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. ...
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 is the plot of the Dante's 'Inferno'?
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. ...
What are some interesting facts about Dante Alighieri?
The structure: 3 cantiche, 100 canti and other important numbers.
- The work is divided into 3 books called Cantiche, which correspond to the three otherworldly realms: Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso.
- Each Cantica consists of 33 cantos (it. ...
- All cantos consist of tercets (form scheme of 3 verses) with concatenated rhymes (ABA BCB CDC DED …).
- Each verse consists of 11 syllables (it. ...
What is the main point of the 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 is Dante's Inferno message?
The theme of equilibrium between reason and faith is one of the core messages of Inferno and it is essential in conveying the main idea of the Divine Comedy and of the pilgrim's journey that the exploitation of intellect and the misuse of will is the cause of sin, and that through faith, those who are morally lost find ...
What is Dante's Inferno based on?
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.
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.
Why is Dante's Inferno so important?
The Divine Comedy is a fulcrum in Western history. It brings together literary and theological expression, pagan and Christian, that came before it while also containing the DNA of the modern world to come. It may not hold the meaning of life, but it is Western literature's very own theory of everything.
Why is it important to 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.
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.
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 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.
How old is Dante in Inferno?
Inferno. 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. 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 ...
What is Dante's story about?
Allegorically, Dante’s story represents not only his own life but also what Dante the poet perceived to be the universal Christian quest for God. As a result, Dante the character is rooted in the Everyman allegorical tradition: Dante’s situation is meant to represent that of the whole human race.
What is the Divine Comedy?
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.
Does Dante have a sin?
For this reason, Dante the character does not emerge as a particularly well-defined individual; although we know that he has committed a never-specified sin and that he participates in Florentine politics, we learn little about his life on Earth.
Dante's Inferno
Dante's "Inferno" is the first part of Dante Alighieri's epic poem known as the Divine Comedy, where he himself, alongside the poet Virgil, provides a thorough guide through the biblical depiction of Hell. The story begins with Dante lost in the woods where he is set upon by three wild beasts.
Satan in Dante's Inferno
Before discussing Satan, it's worth stepping back and understanding where and why he resides in Hell's deepest circle. When Dante proceeds to the Ninth Circle of Hell, he learns that, instead of the fiery pit that encompassed the other circles, it is instead a vast frozen lake, known as Cocytus, with massive gusts of wind plaguing the land.
Analysis of Lucifer in Dante's Inferno
Before he was the beast of the pit, Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer (meaning "the Morningstar" or "Lightbringer"), was originally the most beautiful and revered of God's angels. He lived in Heaven and served at the hand of God until his own pride got the better of him.
What does Dante say about the gate of hell?
Dante passes through the gate of Hell, which bears an inscription ending with the famous phrase " Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate ", most frequently translated as "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Dante and his guide hear the anguished screams of the Uncommitted. These are the souls of people who in life took no sides; the opportunists who were for neither good nor evil, but instead were merely concerned with themselves. Among these Dante recognizes a figure implied to be Pope Celestine V, whose "cowardice (in selfish terror for his own welfare) served as the door through which so much evil entered the Church". Mixed with them are outcasts who took no side in the Rebellion of Angels. These souls are forever unclassified; they are neither in Hell nor out of it, but reside on the shores of the Acheron. Naked and futile, they race around through the mist in eternal pursuit of an elusive, wavering banner (symbolic of their pursuit of ever-shifting self-interest) while relentlessly chased by swarms of wasps and hornets, who continually sting them. Loathsome maggots and worms at the sinners' feet drink the putrid mixture of blood, pus, and tears that flows down their bodies. This symbolizes the sting of their guilty conscience and the repugnance of sin. This may also be seen as a reflection of the spiritual stagnation in which they lived.
What does Dante perceive in the distance?
In the distance, Dante perceives high towers that resemble fiery red mosques. Virgil informs him that they are approaching the City of Dis. Dis, itself surrounded by the Stygian marsh, contains Lower Hell within its walls. Dis is one of the names of Pluto, the classical king of the underworld, in addition to being the name of the realm. The walls of Dis are guarded by fallen angels. Virgil is unable to convince them to let Dante and him enter.
What is the name of the circle in Canto IV?
Canto IV#N#Dante wakes up to find that he has crossed the Acheron, and Virgil leads him to the first circle of the abyss, Limbo, where Virgil himself resides. The first circle contains the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, who, although not sinful enough to warrant damnation, did not accept Christ. Dorothy L. Sayers writes, "After those who refused choice come those without opportunity of choice. They could not, that is, choose Christ; they could, and did, choose human virtue, and for that they have their reward." Limbo shares many characteristics with the Asphodel Meadows, and thus, the guiltless damned are punished by living in a deficient form of Heaven. Without baptism ("the portal of the faith that you embrace") they lacked the hope for something greater than rational minds can conceive. When Dante asked if anyone has ever left Limbo, Virgil states that he saw Jesus ("a Mighty One") descend into Limbo and take Adam, Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, and Rachel (see Limbo of the Patriarchs) into his all-forgiving arms and transport them to Heaven as the first human souls to be saved. The event, known as the Harrowing of Hell, would have occurred in AD 33 or 34.
What is the name of the first part of the Divine Comedy?
Canto I from the Inferno, the first part of the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. v. t. e. Dante 's Divine Comedy. Inferno ( Hell) Purgatorio ( Purgatory) Paradiso ( Heaven) Inferno ( Italian: [iɱˈfɛrno]; Italian for "Hell") is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri 's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy.
What are the nine circles of Hell?
Virgil proceeds to guide Dante through the nine circles of Hell. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the centre of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage. The sinners of each circle are punished for eternity in a fashion fitting their crimes: each punishment is a contrapasso, a symbolic instance of poetic justice. For example, later in the poem, Dante and Virgil encounter fortune-tellers who must walk forward with their heads on backward, unable to see what is ahead, because they tried to see the future through forbidden means. Such a contrapasso "functions not merely as a form of divine revenge, but rather as the fulfilment of a destiny freely chosen by each soul during his or her life". People who sinned, but prayed for forgiveness before their deaths are found not in Hell but in Purgatory, where they labour to become free of their sins. Those in Hell are people who tried to justify their sins and are unrepentant.
How many circles does Dante have in Hell?
As a Christian, Dante adds Circle 1 (Limbo) to Upper Hell and Circle 6 (Heresy) to Lower Hell, making 9 Circles in total; incorporating the Vestibule of the Futile, this leads to Hell containing 10 main divisions. This "9+1=10" structure is also found within the Purgatorio and Paradiso.
Where do Canto V#N#Dante and Virgil enter the second circle?
Canto V#N#Dante and Virgil leave Limbo and enter the Second Circle – the first of the circles of Incontinence – where the punishments of Hell proper begin. It is described as "a part where no thing gleams". They find their way hindered by the serpentine Minos, who judges all of those condemned for active, deliberately willed sin to one of the lower circles. Minos sentences each soul to its torment by wrapping his tail around himself a corresponding number of times. Virgil rebukes Minos, and he and Dante continue on.
Summary
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Characters
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Literary Devices
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Where was Dante Alighieri born?
Inferno. Dante Alighieri was born in 1265 in Florence, Italy, to a family of moderate wealth that had a history of involvement in the complex Florentine political scene.
How did Dante die?
Dante roamed from court to court in Italy, writing and occasionally lecturing, until his death from a sudden illness in 1321. Dante’s personal life and the writing of The Comedy were greatly influenced by the politics of late-thirteenth-century Florence.
What was Dante's love for Beatrice?
Three years later, he published Vita Nuova (The New Life), which describes his tragic love for Beatrice. Around the time of Beatrice’s death, Dante began a serious study of philosophy and intensified his political involvement in Florence. He held a number of significant public offices at a time of great political unrest in Italy, and, in 1302, ...
What were the two groups that supported the independence of Florence?
By 1290, however, the Guelphs had divided into two factions: the Whites (Dante’s party), who supported the independence of Florence from strict papal control, and the Blacks, who were willing to work with the pope in order to restore their power.
What was the struggle for power in Florence?
The struggle for power in Florence was a reflection of a crisis that affected all of Italy, and, in fact, most of Europe, from the twelfth century to the fourteenth century—the struggle between church and state for temporal authority.
What is the difference between tragedy and comedy?
Tragedy was the high style, the style of epics, with plots that flowed from a promising beginning to a destructive end . Comedy was the low style , the style of grotesque caricatures, with plots that flowed from an unhappy beginning to a happy end. The title The Comedy is thus appropriate in two ways.
What does Dante's choice of calling his work a comedy mean?
Obviously, Dante’s choice to call his work a comedy does not mean that the poem is intended to be humorous. Rather, the word comedy refers to one of the two classical styles, the other being tragedy. Tragedy was the high style, the style of epics, with plots that flowed from a promising beginning to a destructive end.
What is the theme of Dante's book?
Active Themes. Dante sees a mountain with the sun shining above it. The sight comforts him, and he attempts to climb the mountain. But as he begins his climb, a leopard leaps in front of him, forcing him to turn back. Dante is still hopeful that he can climb the mountain, encouraged by the bright rays of the sun.
What are the three things Dante is frightened by?
(The three animals can potentially be seen as standing in for the three kinds of sin: lack of self-control, violence, and fraudulence or deception.) Dante is frightened by the animals and loses all hope of scaling the mountain.
What is Dante scared of?
Dante is frightened by the animals and loses all hope of scaling the mountain. He reluctantly returns to the dark forest, where he sees some kind of figure. He calls out to it, unsure if it is a man or a ghost. The figure identifies himself as the shade of Virgil, the greatest poet of ancient Rome.
What is Dante hopeful about?
Dante is still hopeful that he can climb the mountain, encouraged by the bright rays of the sun. But then a terrifying lion comes into his path, followed by a fierce wolf. Dante attempts to find an easy path to the goodness and clarity suggested by the shining sun.
What does the greyhound represent in Dante?
Virgil quickly assumes the role of Dante's spiritual and literal guide. The greyhound represents the coming of Jesus on Judgment Day to drive away the forces of sin.
Who will guide Dante on his journey?
Virgil says he will guide Dante on his journey. He says Dante will go through a terrible place with souls in torment, after which "a worthier spirit" (1.121) will lead him on the rest of his journey toward heaven, since God will not allow Virgil, a pagan, to enter heaven. Dante agrees to follow Virgil on this journey.
Does Dante follow Virgil?
Dante agrees to follow Virgil on this journey. In spite of Virgil's admirable character, he is still a pagan and cannot guide Dante past hell, where he is confined. In order to reach the light of heaven, Dante must journey through the darkness of hell, where he will see the consequences of sinning.