1 Name Period DANTE S INFERNO Identify the following characters: Dante Leopard of Malice Lion of Ambition Shewolf of Incontinence Virgil Beatrice The Emperor Who Reigns Above Charon The Neutrals Minos Lucifer
CANTO I THE DARK WOOD OF ERROR 2 1. When Dante tries to travel upward toward the beautiful mountain and leave the dark valley behind, what animal blocks his path at first? 2. When Dante tries to go around the beast, what second animal appears and blocks his path? 3. When he tries to get around that second beast, what third animal blocks his path? 4. Dante then sees a spirit in the desert, and asks this spirit for help. This spirit offers to guide him through Hell. Who is Dante s guide through Hell? Why does he make a suitable guide for Dante? 5. Where have we seen this spirit-guide character before as a historical figure? 6. Virgil claims that he has been exiled in this location because he was rebellious to the laws of That Emperor who reigns above. Of whom is Virgil speaking? 7. What similes, metaphors, symbols, or figures does Dante employ in this canto and what allegorical meanings might these have? Use this space to compose a summary of Canto I. Write in complete sentences.
CANTO III The Gate of Hell 4 1. How does Dante the pilgrim react initially to his surroundings? Are the impressions he receives visual or auditory? 2. Why is the punishment blindness, cacophony, etc. appropriate to those refused to take a moral stand as Christians? How is the punishment of such souls another instance of God s poetic justices rather than a strict, dull, eye for an eye kind of punishment? In other words, how is God an artist of sorts not merely a strict judge in handing out the punishments that he does? 3. What relationship is becoming established between the narrator and Virgil in this canto? Describe how they interact and talk to each other (think archetypes!). 4. What do you make of the Neutrals? Why is their fate important? Use this space to compose a summary of Canto III. Write in complete sentences.
CANTO V Circle 2 - Lust 5 1. In Canto V, they meet the judge who assigns sinners to various places in Hell. What is this judge s name? What does this judge do with his tail to indicate how far down in Hell the sinners must go? 2. What does Virgil say to Minos in order to convince him to let Virgil and Dante pass? 3. How are illicit lovers ( carnal malefactors ) punished in their circle of Hell? Who are some of these famous lovers? 4. According to Franchesca, what was she reading when she first gave into desire? 5. What is the most common image/symbol in this Canto? 6. In Dante s scheme, lust being higher in the levels of hell is considered a lesser sin than gluttony. Do you consider it worse to guzzle beer and pizza or gorge oneself on banana splits than to make love to your neighbor s spouse? Why might Dante think so? Use this space to compose a summary of Canto V. Write in complete sentences.
CANTO XXXIV Circle 9 The Treacherous 6 1. What is the temperature like in the center of hell? 2. When they cross over past the fog of freezing mist, Dante sees something he first thinks is a giant windmill. What is this windmill in reality? 3. What is the source of the cold winds in hell that rhythmically blow outward from the center ring? 4. Describe Satan s body and appearance. What are some of his distinctive features in Dante s account of The Inferno? 5. What three things does Satan snack on? 6. When Virgil and Dante run between Satan s beating wings, Virgil stops and puts his feet on the ceiling and appears to turn upside down. What happened that allowed him to do this astonishing feat, and how is this connected to their location at the center of the earth? 7. When Dante looks upward/downward to gaze at Satan, what does he see that horrifies him? Why is this funny? 8. What is the significance of the change in perspective that Virgil and Dante go through when they travel Satan s body and find that the way down has become the way up? How might this perspective change amount to a comment on the necessary path to salvation? (Think also Hero s Journey)
Use this space to compose a summary of Canto XXXIV. Write in complete sentences. 7