Dante's Inferno Summary
- At the poem’s beginning, Dante is lost in a dark wood, both literally and spiritually. ...
- Dante and Virgil enter hell and explore its nine circles, observing the punishments suffered by the various categories of sinners.
- At the bottom of the Ninth Circle, Dante and Virgil encounter Lucifer. ...
Is Inferno a good book?
You skipped Shakespeare who undoubtedly wrote better than Homer and Ovid. Also Dante started the use of the vernacular in literature, publishing Inferno and The Divine Comedy in common Italian, not Latin, without precedent. The Inferno is good but purgatory and heaven are kind of boring.
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.
What does Dante consider monstrous in Inferno?
The first circle is the limbo which was like an inferior form of heaven, and then we can find circles for sins like lust, gluttony, greed, anger, etc, but the last and worst circle is for people that commit treachery, so we can infer that Dante considered the betrayal of friends monstrous.
What are the main ideas in Dante's Inferno?
Sin, Justice, Pity and Piety. As it narrates a journey through hell, Dante's Inferno is essentially a tour of all kinds of different punishments for different sins. Paganism vs. Christianity. Dante's epic poem is obviously a deeply Christian work. ... This World vs. the Afterlife. ...
What is the main point of Dante's Inferno?
The Divine Comedy is the allegorical record of Dante's quest to overcome sin and find God's love; in Inferno, Dante explores the nature of sin by traveling through Hell, where evil receives punishment according to God's justice.
What are Dante's books about?
The Divine Comedy describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso); he is first guided by the Roman poet Virgil and then by Beatrice.
Is Dante's Inferno Based on a true story?
Brown's novels have drawn both praise and criticism for incorporating real life organizations and events into their storylines, blurring the line between fiction and reality, and Inferno looks to do the same. And even though Inferno isn't a true story, that doesn't mean that there isn't some truth to the tale.
What is the lesson of Dante's Inferno?
The standard that evil is to be punished and good rewarded is written into the very fabric of the Divine Comedy, and it's a standard Dante uses to measure the deeds of all men, even his own. Moral judgments require courage, because in so judging, a man must hold himself and his own actions to the very same standard.
Why you should read Dante's Inferno?
The Inferno is probably the most read book of The Divine Comedy and famous for giving the reader a glimpse of the souls in Hell. Something about demons ripping at bodies with grappling hooks, and sinners eating each other is entertaining.
Why did Dante write Dante's Inferno?
He wrote the poem in order to entertain his audience, as well as instruct them. 10. He wrote the poem for an audience that included the princely courts he wished to communicate to, his contemporaries in the literary world and especially certain poets, and other educated listeners of the time.
Is Dante's Inferno related to the Bible?
Dante's Inferno is an undeniably Christian text, as it catalogs various types of earthly sinners and describes the torments they experience in hell. The poem is the first part of Dante's three-part religious project, the Divine Comedy, which goes on to illustrate Christian purgatory and heaven.
How does Dante's Inferno end?
In the final canto of the Inferno, Dante and Virgil leave Lucifer imprisoned in ice at the bottom of Hell and climb down his legs to come out the other side of Hell, on the opposite side of the world. It is night, so Dante and Virgil are able to “see, once more, the stars.” Inferno thus concludes on a note of hope.
Why is Dante's Inferno called a comedy?
The poem is called a "comedy" in the medieval-Aristotelian sense that it leads from misery to a state of happiness. Dante's salvation is "comic" in that it culminates in joy.
What is Dante's philosophy?
The Convivio. The fullest expository expression of Dante's philosophical thought is the Convivio, in which commentary on a series of his own canzoni is the occasion for the expression of a range of ideas on ethics, politics, and metaphysics, as well as for extended discussion of philosophy itself.
What is The Divine Comedy about summary?
The plot of The Divine Comedy is simple: a man, generally assumed to be Dante himself, is miraculously enabled to undertake an ultramundane journey, which leads him to visit the souls in Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
What was Dante's sin in Dante's Inferno?
Dante's sin is pride, as demonstrated in both seeing himself above those suffering and in assuming he knows better than God who should be shown mercy.
What is Dante's Inferno based on?
Dante's Inferno is based on Catholic theology and the Bible, as well as classical epic poems and mythology (such as the Aeneid, The Iliad, and The...
What is the meaning of Dante's Inferno?
It is the first part in Dante's three-part epic poem The Divine Comedy. It tells about Dante's journey through the Nine Circles of Hell.
What is the main idea of Dante's Inferno?
The main idea is Dante getting to know the sins of human nature, sins from which he is not exempt.
What are the 9 circles of Dante's Inferno?
The Nine Circles are Limbo (for noble pagans), Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. At the center of the circles i...
When does the Inferno start?
An Overview of the Plot. Inferno begins on Good Friday back in 1300 A.D. Dante is journeying through the dark wood and has lost his way. The mountain above him is illuminated by sunshine. Upon attempting to climb, he meets three beasts. Dante fearfully retreats into the dark wood where Virgil’s ghost meets him.
Who is Dante Alighieri?
Dante Alighieri is a poet and a pilgrim who embarks on an intense spiritual journey through the nine circles of hell under the guise of Virgil’s soul. Virgil is another Roman poet. There, he witnesses the eternal repercussions faced by souls of those who died in sin.
What is the first circle in the story of Virgil?
At the onset of the journey, they go through the first circle known as limbo.
What is the punishment of the lustful souls in the second circle?
All the good people who were non-believers end up there. Their punishment is to chase a blank banner eternally. In the second circle, the lustful souls circle a storm without ever finding peace.
Who are the three mouths of Lucifer?
Lucifer’s three separate mouths are munching Judas, Brutus , and Cassius, the biggest traitors in history. The pair gets out of hell though climbing Lucifer’s frozen strand of hair, making their way across the river of forgetfulness (Lethe) and come back to earth to find that it is Easter morning.
How many bolgias are there in Lucifer?
It is separated into ten bolgias with each representing a specific type of fraud. Finally, they reach the 90th circle that houses the treacherous, all covered in ice to the neck. There are four rounds therein: Lucifer’s three separate mouths are munching Judas, Brutus, and Cassius, the biggest traitors in history.
What are the elements of Dante's Inferno?
Dante’s Inferno Literary Elements. Major Thematic Elements: The perfection of God’s justice; evil juxtaposed to God’s grace; storytelling as a vehicle for immortality. Motifs: Political arguments; allusions to classical literature; cities; fame and prestige in human life.
What does Dante feel about Hell?
Dante feels great feelings of pity and is overwhelmed at first, however he seems to come to a deeper understanding of Hell and how it functions as a spiritual realm, so by the end he possesses a certain acceptance and wisdom about Hell and its purpose.
Why are Dante and Virgil in this circle together?
They are in this Circle together because of their imprudence with Fortune. At the end of Canto VII, Dante and Virgil descend to the Fifth Circle of Hell and see the River Styx. Covered in mud, these souls residing here fight and bite one another relentlessly. These are the souls of the wrathful.
Why does Virgil cover Dante's eyes?
Virgil covers Dante’s eyes in time to prevent this . An angelic messenger arrives to force open the gates and allow Dante entry to the Sixth Circle of Hell, home of the heretics. Here, as Canto X begins, Dante encounters a political rival, Farinata.
Where do Dante and Virgil meet Minos?
In Canto V , Virgil and Dante descend to the Second Circle of Hell where they meet the monster Minos. His job is to assign punishments to the condemned souls who enter. The Second Circle of Hell is where the lustful wind up. Overcome with pity, Dante faints for the second time since he’s arrived in Hell.
What is the conflict in Dante's poem?
Conflict: Dante attempts to find his way to God, to Heaven, to Beatrice, but obstacles in Hell hinder his journey. Plot: The story is told in Cantos—sections of the poem. Mostly, the Cantos align with where the characters are in their journey through Hell. Major Symbols: The entire poem is allegorical, so every aspect serves as a symbol.
What is the first poem in the Divine Comedy?
Inferno is the first poem in a three-part series called The Divine Comedy. Inferno is an allegorical journey through Hell. In part, Inferno is a political allegory, and in part it is a religious allegory. It is also a story following the classic elements of a comedy—it starts in the depths of Hell but ends with the joys of Heaven.
What is Dante's Inferno?
Dante's Inferno serves as a symbolic allegory of Dante acknowledging his own sin. Through engaging in cruelty towards fellow sinners, including those who have personally harmed him, and through being scolded for compassion for sinners, even for his own relatives, Dante grows to understand the foibles of human nature. Compassion does not coexist with judgement in Hell, and it is Dante's compassion and bond with Virgil that enables him to escape Hell and, after facing his sin, climb towards Heaven, where condemnation is left behind. It is possible, also, to read this as Dante working through his feelings regarding his unjust exile from Florence, perhaps even seeing himself in his enemies.
What is Dante's main character?
Dante writes himself as the main character. As Dante descends into hell, he at first experiences a bliss born out of ignorance: he's welcomed among five great classical poets, and considered their equal; however, he almost forgets where he is (hell). Once he leaves the first circle of hell, however, Dante begins to be disturbed by the suffering of those condemned for lust, and faints. The deeper they descend into hell, the more Dante starts to act in ways similar to those condemned: he tells them off, kicks their heads, and experiences satisfaction at seeing his own political enemies suffering.
Where was Dante Alighieri born?
Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy, in 1265. At that time Italy was divided into city states, and Florence itself was routinely divided between political factions. Dante himself fought in a battle against political enemies in 1289. Dante chose the side of the White Guelphs and was elected to the city's Council of Priors in 1300; his victory was short-lived. Upon the city ceding power to the Black Guelphs, Dante was exiled from Florence in 1302 under threat of execution. He never returned, dying in exile. Dante's fictional journey in The Divine Comedy can be read with parallels to his real-life exilic journey.
Who leads Dante to the second circle of hell?
Virgil leads Dante on to the second circle of hell, which is darker and full of more suffering and screaming. Here they see Minos, the judge of the underworld, who dictates where in hell souls will be punished. Like Charon, he tries to stop Dante, since he is a living soul.
Where does Dante see sinners?
Dante sees numerous sinners walking around the desert or lying in the burning sands, including a giant man named Capaneus, who scorned God. Virgil and Dante come to a river whose banks are safe from the burning sands and falling fire.
What does Virgil tell Dante to do before Medusa appears?
Virgil tells Dante to cover his eyes, but before Medusa appears an angel arrives. The angel rebukes the inhabitants of Dis trying to thwart Dante's journey and opens the gate by simply touching it with a wand. Dante and Virgil walk through the gate and see a field with burning tombs, within which heretics are punished.
Why does Charon refuse to transport Dante?
Charon first refuses to transport Dante, because he is a living soul, but Virgil tells him that Dante's journey is sanctioned by God, so Charon relents. Get the entire Inferno LitChart as a printable PDF. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof.". -Graham S. Download.
What happens in the fourth circle of hell?
In the fourth circle, Dante sees spendthrifts and hoarders of money.
What does Dante do in Canto?
Midway through his life, Dante wakes up in a dark, unfamiliar forest. He attempts to climb up a mountain, but his path is blocked by a leopard, a lion, and a wolf. The spirit of the Roman poet Virgil appears to him and tells him that he must take another path out of the forest.
How many souls does Dante see?
Dante sees four souls: three men and a six-legged worm. The worm clings to one of the men until they merge into one creature, which then slithers off. A lizard comes up and exchanges bodies with another of the men, and the third runs off to chase this lizard. In the eighth trench, Dante sees many twinkling flames.
What does Dante learn about being cut off from God?
Down in the pit of Hell, Dante learns the causes and consequences of being cut off eternally from God’s love.
Why did Dante get to the Afterlife?
The poem is a fictional memoir, in which Dante tells the story of the time he was granted access to the three realms of the Afterlife – Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. Dante got this special treatment – this unique chance to visit the Afterlife while still alive – because of the intercession of an angel called Beatrice. Beatrice had once been a girl whom Dante had loved before she died young; when Dante wandered further and further away from God’s love, Beatrice had begged the Almighty for the chance to show Dante the error of his ways. Heaven granted this request because not just Dante but the whole of Italy was ruining itself and turning away from God – so if Dante went on this special journey, he would be able to write about what he saw and use his poetry to guide people back to the true Christian path.
What is the name of the comedy where Dante is held at the furthest point from God?
Divine Comedy Summary 1: Inferno. Virgil leads Dante through the nine circles of Hell, descending to the centre of the earth where Satan is held at the furthest point from God. All the damned have physical bodies, so they can feel pain, but their bodies heal so that they can never be permanently destroyed.
What do Dante and Virgil see in the border of Hell?
As they approach the border of Hell, Virgil and Dante see the swarm of Neutrals: people who lived empty , pointless lives – scarcely living at all, just existing. They did nothing truly good or bad, following the herd unthinkingly, so they do not deserve a place in either Heaven or Hell.
Why was Virgil sent to Dante?
Virgil has been sent by Beatrice in order to lead Dante to her, but Dante is not ready to appear in her presence and must first travel a hard road. Virgil, with the combination of symbolism and realism that underlies the whole poem, is simultaneously himself – Dante’s hero and model – and the embodiment of Reason.
Why did Virgil carry Nicholas down to the rock?
Virgil carries him down to the rock so as to protect him from the flames, and it turns out to be Pope Nicholas III (died 1280). Nicholas is waiting for his successor, Boniface, to come and join him as a fellow Simonist. Realising that he is speaking to the late Pope, Dante roundly abuses him for selling out the Church.
Where are Dante and Virgil?
Virgil and Dante make their way down the cliffside, past the Minotaur, towards the Seventh Circle. The slope is scarred by a great landslide, from the convulsion of the Earth at the Crucifixion. The first part of the Seventh Circle is a boiling red river, in which tyrants and plunderers are suffering. The riverbank is guarded by centaurs, who fire arrows at any souls who venture towards the shore. Alone among the denizens of Hell, the centaurs are noble and dignified, and one of them carries Dante and Virgil on his back across the red river.
What are the three groups Dante visited in The Inferno?
The souls there fall into three worsening groups: the incontinent, or people who had a disordered relationship to earthly goods like sex, food, and money; the violent; and worst of all, the fraudulent. Over the course of The Inferno, Dante visits every circle of Hell and meets sinners undergoing ironic punishments.
What is the theme of Inferno?
The poem’s form— terza rima, an endlessly circling pattern of interweaving triple rhymes—reflects its major theme: the wisdom, power, and love of the trinitarian Christian God. Like every book of the Comedy, Inferno ends with the word “stars.”.
What is the plot of Dante Alighieri?
Plot Summary. Midway through life, the Italian poet Dante Alighieri finds himself lost and terrified in a dark wood. He desperately wishes to ascend a beautiful mountain, but is blocked by three threatening wild beasts. He is about to give up hope when he encounters a ghost: the spirit of his great poetic hero Virgil.
What does Virgil protect Dante?
As Dante and Virgil travel, Virgil protects and parents Dante at the same time as he reveals his own weaknesses. Virgil himself is damned, though his soul resides in the tolerable Limbo—a campus-like underworld where pagan philosophers and poets wander around chatting.
What is Dante Alighieri's spirit?
He is about to give up hope when he encounters a ghost: the spirit of his great poetic hero Virgil. Dante’s dead beloved Beatrice has sent Virgil to rescue Dante, but they will not be able to get past the beasts and climb the mountain directly. Instead, they will have to make a long pilgrimage through Hell itself.
What did Dante discover about Hell?
Dante discovers that Hell is as old as the world itself, a piece of the cosmic pattern: It is populated with figures from classical mythology, its landscape was rattled by earthquakes after the Crucifixion, and Virgil reports having seen Christ descend into Limbo to rescue Old Testament patriarchs and matriarchs.
What is the Inferno?
The Inferno is the first book of Dante Alighieri’s great medieval epic, The Divine Comedy: a monument of world literature. Written between 1308 and 1320, the three-part poem charts Dante’s transformative journey through Hell and Purgatory to Heaven itself. The poem’s form— terza rima, an endlessly circling pattern of interweaving triple rhymes—reflects its major theme: the wisdom, power, and love of the trinitarian Christian God. Like every book of the Comedy, Inferno ends with the word “stars.”
Plot Overview
Inferno opens on the evening of Good Friday in the year 1300. Traveling through a dark wood, Dante Alighieri has lost his path and now wanders fearfully through the forest. The sun shines down on a mountain above him, and he attempts to climb up to it but finds his way blocked by three beasts—a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf.
Character List
The author and protagonist of Inferno; the focus of all action and interaction with other characters. Because Dante chose to present his fictional poem as a record of events that actually happened to him, a wide gulf between Dante the poet and Dante the character pervades the poem.
Analysis of Major Characters
Thirty-five years old at the beginning of the story, Dante—the character as opposed to the poet—has lost his way on the “true path” of life; in other words, sin has obstructed his path to God.
Canto Summaries
Dante finds himself lost in a dark wood, the path he was following lost. He does not remember how he lost his way. Above, he sees a great hill that seems to offer protection from the shadowed glen.
Canto Analyses
From a structural point of view, the first two cantos of Inferno function as an introduction, presenting the main dramatic situation and maneuvering Dante and Virgil to the entrance of Hell, the journey through which will constitute the main plot of the poem.
Metaphor Analysis
Dante fills The Divine Comedy with hundreds of metaphors. Only a close reading of the poems' "Notes" will give readers fair insight into the elaborate and complex metaphors, and metaphorical systems, employed by Dante. Additionally, Dante scholars still disagree on many points related to the symbolism and true meaning of specific details in Comedy.
Top Ten Quotes
1) "'And are you Virgil, you the fountain that freely pours so rich a stream of speech?' I answered him with shame upon my brow. 'O light and honor of all other poets, may my long study and the intense love that made me search your volume serve me now.