedness thus depends on the degree to which it opposes love. So-called ordinary fraud only breaks the natural bonds of trust and love that form between men; other categories of fraud reach an even greater depth of evil because they break an additional bond of love.

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