Paradise, Purgatory, or Hell? Politician? Religious skeptic? Soldier in the Crusades? Exile? Created the levels of Hell? Wife named Beatrice? Yes: One of six Supreme Magistrates No: But saw papal abuse/corruption No, but was a soldier at one point Yes: Lost his power/internal conflict Yes, but used other sources as inspiration No: Wife was Gemma.

Paradise, Purgatory, or Hell? Virgil: great poet? Dante’s journey a choice? Guided by Virgil? Epic Poem? Virgil does not make it to Heaven? Inferno part of a trilogy? Dante’s mission is to save his wife? Yes, he wrote the Aeneid No Yes Yes! Also a narrative poem No, his philosophical beliefs in life bar him from entrance Yes. Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise

Location: The Dark Wood of Error Canto 1 Location: The Dark Wood of Error Symbols Leopard: malice Lion: fraud and ambition She-Wolf: incontinence Foreshadowing Presage the numerological significance of three and the division of sins in hell

Location: The Dark Wood of Error Canto 1 Location: The Dark Wood of Error In the Middle Ages, Catholics were always on the lookout for numerical significance Holy trinity = 3 Unity of God = 1 Numerology in The Inferno Trilogy: Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise Number of cantos: 33 Total number of cantos: 99+1 3 squared plus 1 = holy trinity plus unity of God Terza Rima: Dante’s stanza Three divisions of Hell Sins with no victims Sins with intent to harm Sins of fraud and deceit

Location: The Dark Wood of Error Canto 1 Location: The Dark Wood of Error Terza Rima Developed by Dante expressly for this trilogy 3 lines (tercet) A chain or linked rhyme: ABA, BCB, CDC, etc. No set rhythmn I have been one acquainted with the night. (a) I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. (b) I have outwalked the furthest city light. (a) I have looked down the saddest city lane. (b) I have passed by the watchman on his beat (c) And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain. (b)

Location: The Dark Wood of Error Canto 1 Location: The Dark Wood of Error Symbolism Virgil: human reason Dante: mankind/ divine soul Beatrice divine love Two ways in which to read Dante: Allegory: as a commentary on Dante’s society Literary: as an expertly crafted creative and poetic masterpiece

Location: The Dark Wood of Error Canto 1 Location: The Dark Wood of Error The allegorical perspective: Florence was a sovereign country (as opposed to its current status as city) Its international presence and monetary might created a history of internal power struggles The reigning factions were the Guelphs and the Ghibellines (Papal backed) The Guelphs won out only to succumb to in-fighting (Blacks vs. Whites) Dante’s rise to high office fell victim to his being on the losing side (Whites) Dante felt a victim of injustice (stripped of titles and exiled) government corruption religious corruption family tragedy (orphaned in his teens) societal amorality The Divine Comedy is an allegorical investigation of the many crimes, injustices, and misdeeds Dante witnessed as well a catalog of direct and allusive references to individuals whose misdeeds Dante wished to call out.

Canto 2 Location: The Descent Virgil Wrote the Aeneid (circa 29-19 BCE) a classic, ancient Greek work of narrative poetry chronicles epic hero Aeneus Was a literary father-figure to Dante Look for Dante’s desire for approval and acceptance from such a figure throughout Inferno Line 73

Location: The Vestibule of Hell Canto 3 Location: The Vestibule of Hell Major Topic: Symbolic retribution: let the punishment fit the crime Motif: Inaction, indecision, a lack of allegience to one side or the other is almost worse than a predominance toward good or evil. Lines 30 to 66 Amongst those spotted is a Pope (first sign of Dante’s allegorical vengence)

Location: The Vestibule of Hell Canto 3 Location: The Vestibule of Hell Hell’s Gate: I am the way into the city of woe. I am the way to a forsaken people. I am the way to eternal sorrow. Sacred justice moved my architect. I was raised here by divine omnipotence, Primordial love and ultimate intellect. Only those elements time cannot wear Were made before me, and beyond time I stand. Abandon all hope ye who enter here. Anaphora: phrases or words generally repeated at the start of lines or sentences Allusion: this stanza refers to God, creator of Dante’s universe Metaphysics: this stanza alludes to supernatural elements beyond the study of physics Trope: a common theme, device, or element

Location: The Vestibule of Hell Canto 3 Location: The Vestibule of Hell Minor Theme: Those who take no side, are passionless in their lives and beliefs, deserve no specific reward or punishment in the afterlife. Angels who took no side in the revolt in Heaven Individuals who lived passionless lives Major Theme: One must harden oneself against sympathy for sinners. Lines 118 to end

Location: The Vestibule of Hell Canto 3 Location: The Vestibule of Hell Charon From Greek myth; ferryman to deceased souls on the river Styx; described by Virgil in his Aenid) How does this relate to Dante’s orphan status? Acheron In The Inferno, river in front of which those waiting to pass into Hell congregate in epic numbers

Canto 3 Writing Prompt Regarding The Inferno, you have an understanding of what lay ahead. How does Dante use the gateway to Hell as foreshadowing? Support your response with an explanation and specific examples. You may use Art History to help support your response, but provide at least one example from the text. Regardless of the structure you choose, provide a thesis statement. Be direct and be confident.

Canto 4 Location: Limbo Hell’s locale: Hell is located at the center of our Earth The realm of the Virtuous Pagans: Reside on the lip of Hell’s deeps Within the Dolorous Abyss just beyond the Acheron, surrounded by brooke These are symbolic gestures

Canto 4 Location: Limbo The Citadel of Human Reason: Question: Who resides outside of the Citadel of Human Reason? Answer: The unbaptized (including children and infants) In real life, Dante was tormented by this belief accepted by orthodox Christians of the day His deference to God’s omniscient will forces him to accept a truth that pains him

Canto 4 Location: Limbo Question: What lesson does Virgil teach Dante on page 27? Lesson starts on line 13 Answer: Virgil reinforces Dante’s theme regarding hardening oneself against sympathizing with the fate of sinners

Canto 4 Location: Limbo The Citadel of Human Reason: Question: We know that Virgil cannot lead Dante into Paradise. We know that the inhabitants of the Citadel have done no wrong. What larger statement (theme) is Dante making about human reason? Answer: Human reason is required to understand God’s omnipotence, but it must be transcended in order for one to become beatific.

Canto 4 Location: Limbo The Citadel of Human Reason: A Melange of Residents: Fictional Aeneas Hector Electra Historical Caesar Socrates Plato Lucan Ovid Horace Homer etc.

Canto 4 Location: Limbo The Harrowing of Hell: Numerous allusions to this event are made throughout The very entrance to Hell is permanently damaged as a result of God’s powerful redemption of the Old Testament believers Adam Noah Moses etc.

Canto 5 Location: Circle Two The carnal (lust): Those individuals who gave in to earthly desires without thought or reason Why does this place them a circle below those in The Citadel? They denied reason Why is this particular punishment fitting? The wind is a symbol for lack of continence (self restraint); they can not steady themselves

Canto 5 Location: Circle Two Minos: Judge of the damned Renders his decision through coiling of tail Greek mythological creature King if Crete Victims of Note Cleopatra (historical) Paris (fictional hero) Helen of Troy (historical?) Achilles (fictional hero) Featured Conversation: Paolo and Francesca Much alluded to tale

Canto 5 Location: Circle Two Dante’s Second Swoon: Where did we see Dante first swoon? What theme does this swoon support? What other parallel occurs after Dante’s swoon?

English vs. Italian Hither and thither, upward and downward it drives them. Di qua, di la, di giu, di su li mena Leave behind every hope, you who enter Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate

Location: Circle Three Canto 6 Location: Circle Three The gluttons: Those individuals whose appetites were over-indulged in life Guarded over by Cerberus Three headed dog Greasy beard and bulging belly Tears the shades apart What is the atmosphere of circle three, and why is it fitting? Soggy, putrid smelling ground Hailstones, snow, filthy rain Monotonous weather

Location: Circle Three Canto 6 Location: Circle Three Ciacco (The Hog): Florentine (the first direct reference to Florentine citzenry) Why is this important? One of Dante’s purposes is to criticize Florentine society (he is angry!) Dante asks Ciacco about the future because… The damned can see into the future Dante of literature has yet to be exiled

Location: Circle Three Canto 6 Location: Circle Three Ciacco indicates that Florence is doomed for three sins (three!!!!!) Envy Pride Avarice Ciacco predicts Dante’s political undoing Dante the writer adds a lovely nuance: “remember me to the sweet world” Then on to … Plutus