1. Dante’s Inferno: Cantos I-III It’s just like the video game, right?

2. NO.

3. A Man and His Allegory As your vocabulary packets will tell you, an allegory is any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning. As your vocabulary packets will tell you, an allegory is any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning. The entire Divine Comedy, from The Inferno to Paradise, is an allegory, where persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but they also stand for something else on the symbolic level. The entire Divine Comedy, from The Inferno to Paradise, is an allegory, where persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but they also stand for something else on the symbolic level.

4. Dante on Dante You may have noticed that Dante is not only the author of the book, but also the main character. You may have noticed that Dante is not only the author of the book, but also the main character. Dante was an influential Florentine from a powerful family, sunk in the middle of a civil war and questioning, as were many great minds of the time, his family, standing, and religion. Dante was an influential Florentine from a powerful family, sunk in the middle of a civil war and questioning, as were many great minds of the time, his family, standing, and religion.

5. Canto I Summary Dante wakes to find himself lost and alone in the middle of a dark and impenetrable wood. Dante wakes to find himself lost and alone in the middle of a dark and impenetrable wood. He sees a glimmer of light from the rising sun over the Mount of Joy, but, when he tries to follow it, he is blocked by three beasts. He sees a glimmer of light from the rising sun over the Mount of Joy, but, when he tries to follow it, he is blocked by three beasts. Suddenly, the shade of Virgil appears before him and offers to lead him from the wood to Paradise although, sadly, not by any direct way. Suddenly, the shade of Virgil appears before him and offers to lead him from the wood to Paradise although, sadly, not by any direct way.

6. The Dark Wood Dante tells us that he is not only midway through the wood, but also midway through his life (he’s about 40). He has begun to question many of the things in his life that he thought were certain, and feels lost. Dante tells us that he is not only midway through the wood, but also midway through his life (he’s about 40). He has begun to question many of the things in his life that he thought were certain, and feels lost. Dante has also lost a number of important people in his life and the specter of death is beginning to haunt him. Dante is not prepared to die as he is. Dante has also lost a number of important people in his life and the specter of death is beginning to haunt him. Dante is not prepared to die as he is. The dark wood of error is also an allusion to the sinful life that Dante feels he has led. He has, literally and symbolically, strayed from the righteous path. The dark wood of error is also an allusion to the sinful life that Dante feels he has led. He has, literally and symbolically, strayed from the righteous path.

7. The Dark Wood, Continued Remember that many fairytales begin with a dark wood. It is the place that frightening things come from. Remember that many fairytales begin with a dark wood. It is the place that frightening things come from. To Dante, the wood is a perfect symbol for the fear and despair that a crisis of self can cause. To Dante, the wood is a perfect symbol for the fear and despair that a crisis of self can cause.

8. The True Way The True Way, or “diritta via” is often interpreted as a religious symbol in The Inferno, being a connection to God or living a righteous life. The True Way, or “diritta via” is often interpreted as a religious symbol in The Inferno, being a connection to God or living a righteous life. Some readers interpret the True Way as a metaphor for the morally or socially acceptable way to live. Some readers interpret the True Way as a metaphor for the morally or socially acceptable way to live.

9. The 3 Beasts The leopard of malice and fraud The leopard of malice and fraud The lion of violence and ambition The lion of violence and ambition The she-wolf of lust and worldly desire The she-wolf of lust and worldly desire

10. The 3 Beasts, Continued Some readers believe that the beasts each represent a section of Dante’s Hell. Others say that they are political symbols. Some readers believe that the beasts each represent a section of Dante’s Hell. Others say that they are political symbols. Whatever their meaning, remember that the beasts block Dante from achieving the heights in any easy way. He has to travel through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise before his able to stand in the light. Whatever their meaning, remember that the beasts block Dante from achieving the heights in any easy way. He has to travel through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise before his able to stand in the light.

11. Why Virgil? Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.) is one of the most widely-known Roman poets, and the author of The Aeneid. Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.) is one of the most widely-known Roman poets, and the author of The Aeneid. He is, in many ways, a symbol for what Dante would like to be; the author of a famous Italian epic. He is, in many ways, a symbol for what Dante would like to be; the author of a famous Italian epic. Virgil becomes a symbol of human reason, the perfect guide through the horrors of Hell. Virgil becomes a symbol of human reason, the perfect guide through the horrors of Hell.

12. Beatrice Just as Virgil is the symbol for human reason, Beatrice becomes a symbol of divine love (Agape) in The Divine Comedy. Just as Virgil is the symbol for human reason, Beatrice becomes a symbol of divine love (Agape) in The Divine Comedy. Although they only met once, Dante uses Beatrice in a number of his works to represent all that is pure and beautiful in the world. Although they only met once, Dante uses Beatrice in a number of his works to represent all that is pure and beautiful in the world.

13. Canto II Summary Dante begins to ask Virgil is he is worthy of the chance to see Paradise (and to pity himself a bit because Hell is going to be…well…). Dante begins to ask Virgil is he is worthy of the chance to see Paradise (and to pity himself a bit because Hell is going to be…well…). Virgil responds by calling Dante a coward (line 45) and telling him that every man belongs on the true path. Beatrice appears and reassures Dante. Virgil responds by calling Dante a coward (line 45) and telling him that every man belongs on the true path. Beatrice appears and reassures Dante. Virgil makes the point that a truly good life is gained through love and honest introspection. Virgil makes the point that a truly good life is gained through love and honest introspection. Dante stops whining and keeps walking. Dante stops whining and keeps walking.

14. I am Not Aeneas. I am not Paul. Dante’s journey is important in many ways because he is an everyman instead of a mythic hero. Dante’s journey is important in many ways because he is an everyman instead of a mythic hero. Although his statement may seem like humility, Virgil points it out for what it is; a call for pity. Although his statement may seem like humility, Virgil points it out for what it is; a call for pity.

15. Canto III Summary Dante and Virgil reach the gates of Hell. Their way is blocked by the Opportunists, the people (and angels) who never took a side in any fight. Virgil councils Dante to pass them by without notice. Dante and Virgil reach the gates of Hell. Their way is blocked by the Opportunists, the people (and angels) who never took a side in any fight. Virgil councils Dante to pass them by without notice. They reach the river Acheron, which borders Hell, and Charon, the ferryman refuses to bring a living man into Hell until Virgil yells at him. They reach the river Acheron, which borders Hell, and Charon, the ferryman refuses to bring a living man into Hell until Virgil yells at him. Dante faints. Dante faints.

16. The Gates I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE. I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE. I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW. SACRED JUSTICE MOVED MY ARCHITECT. I WAS RAISED HERE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE, PRIMORDIAL LOVE, AND DIVINE INTELLECT. ONLY THOSE ELEMENTS TIME CANNOT WEAR WERE MADE BEFORE ME, AND BEYOND TIME I STAND. ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.

17. The Opportunists Included among these cowardly souls-- also known as fence-sitters, wafflers, opportunists, and neutrals--are the angels who refused to choose between God and Lucifer. Included among these cowardly souls-- also known as fence-sitters, wafflers, opportunists, and neutrals--are the angels who refused to choose between God and Lucifer. The opportunists run around aimlessly, unwelcome in both Heaven and Hell, since they never took any sides in life. The opportunists run around aimlessly, unwelcome in both Heaven and Hell, since they never took any sides in life. As they sinned, so are they punished. As they sinned, so are they punished.

18. Look! The Pope! Dante mentions a shade who made “The Great Denial”. Although he goes unnamed in the Inferno, most scholars believe this to be Pope Celestine V. Dante mentions a shade who made “The Great Denial”. Although he goes unnamed in the Inferno, most scholars believe this to be Pope Celestine V. His refusal to perform the duties required of the pope (he abdicated five months after his election in July 1294) allowed Benedetto Caetani to become Pope Boniface VIII, the man who proved to be Dante's most reviled theological, political, and personal enemy. His refusal to perform the duties required of the pope (he abdicated five months after his election in July 1294) allowed Benedetto Caetani to become Pope Boniface VIII, the man who proved to be Dante's most reviled theological, political, and personal enemy.

19. Charon The Ferryman In Greek mythology, Charon was the ferryman who brought the newly dead across the river of the dead into Hades. Often, people were buried with coins over their eyes to pay the ferryman. In Greek mythology, Charon was the ferryman who brought the newly dead across the river of the dead into Hades. Often, people were buried with coins over their eyes to pay the ferryman. In The Inferno, Charon’s purpose is to safeguard Hell by denying entry to those who don’t belong. In The Inferno, Charon’s purpose is to safeguard Hell by denying entry to those who don’t belong.

20. The River Acheron The rivers in Hell serve, not only as geographic boundaries in Dante’s Hell, but as symbolic divisions for the severity of the sins (think 3 beasts). The rivers in Hell serve, not only as geographic boundaries in Dante’s Hell, but as symbolic divisions for the severity of the sins (think 3 beasts). The river Acheron serves as a liminal symbol, representing the “point of no return” on Dante’s journey. The river Acheron serves as a liminal symbol, representing the “point of no return” on Dante’s journey.