1. ALLISON WARMBIR 04/29/09 Canto 16

2. Summary Dante is still in the seventh circle, in the third ring with the sodomites Three men running past identify Dante as a Florentine by his clothing They reveal their identities as being men of high birth in Florence, and lament of the decadence that was corrupting the great city Dante realizes that Virgil can read his thoughts Virgil uses a rope cord to call up a great beast from the Phlegeton river

3. New Characters Three Florentines: Guido Guerra, a leading participant in the civil strife of Florence Tegghiaio Aldobrani, an ally of Guido Jacopo Rusticucci, an ally of Tegghiaio, and who blames his state in hell on his wife

4. Details of the Sinners Dante is in the Seventh Circle, Third Ring, and Second Zone of hell The sodomites are punished here, classified with those who were violent against God Their punishment is to forever run, naked and wounded across burning sands, beneath a rain of fire

5. Scenery The setting is an endless beach of scalding hot sand Next to the beach is a deep ravine, in which the river Phelegethon flows, cascading into the next zone This fiery zone is a stark contrast to the woods in the previous ring, and the sticky tar pits in the following circle

6. Map of Hell