Dante’s Inferno By Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri World’s greatest poet of ideas Born in Florence, grew up in beginning of the Renaissance Exiled for supporting the White Guelphs, against the Pope – banishment!

Background Allegory: the discussion of one subject by disguising it as another. The characters, setting, and the plot have hidden/symbolic meaning. Teaches a moral lesson. In medieval literature the allegory is the use of visible, physical reality to express the invisible or intangible. Universal theme: search for salvation

The Divine Comedy Epic poem written during his exile Three sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso Each section divided into cantos (song) 100 cantos total Written in three line stanzas, terza rima Three: deep spiritual meaning Commedia – happy ending

Story Dante – a traveler who stands for all of humanity He travels into the Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise Encounters characters from mythology, history, and his own time (friends, enemies) Soul’s odyssey from sin to eternal glory

Significant characters Virgil – great Roman poet, Dante’s symbol of human reason. Beatrice – a woman whom Dante loved; symbol of divine love, she will take him through to Paradiso. Dante’s Law of Hell – as they sinned, so they are punished.

Canto I "Midway through the journey of our life, I woke to find myself in a dark wood.” Virgil acts as Dante’s guide through the Inferno

Canto III Abandon hope all ye who enter here

Literary devices Light and dark imagery The light represents reason, truth, righteousness, and goodness. Dark is often depicted in times of torment, blindness, and evil. Imagery in Canto 3 Teacher/pupil dialogue emphasizes moral voice.

Gate of Hell Virgil takes Dante through dark vestibule “Assault of the senses” Souls of the Unsure Charon, ferryman Four Rivers of Hell: Acheron, Styx (mud) Phlegethon (blood), Cocytus (ice)

Canto III – Level One Who are the unsure? What is their punishment? Why is their punishment appropriate? Why is Charon angry that Dante is onboard? What is Virgil’s response? Identify the simile in Canto III

Canto V – Second Level of Hell Minos Illicit lovers Lust is one of seven deadly sins Punishment

Sinners - Cleopatra, Helen, Dido Paris & Tristan Paolo & Francesca Sinners in Circle Two of Hell are denied the pure light of reason Courtly love – noble lady beautiful & intelligent, is loved by a courageous knight ( already married - unattainable)

Canto V questions Symbols: Hurricane of Hell Minos’ role? Inhabitants in second level of Hell? Francesca & Paolo? What was the “spark”? What is their punishment? Why is it appropriate? What will happen to Francesca’s husband? How does Dante feel about these souls?

Canto 34 Vexilla regis prodeunt Inferni “The banners of the King of Hell advance”

Canto 34 - Level 9 Treacherous to their masters “The banners of the King of Hell advance” Sinners? Punishment Describe last level of Hell Description of Dis & Caina

Canto 34 Questions How is the icy wind created? Icy wind of cocytus Ko-kit’es (“wailing” exhalation of all evil) What covers the shades in the lowest level of Hell? Explain lines What is Dis’ emotional state? How does Dante feel about these souls?

Getting out of Hell Having seen it all, the poets now climb through the center, grappling hand over hand down the hairy flank of Satan himself – a last supremely symbolic action And, at last, when they have passed the center of all gravity, they emerge from Hell A long climb from the earth’s center to the Mount of Purgatory awaits them They emerge to see the stars of Heaven, just before dawn on Easter sunday