Dante's Inferno: Cantos 1-10

What is the Heavenly Messenger's manner?

He comes down with an aura of passion and strength (Carrying a wand called a caduceus), which represents the reemergence of the patriarchy. He appears walking majestically.

What are Dante's mistakes with Farinata?

He feared Farinita. He understands he needs to be strong, and not rely on virgil. Don't shy away, he is here for a reason, don't pity him (like he did with francesca). he is not as naive.

What does Virgil say in response to Charon's rejection of Dante in Hell?

He forces Charon to help Dante (Serve).

Name the 6 circles we have read so far in order of sin.

Vestibule (The Indifferent) 1st Circle: Limbo 2nd Circle: The Lustful 3rd Circle: The Gluttonous 4th Circle: The Avaricious and Prodigal 5th Circle: The Wrathful 6th Circle: Heretics

Why is it Virgil who leads Dante through Hell?

Virgil is Dante's symbol of Human Reason. He had been sent to lead him from error, and tells him there is no ascent past the beasts. He is a resident of hell. Beatrice asked him (Beatrice was sent by Saint Lucia and Virgin Mary)

"Here must you put by all division of spirit/and gather your soul against all cowardice" (line 14-5). What does it mean (context)?"

Virgil is warning Dante of the darkness and sorrow he will see in his journey through here. It is meant to warn him of the upcoming.

What does Virgil say to him to pass him?

Virgil says: "Peace, you Wolf of Hell. Choke back your bite and let its venom blister your own throat." His orders to Plutus come from a higher power.

What does Dante learn from Virgil's failure at the gate of lower hell?

Virgil stands for reason. Human reason is limited, it is not impatient when it comes to evil

What does Dante's woods represent? Hill?

Woods = "lost" feelings. He is lost in life, it is a dark place. A place of suffering. Hill = Symbolizes God/heaven. Dante's overall end goal place.

THE 6 CIRCLES OF HELL:

...

What sin do the hoarders and wasters share?

Both sides in life lacked moderation in regulating their expenses, they both only thought of money.

What are Dante's mistakes with Cavalcanti?

Cavalcanti comes out of his tomb and talks to Dante, saying that he considers his son to be a poet of equal worth of dante. They have a misunderstanding, and Cavalcanti thinks his son has died. He forgot that dead people cannot see the present, that is his mistake.

"I had not thought death had undone so many?" What does it mean (context)?

Dante didn't know that death could be so cruel to so many people.

What is Dante's response to seeing Argenti?

Dante had to bite himself to hold back his rage against him because they were political enemies in the past. Has no pity for him.

What does Dante hear once he crosses through the gate?

Dante hears cries of suffering from those in torment

What does Dante's reaction to seeing Virgil indicate about his readiness for the spiritual journey?

Dante is a little afraid of him, and doesn't know why he is there. He then gains a little more confidence in him. More self-assured and ready to start. Dante is not a traditional hero, he is cowardly at times, not very brave.

How does Dante change the pagan method of invoking the Muses?

Dante is making fun of them, and going against his religion. He is calling on Gods of Greek meaning for help rather than Jesus in the Christian religion

Flowerlet simile: how is Dante altering the typical characterization of the epic hero?

Dante is not a traditional hero, he is cowardly at times, not very brave in his journey.

What does Dante's faint mean allegorically?

Dante is overwhelmed by the gore and suffering around him

Why is Dante unsure about the journey? What does Virgil say to allay his fears and boost his confidence?

Dante is unsure because against all the greats before him like Aeneas, he doesn't feel worthy to complete it. Virgil advises him to be more confident, and reminds him he supports him as well as the three ladies

How does Dante treat politics within The Commedia?

Dante treats the italian government with hostility, he says what people fight for in political parties is not what they want, but for pride and money and greed. The parties ignore reason and what is best for people in place of envy and pride. They are selfish.

Describe the Furies. Explain the timing of their appearance (patriarchy is failing).

Furies are the gorgon entities with snakes, etc. They stand in the wall of dis. 3 are female, which means the female presence is prominent in this part as the patriarchy is falling

what does heresy mean? (Heretics)

Heresy means when you go against the church. These people believe the soul dies with the body, the people who do not believe in the afterlife. That's why they are here.

Describe Farinata and his use of language.

His aura around others gives off the impression of majesty and power that could diminish hell itself. He speaks to Dante like a proud man for what he has done, a slow dignified speech. Doesn't let the intrusion of Dante affect him

Virgil is located in _____.

Limbo (The 1st circle), he was born before christ.

How Minos determines where to send the sinners?

Minos determines where to send sinners by deciding which place in Hell he/she should be, and then wraps his tail around himself to rank the degree they must descend to (however many times he wraps his tail).

The line from Dante's poetry (2 parts of grief)

One can recall their past in grief for as long as they want, or they can get on and move on from it.

Who were the people in Limbo? (AKA the Pagans)

Pagans are the people born before out of wedlock. They cannot see cannot see the light of God. Pagans are people who don't believe in one god. PUNISHMENT: they are not punished either. Their only pain is they do not have hope. They are subjected to boredom.

Who is Plutus?

Plutus menaces the Poets. Plutus is the God of Wealth. Also roman god of the underworld.

What do the three beasts represent in relation to the structure of Hell's punishments?

The Leopard represents malice and fraud. The lion represents violence and ambition. The She-Wolf represents incontinence. Each represents another layer (circle) in heaven. Upper Hell is She Wolf. Middle is Lion. Lower is Leopard.

Explain how their punishment fits the sin

The hoarders and the wasters are pitted against each other, eternally slamming rocks against each other as they say "Why do you hoard? Why do you waste?" One person's excess serves to punish the other side, and vice versa. Engaged in useless labor, just like they were in life as they are so focussed on money.

Describe the inscription on the gate of hell.

The inscription welcomes those into the vestibule. The phrase "abandon all hope who enter here" simply means that one is entering Hell, a place of suffering and impossible escape. Abandon all hope upon entering.

What does inconsistence mean as a sin?

The people who lacked in self-control, the people with a lack of passion.

Who are the opportunists (AKA The Indifferent)? What is their punishment?

The people who were neither good nor evil but only worked for themselves. PUNISHMENT: is running around in circles endlessly and stung by wasps. HOW IT FITS THE CRIME: Endlessly running in circles represents how these people were "worthless" in life. They did not use their intellect for a purpose. Thus, the meaningless circles they run represent their meaningless life.

What prophecy does Dante hear from Ciacco?

The prophecy regards the parties of the white overtaking the black. Dante was part of the whites, who took over the black. Bloody battles for political power broke up, the blacks came out on top (when Dante was out of town). This was the fall of the White political party.

What does "contrapaso" mean?

The punishment fits the crime.

Who are the sullen? Explain their punishment.

The sullen suppress their anger. The punishment of the wrathful is to be forever silent and drowned beneath the synx river because they denied the light of god . They cannot express anything through words.

Who are the wrathful? Explain their punishment.

The wrathful express their punishment. The punishment fight each other for eternity, they were violent.

How does Dante describe the meeting with the writers that are in Limbo?

The writers (poets) honored him, and expressed courtesy. They even included him in their own group.

Heresy punishment?

Their punishment is to spend eternity in flaming tombs, until Judgment day, when the tombs will close and the souls inside will be sealed forever within their earthly bodies. The contrapasso is their morals are that the soul dies with the body, just as they will be sealed on judgement day in the tomb in their bodies. The soul never dies. He does not reflect the two of heresy because Dante does not share the same sin.

Who are the gluttons? What is their punishment?

They wallow in food and drink, and lie through eternity. Cerberus slaves over them as they slavered over food in their life. They exist in their own waste. Hard rain falls on them eternally. HOW IT FITS THE CRIME: In lifetime, all they could think about was food, and now they're overtaken by it in the afterlife in Hell forever.

How does Cerberus symbolize gluttony

he symbolizes the uncontrolled appetite, he is known to devour people (since he has 3 mouths).

The 1st-6th circles of Hell are considered sins of ______.

inconsistence

Upper Hell are sins of_______, and lower hell are sins of ______.

passion intellectual

Who are the lustful? What is their punishment? (AKA as the Carnal)

they are swept forever in the tempest of Hell, and denied the light of reason and God. PUNISHMENT: stuck in a windstorm HOW IT FITS THE CRIME: ties to how they are stuck in a whirlwind of lust during their lifetime.

The Vestibule is the _______

waiting area