Dante’s Inferno

The Inferno Dante Alighieri ( ) Italian poet, philosopher, and politician Most famous for the epic poem The Divine Comedy Most famous portion of The Divine Comedy is The Inferno He belonged to a group that supported the pope against secular rulers Later came to oppose the political and territorial ambitions of the new pope, Boniface VIII. While away in Florence in 1302, Dante was condemned by his political enemies and banished from the city.

The Inferno The Divine Comedy Epic poem written to help comprehend his banishment from Florence by placing it into a larger context: man’s banishment from God. Poem is an imaginary journey through three regions of the Christian afterlife: Inferno: hell - sinners are punished forever Purgatory: a burning mountain – sinners are cleansed in preparation for entering Paradise Paradise: blessed souls live with God

The Inferno Dante wrote 3 books: Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise each with 33 sections or cantos. Dante’s Guides: Virgil: Roman poet, who many suspect was chosen by Dante because he was the “Roman Homer” and Dante wanted to be compared to something great. Virgil-wrote the Aeneid, a 12 book story about the foundation of Rome. It was written in dactylic hexameter in Latin. It told the tales of Aeneas and his trial and tribulations in getting to Rome Beatrice: symbol of purity

The Inferno Literary Elements Symbolism: based on the number 3, inspired by the Holy Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- united as one God. Allegory: a literary work with two levels of meaning: literal and symbolic. Imagery: use of language that appeals to the five senses and creates mental images for the reader.

The Inferno Literary Elements Terza Rima: a three line stanza form in poetry. The rhymes are made on the last word of each line in the following manner: The first and third lines of the first stanza rhyme;, then the second line of the first stanza and the first and third line of the second stanza rhyme, and so on with the middle line of any stanza rhyming with the first and third line of the following stanza.

Canto I What sense does the narcotic state give to Dante’s tale?

Canto I Identify the character of the leopard introduced here.

Canto I What abstract ideas is might Dante be representing through the leopard?

Canto I What three animals does Dante face? How is his reaction more realistic than heroic?

Canto I How do Dante’s reactions function allegorically?

Canto I Why does Dante seem so frightened of the She-Wolf?

Canto I What does Virgil mean by “false and lying gods.” Why does this statement point to a significant difference between Virgil and Dante?

Canto I Gluttony: Based on Virgil’s comments, does the She- Wolf symbolize Dante’s social, political, religious, or moral concerns?

Canto I What does Dante mean by “souls in fire yet content in fire?”

Canto I What assistance does Virgil offer Dante?

Canto I At the end of Canto I, Dante lays out the structure of his entire poem. In what ways does this help the reader grasp the allegory?