Dantes Inferno

1
Dantes Inferno

• Notes Canto-by-Canto
• (goes with Robert Pinskys translation)
• Ms. Laus World Literature Class
• Milton High School

2
Canto 1

• death is hardly more bitter (5)
• I began to blunder off the true path (9)
• he is lost in the Dark Wood
• that bright planet that shows the road to
  everyone, whatever our journey (14)
• The sunrepresents hope and the Light of God
• wilderness, my left foot always lower on the
  hill (23)
• He is descending

3
Canto 1

• Still early morning (29)
• The three beasts that block Dantes path
• Leopard (25) (Region of Self-indulgent sins)
• Lust
• Lion (36) (Region of Violent sins)
• Pride
• She-Wolf (38) (Region of Malicious sins)
• Avarice (greed)

4
Canto 1

• She forced me back toward where the sun is lost
  (45)
• The she-wolf scared him back away from the light
  and into the darkness
• Sees a human shape across the way and asks who it
  is (48)
• No living man, though once I was (51)
• Virgils response to Dante
• Basically he is saying that he is now dead, but
  he was once alive as a manhe is now a shade
  (soul)

5
Canto 1

• Anchises father of Aeneas fled Troy and founded
  Rome (56) (allusion from Aeneid)
• Dante asks the shade if he is Virgilthe font
  that pours so overwhelming a river of human
  speech (61)
• Virgil represents Human Reason
• Dante refers to Virgil as Master (65)
• You are my guide and author, whose verses teach
  the graceful style whose model has done me
  honor. (66)
• Dante admires Virgilhe is the POETthe one
  aspiring writers look up to and idolize

6
Canto 1

• Virgil then tells Dante that he should be going a
  different path to get to the light (68-89)
• Virgil tells Dante about the she-wolf
• Lets no one pass her way
• She gets hungrier and hungrier as she is fed
• The Hound will eventually come and get her to
  take her back to the realm of Hell she escaped
  from (Envy)
• Virgil tells Dante he needs to follow him

7
Canto 1

• Virgil tells Dante of the three part journey
• Part 1
• Inferno
• To hear the cries of despair, and to behold
  ancient tormented spirits as they lament in
  chorus the second death they must abide. (91)

8
Canto 1

• Virgil tells Dante of the three part journey
• Part 2
• Purgatory
• Then you shall see those souls who are content
  to dwell in fire because they hope some day to
  join the blessed. (94)

9
Canto 1

• Virgil tells Dante of the three part journey
• Part 3
• Paradise
• Happy is the soul He chooses for that place!
  (104)
• -Virgil cant enter the Gates of Heaven because
  he is a pagan rebellion to His Law
• -Beatrice will be Dantes guide in Paradise

10
Canto 1

• Emperor God
• His city Heaven/Paradise
• His empire is everything and everywhere (102)
• Dante asks Virgil to guide him away from the evil
  and to the St. Peters Gate
• St. Peters Gate Heavens gates
• Virgil begins to walk and Dante follows him

11
Canto 2

• Could be titled Second Thoughts
• Many similes in Inferno
• While I alone was preparing as though for war to
  struggle with my journey (3)
• Comparing the journey he is about to take to war
• He is taking a pre-game time out to get in the
  zone and prepare his mind and soul for what he
  is about to witness and experience

12
Canto 2

• Muses goddesses of inspiration from Greek
  mythology
• Dante calls upon the Muses asking them to help
  me fulfill the perfection of your nature (8)
• Asks the Muses to help put into words what he is
  going to experience
• They will come up later, too

13
Canto 2

• Lines 9-30 Dante begins to doubt the journey
• Dante alludes to Silviuss fatherAeneaswho
  stayed mortal while he visited immortal realms
  and returned victorious and triumphant

14
Canto 2

• Dante says he is no Aeneas or Paul Not I nor
  others think of me of such worth
• Aeneas alludes to Virgils Aeneid and Paul
  alludes to the Biblehe sketched images of Hell
• He does not think he is worthy of the journeyhe
  doesnt think that highly of himself and others
  do not either
• Dante asks Virgil to help him understand
• You are wise You know my meaning better than I
  can tell. (30)

15
Canto 2

• Dante begins to change his mind about the journey
• And then, like one who unchooses his own choice
  and thinking again undoes what he has started, so
  I became a nullifying unease overcame my soul
  on that dark slope and voided the understanding I
  had so quickly embraced. (31)
• Virgil tells him not to be a coward (37)
• To help ease his fear, Virgil tells Dante he will
  tell him how he came to be Dantes guide (40)

16
Canto 2

• Virgil tells the story how Beatrice called on him
  while he was in Limbowhere he stays (43)
• Her beauty made him want her to give him a
  command (45)
• She tells him how he lives on in the world even
  though he is dead and that as long as there is
  life in the world, he will remain alive through
  his words and works (48)
• She tells Virgil how her friendDanteis lost in
  the woods and fear has turned him away from the
  light (50)
• fear the three creatures/beasts that blocked
  his way (51)

17
Canto 2

• She refers to Dante as no friend of Fortune
  (50)
• He is unlucky
• Beatrice tells Virgil that she has come from
  Heaven but she thinks she may be too late to help
  him (52)
• She tells Virgil who she isBeatrice She has come
  from Heavenwhere she longs to return (57)
• She tells him that his fair speech can save him
  (54)

18
Canto 2

• When she returns to Heaven she will tell her Lord
  about himHe will hear your praises told (60)
• Virgil agrees to help but first asks Beatrice how
  she was able to come down to Hell with no fear
  (65)
• She responds with her story
• Fear befits things with power for injury, not
  things that lack such power. (73)
• I cannot feel what you suffer none of this fire
  assails me (74)

19
Canto 2

• Lucy Enemy of Cruelty (78)
• Lucy is told of what Dante is going through in
  the Dark Wood (80)
• Lucy tells Beatrice while she is sitting with
  Rachel (representative of Mary) (81)
• Beatrice true Glory of God
• Lucy reminds Beatrice of the love that Dante felt
  for herOne who had such love for you he rose
  above the common crowd (83)
• Lucy tells her he is near death and she needs to
  heed the pity of his cries (85)

20
Canto 2

• Beatrice hurried from Heaventrusting your
  eloquence, whose gift brings honor both to
  yourself and to all those who listen (90)
  (talking about Virgil)
• Virgil tells Dante that her (Beatrices) eyes
  lucent with tearswhich made me hasten to save
  you, even more eagerly than before and so I
  rescued you on the fair mountain (94) (Virgil
  talking to Dante)

21
Canto 2

• Virgil then explains to Dante that he has nothing
  to fear
• Why be a coward rather than bolder, freersince
  in the court of Heaven for your sake three
  blessed ladies watch, and words of mine have
  promised a good as great as you might seek? (99)
• Basically Virgil tells Dante that he has nothing
  to fear because Heaven and three Heavenly beings
  have his back (are on his side)

22
Canto 2

• Dante gains courage againuses another simile to
  compare this
• From now, we two will share one will together
  You are my teacher, my master, and my guide.
• Dante says this to Virgil
• Dante has gained his confidence back
• The two enter on the deep and savage road to
  begin the journey through Hell

23
Canto 3
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER INTO THE CITY OF WOES,
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER INTO ETERNAL PAIN, THROUGH
ME YOU ENTER THE POPULATION OF LOSS. JUSTICE
MOVED MY HIGH MAKER, IN POWER DIVINE, WISDOM
SUPREME, LOVE PRIMAL. NO THINGS WERE BEFORE ME
NOT ETERNAL ETERNAL I REMAIN. ABANDON ALL
HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER HERE.
24
Canto 3

• Words inscribed on the portal to Hell (1-7)
• Dante asks Virgil to explain what the inscription
  means (9-10 )
• All fear must be left here, and cowardice die.
  Together, we have arrived where I told you here
  you will behold the wretched souls whove lost
  the good of intellect. (11)
• The good of intellect Truth

25
Canto 3

• Virgil places his hand on Dantes (16)
• Comfort
• Dante begins to weep (20)
• the sighs, groans and laments at first were so
  loud (19)
• Dante asks Virgil who these souls are (29)
• whom pain has overcome

26
Canto 3

• Virgil
• souls unsure (30)
• lives earned neither honor nor bad fame (31)
• Neither rebellious to God nor faithful to Him
  (33)
• chose neither side, but kept themselves
  apartNow Heaven expels them, not to mar its
  splendor, And Hell rejects them, lest the wicked
  of heart take glory of them. (35)
• Neutral indecisive souls

27
Canto 3

• They have no hope of death, but a blind life So
  abject, they envy any other fate. To memory of
  them, the world is deaf. Mercy and justice
  disdain them. (40)
• Their punishment fits their sin their greatest
  grief is no hope of death
• Lines 45-54
• Dante sees a banner flying around with a train
  of souls following it
• Because these souls had no purpose or cause in
  life, their death is the samethey chase a
  meaningless banner for eternity
• their bare skin galled by wasps and flies
  (54-57)

28
Canto 3

• Dante asks Virgil who the souls are that he sees
  lining up on the shore of some great river
  (58-62)
• Virgil responds that Dante will discover that
  later when they have paused at Acherons dismal
  shore (63-64)
• Acheron first river in Hell
• Dante is ashamed he asked Virgil the questions
  feels he has disappointed Virgil

29
Canto 3

• Charon
• Ferryman of the Acheron River
• He is yelling at the souls to Give up the
  thought of Heaven! (69)
• He explains how he will ferry them across the
  river Into fire and ice! (72)
• He sees Dante and tells him to leave because he
  does not belong herehe will be brought to shore
  by another way (76)
• Recognizes that Dante is good and not bad and
  does not belong in Hell

30
Canto 3

• Virgil warns Charon
• do not rage, Thus is it willed where everything
  may be Simply is it willed. (78)
• Virgil tells Charon that Dante has Divine
  protection and rite to pass through Hell
• No one can question Dante and/or Virgils journey
• Charon is angered
• The souls curse Heaven and their very beginning
  (83)
• Hits the souls with his oar if they are moving
  too slow to board the ferry to cross the river
• Before Charon even makes it to the other side of
  the river, another line has formed

31
Canto 3

• Virgil tells Dante to think about what it means
  that Charon was upset he was there
• Means Dante is good
• Souls who are good, Never pass this way
  therefore if you hear Charon complaining at your
  presence, consider What that means.
• Dante falls as though seized by sleep
• Earth began to shake violently

32
Canto 4

• Enter into the First Circle of Hellout of the
  Vestibule of Hell
• Dante looks down from where he is at the top of
  the canyon
• I could see nothing below. Now we descend into
  the sightless zone (Virgilline 9)
• Virgil tells Dante to follow him
• Dante questions how he should follow if even
  Virgilwho has been strongturns white with
  fear (14)

33
Canto 4

• Virgil responds to Dantes concern
• It is the pain People here suffer that paints my
  face this color Of pity, which you mistake for
  fear. (14)
• PAIN NOT FEAR
• They continue and enter the First Circle
• Sin of the First Circle
• They did not sin If they have merit, it cant
  suffice without Baptism, portal to the faith you
  maintain. Some lived before the Christian faith,
  so that They did not worship God arightand I Am
  one of these. (25)
• Virgil is one of these souls
• Circle One Limbo

34
Canto 4

• Punishment of Circle One
• We are lost, afflicted only this one way That
  having no hope, we live in longing. (31)
• Live in longing for what they cant have Heaven
• Dante stops to think for a moment about all the
  people who this includes
• Dante asks if anyone ever left Limbo to go to
  Heaven
• Did ever Anyone go forth from hereby his own
  good Or perhaps anothersto join the blessed
  after?

35
Canto 4

• Virgil responded (41-58)
• He had recently arrived in Limbo (Virgil died in
  19 B.C.) when A Mighty One who descended here,
  arrayed With a crown of victory (42)
• This Mighty Onealluding to Jesus Christ when He
  diedre-called Back from this place
• Many Biblical allusions from the Old Testament
• our first parent Adam (44)
• Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, King David, Rachel,
  others
• His coming here made them blessed, and rescued
  them (51)
• No human soul was saved, till these. (52)

36
Canto 4

• The two continued through dark woodsno trees
  instead, souls
• Dante sees several shades and asks who they are
  who command A place so separate from the other
  ones? (62-63)
• Virgil responds
• Though they are dead, they still live because of
  their names (64)
• They have earned Heavens grace, Advancing them
  here (65)

37
Canto 4

• One shade calls out Hail the great Poet, whose
  shade had left this place And now returns! (67)
• The great Poets share the name Poet
• Homer (Iliad and Odyssey)
• Horace
• Lucan
• Ovid
• Virgil
• They invite Dante to become one among them

38
Canto 4

• The Castle
• In Limbo
• Encircled seven times (91)
• Symbolizing the Seven Virtues
• Seven Gateways (95)
• Again, symbolizing the Seven Virtues
• Dante sees many shades from the castle (looking
  down at them) (104)
• Many shades alluding to Greek and Roman mythology
• Electra, Aeneas, Hector
• Looked up and saw more shades (115)
• Philosophers Men that know
• Aristotle (Master of those who know) (116)
  Plato, Socrates

39
Canto 4

• Dante saw many otherstoo many to list
• The company of six divide and dwindle To two
  (133)
• Homer, Horace, Lucan, Ovid leave Virgil and Dante
  to continue their journey

40
Canto 5

• Second Circle of Hell
• Minos
• Minos the dreadful Snarls at the gate. He
  examines each ones sin, Judging and disposing as
  he curls his tail (3-5)
• In Greek mythology, Minos is the King of Crete
• Symbol of the dehumanizing effects of sin
• ½ man and ½ beast
• Connoisseur of sin
• Sinners come and tell Minos their sins then they
  hear their placement then they are cast to their
  respective circle of Hell
• He coils his tail around the sinnersthe number
  of times his tail coils is the number of the
  circle of Hell they are cast into

41

Canto 5

• Beware how you come in and whom you trust, Dont
  be deceived because the gate is wide. (18)
• Minos says this to Dante
• Virgil steps injust like he did with Charon
• Must you too scold this way? His destined path
  is not for you to impede Thus is it willed
  where every thing may be Because it has been
  willed. (20)

42
Canto 5

• Dante uses several similes to describe where he
  is and what he hears
• noise of lamentations (26)
• All light is mute (28)
• Turbulent in a storm of warring winds, The
  hurricane of Hell in perpetual motion Sweeping
  the ravaged spirit as it rends, Twists and
  torments them (29-32)

43
Canto 5

• The souls here are like a hurricane or tornado
  but instead of dirt and material things the
  violent winds force around the souls of this
  Circle
• I learned They suffer here who sinned in carnal
  thingsTheir reason mastered by desire,
  suborned. (34)
• reason mastered by desire lustful

44
Canto 5

• Allusions in this Circle
• Semiramis wife of Ninus embraced lechery so
  much that she made it legal
• Didokilled herself in the name of love (Aeneas)
• Cleopatraloved Caesar and Antony
• Helenof Troy married to Agamemnon in love with
  Paris Who caused a cycle of many evil years
  (56)
• Parisof Troy in love with Helen
• Saw a thousand other souls Whom love had parted
  from our life (60)

45
Canto 5

• Dante chooses two souls from the storm that he
  wishes to talk to
• He calls to them that as long as it is okayIf
  Another does not forbidhe would like to speak
  with them
• He speaks with Francesca and Paulo
• Francesca does all the talking Paulo stays
  silent
• Francesca tells who they are
• Her husband, Paulos brother, murdered her and
  Paulo because they were lovers
• Love gave us both one death. Caina awaits the
  one who took our lives. (95)

46
Canto 5

• Caina is one of the four regions of the Center of
  Hell
• Caina is named after CainBiblical character who
  killed his own brother
• Dante asks Francesca how she became aware of the
  love she felt for Paulo (104)
• Francesca and Paulo were reading a book about
  Lady Guinevere and Lancelot
• Lady Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur
  Lancelot was his First Knight

47
Canto 5

• At times, as they were reading, they looked up
  and their eyes caught each other
• One line caught their attention and defeated us
  (119)
• the longed-for smile, was kissed by that most
  noble lover (119-120)
• This is a line from the book they were reading
  about Guinevere and Lancelot
• They kissed
• Galeotto is the messenger between Lancelot and
  Guinevere in the bookthe one who knew they were
  lovers

48
Canto 5

• Francesca says that the book they are reading is
  their Galeotto
• The book is what brought Francesca and Paulo
  together like the messenger kept Lancelot and
  Guinevere together
• They went back into the storm
• Dante passes out again

49
Canto 6

• Dante wakes up in Circle Three
• It is a realm of cold and heavy rain (5)
• Enormous hail And tainted water mixed with snow
  (8)
• The soil they drench gives off a putrid odor
  (11)
• Cerberus
• Three-headed monstrous dog from Greek mythology
• Attacks and butchers the souls in Circle Three
• His eyes are red, his beard Grease-black, he has
  the belly of a meat-feeder And talons on his
  hands (14)

50
Canto 6

• The souls here are laying down and turning from
  side to side to avoid the talons of Cerberus
• As they turn they are still being stabbed and
  clawed by Cerberus
• To get past Cerberusto make him still, Virgil
  fills both his fists with dirt and throws the
  dirt into the mouths of Cerberus
• Threw goblets of earth down each voracious
  throat (23-25)
• Cerberus gets angry when he realizes what he is
  eating is not meat but dirt

51
Canto 6

• The souls here wish they were deaf because of the
  painful sounds (31)
• They walk over the souls
• We two had come Over the shades subdued by the
  heavy rainTreading upon their emptinesses, which
  seem Like real bodies.
• One soul is sitting up while the rest are laying
  down

52
Canto 6

• Ciacco
• Translates into Pig or Hog
• He is a fellow Florentine (Man from Florencesame
  as Dante)
• His sin is gluttony
• Gluttony Sin of Circle Three
• Solitary self-indulgence of those who
  unrepentantly ate and drank to excess

53
Canto 6

• Dante asks Ciacco about the past, present, and
  future of the divided citys fate
  (55)Florencehe thinks that Ciacco knows
• Lines 58-69
• Ciacco talks about Florence and the
  divisionbetween the Black and White Geulphs
• The city will split after arguing and go into war
• Three years one year for each of the evil
  trinity
• envy, pride, avarice
• The one exiled will then return to Florence

54

Canto 6

• Dante asks about several politicians from
  Florenceare they in Heaven or Hell?
• Ciacco says that Their souls are among the
  blackest in Hell (76)
• Ciacco says he wants Dante to do one thing
• When Dante returns to Earththe livingCiacco
  wants Dante to tell his storytell/write about
  Ciacco
• He then falls back down into the earth

55
Canto 6

• Dante asks Virgil
• Master, these tormentstell me, will they
  increase After the Judgement, or lessen, or
  merely endure, Burning as much as now? (94)
• Wants to know what will happen on Judgment Day
• Virgil says the more A creature is perfect, the
  more it perceives the goodAnd likewise, pain.
  The accursed people here Can never come to true
  perfection instead, They can expect to come
  closer then than now.
• They continue and come across Plutus

56
Canto 7

• Plutus
• The great Enemy
• Pagan god of wealth and fortune
• Wolf-like monster of rage
• Moving to Circle Four
• Plutus garbles some words
• Virgil reassured Dante
• Dont let fear harm you whatever power he has
  Cannot prevent us climbing down this rock (4-5)

57
Canto 7

• Virgil yells at Plutus
• Silence accursed wolf! Attack Your own insides
  with your devouring rage Bound for the pit, this
  is no causeless trek.
• Virgil is explaining that there is a reason for
  Dante coming through here
• It is willed above, where Michael wreaked
  revenge On prides rebellion (10-11)
• Allusion to Michael
• He punished Satan and his rebellious angels
• Prides rebellion Satan

58
Canto 7

• Just as sails swollen with wind As soon as the
  mast is snapped collapse and plunge, That savage
  beast fell shrinking to the ground. (11)
• Analogy to sail to show quickness of the fall
• Circle Four Community of Rage
• fourth defile
• Dante is surprised at what he sees (17)

59
Canto 7

• Here I saw more souls Then elsewhere, spreading
  far to the left and right Each pushes a weight
  against his chest, and howls At his opponent each
  time that they clash Why do you squander? and
  Why do you hoard?
• This is what Dante witnesses of the souls
• Each group of people are pushing a huge boulder
  back and forthquestioning each other about their
  sin and meet each other a the opposite point of
  the circle and curse each other more

60
Canto 7

• The collisions of the two groups of souls pained
  Dante to witness (31-33)
• He is sad that this is what they have to do for
  eternity
• Dante asks who these souls are
• Virgil responds
• Every one of the shades here massed In the first
  life had a mind so squinty-eyed That in spending
  he heeded no proportion . . . Those bare of head
  Were clerics, cardinals, popes, in whom the
  passion Of avarice has wrought excess. (37-43)

61
Canto 7

• Lines 52-54
• Wrongness in how to give and how to have Took
  the fair world from them and brought them this,
  Their ugly brawl, which words need not retrieve.
• These are the spenders and hoarders (avarice)
  they took instead of gave
• Dante refers to churchmenwhich symbolizes how he
  truly felt about the churchLines 41-43

62
Canto 7

• Fortune
• Now you can see, my son, how ludicrous And brief
  are all the goods in Fortunes ken. Which
  humankind contend for you see from this How all
  the gold there is beneath the moon, Or that there
  ever was, could not relieve One of these weary
  souls. (55-60)
• These souls did not know True wealth what
  Fortune offers from the Earth
• Dante questions Virgil what is Fortune?

63
Canto 7

• Virgil says to Dante How great an ignorance
  plagues you. (63)
• Virgil explains Fortune to Dante (64-71)
• He who made all of Heavens features In His
  transcendent wisdom gave them guides So each part
  shines on all the others, all natures
  Illumination apportioned. So, too, for goods Of
  worldly splendor He assigned a guide And
  ministershe, when time seems proper, spreads
  Those vanities from race to race, this blood Then
  that, beyond prevention of human wit.
• She Fortune

64
Canto 7

• Lines 72-85
• People curse and blame Fortune even though it is
  not her faultthey take advantage of what she
  gives
• Such are the squanderers and hoarders
• The avaricious
• In summary
• Circle Four Sin squanderers and hoarders
  (avaricious)
• Circle Four Punishment useless labor
• They move down to Circle Five

65
Canto 7

• They move down to Circle Five
• They come across another river
• We traveled across To the circles farther edge,
  above the place Where a foaming spring spills
  over into a fosse. (89-91)
• The water was purple-black
• This is blood
• This dismal watercourse descends the grayish
  slopes until its torrent Discharges into the
  marsh whose name is Styx. (93)

66
Canto 7

• Dante sees souls here in the River Styx
• Within that bog, all naked and muddywith looks
  of fury, striking each other with a hand But
  also with their heads, chests, feet, and backs,
  Teeth tearing piecemeal. (97-100)
• Virgil explains that these are the souls whose
  sin is anger/wrath
• There are even more of these souls underneath the
  rivernot only floating on top
• They hit each other in the River Styx
• Dante and Virgil continue on and come to the base
  of a tower

67
Canto 8

• The two points of flame are a reference to a
  medieval sign of warfare
• Dante refers to Virgil as his sea of knowledge
  (7)
• Dante asks about the flames
• Phlegyas
• Greek Myth
• His daughter, Coronis, was a lover of Apollo
  (some stories say she was raped by him)
• Phlegyas burned Apollos temple at Delphi
• Apollo killed Phlegyas
• Phlegyas is now the ferryman of the River Styx

68
Canto 8

• Phlegyas is angry about having to ferry them
  across the marsh
• Virgil responds to calm Phlegyas
• Youll have us in your boat Only as long as it
  takes to cross the fen. (19-20)
• Again Virgil has stepped in to protect Dante
• Dante and Virgil get in the boat

69
Canto 8

• We boarded the boat, My leader firstit bobbed
  without a sign Of being laden until it carried my
  weight. . . It made a deeper cut Into the water
  than it was wont to do With others. (25-29)
• The boat sinks a bit into the water because Dante
  has physical weight because he is still alive

70
Canto 8

• Phlegyas is angry about having to ferry them
  across the marsh
• Virgil responds to calm Phlegyas
• Youll have us in your boat Only as long as it
  takes to cross the fen. (19-20)
• Again Virgil has stepped in to protect Dante
• Dante and Virgil get in the boat

71
Canto 8

• A soul rises from the marsh and asks Dante a
  question
• Who are you, To come here before your time?
  (30-31)
• Dante tells him he is not stayingjust passing
  through
• Dante recognizes him even through the weeping,
  sorrow, and filth
• He tries pulling on the boat and Virgil pushes
  him away
• Virgil refers to Dantes mother blessed indeed
  Is she who bore you. (42)

72
Canto 8

• Virgil tells Dante of the soul
• Arrogant in his vice Was that one when he lived.
  No goodness whatever Adorning his memory, his
  shade is furious. . . . Leaving behind a name
  that men revile. (44)
• Dante tells Virgil he wants to see this shade
  suffer
• Master, truly I should like To see that spirit
  pickled in his swill, Before weve made our way
  across the lake. (50)
• Virgil responds Before we see the shore, You
  will be satisfied, for what you seek Is fitting.
  (53)

73
Canto 8

• The soul is Filippo Argenti
• A fellow Florentine
• A Black Geulphenemy of Dante
• Others in the mud came to get Argenti and he
  started to bite at his own body
• Dante wants nothing else to see or hear of in
  regards to this soul of Filippo Argenti

74
Canto 8
Canto 8

• Virgil tells Dante of the city they are
  approaching
• A city draws neat Whose name is Dis, of solemn
  citizenry And mighty garrison. (64)
• Important description of the City of Dis (lines
  67-76)
• Blazing nether hell bleak solid iron
• A boatman shouts at Dante and Virgil to get out
  (76)

75
Canto 8

• Dante describe what he sees
• More than a thousand of those whom heaven had
  spat Like rain, all raging Who is this, whod
  go Without death through the kingdom of the
  dead? (77)
• These are the fallen angels from the war between
  Heaven and Hell
• Referring to Dantewho would go through the
  kingdom of the dead even though he is still alive
• Virgil says he wishes to speak to them on the side

76
Canto 8

• They tell Virgil that he may enter the gates but
  Dante has to turn back and take the path he took
  to get here to get back to where he startedhe
  must do this alone (84)
• Dante makes reference to the reader for the first
  time (89)
• Dante says he is scared
• Dante looks to Virgil for confidence and
  helpwhich he says he has done seven times
  beforeasks him not leave him alone (93)

77
Canto 8

• Virgil tells Dante not to fear because no one can
  deprive them of the passage God has willed for
  Dante (97)
• Virgil reassures Dante that he will no0t abandon
  him (102)
• Virgil continues to speak the demons
• Virgil returns to Dante a little down, bit not
  out (111)

78
Canto 8

• Virgil tells Dante that there is a secret gate so
  they get through to the City of Dis (115)
• Virgil tells Dante that someone will be there to
  open the city for them (124)

79
Canto 9

• It was difficult to see
• for the eye Saw little in air so dark and fog so
  thick. (5)
• Virgil makes reference to winning the battlethe
  battle between good and evil (7)
• Lines 15-18
• Dante asks Virgil if anyone from Limbo comes down
  this far

80
Canto 9

• Virgil says that it is rare among them in Limbo
  (19)
• He has made the journey once before (20)
• Beckoned as a shade by wicked Erichtho
• She is a conjuror (witch) who used to summon
  spirits back to their bodies (22)
• This was when Virgil first got to Limbo
• She wanted Virgil to draw a spirit from Judasthe
  lowest and darkest place in Hell because Judas is
  the Biblical allusion who betrayed Jesus

81
Canto 9

• Virgil reassures Dante that he knows the way (29)
• City of Woe City of Dis (31)
• Must enter with wrath (32)
• They are beneath a tower (34)
• At the top there are three hellish Furies (35)
• Furies bring wrath, retribution, and ceaseless
  torment to those who commit sins
• Also known as the Erinyes (39)

82
Canto 9

• Three Furies (41)
• Megaera
• Alecto
• Tisiphone
• They claw at their chests and scream in
  high-pitched howls (43)
• They call upon Medusaa Gorgon sister an queento
  make Dante stone (46)
• They are grieving because they never avenged the
  attempt Theseus made to save Persephone

83
Canto 9

• Virgil warns Dante to turn his back or he will be
  turned to stone if Medusathe Gorgoncomes (49)
• Virgil covers Dantes eyes (53)
• Dante makes reference to the reader again
• O you whose mind is clear Understand well the
  lesson that underlies The veil of these strange
  verses I have written. (54)
• A loud crashing sound occurs (58)
• Everything flew away at the sound(64)

84
Canto 9

• Virgil tells Dante to lookThere where the very
  harshest fumes abound, Across the ancient scum.
  (66)
• Dante tells what he saw
• So I saw more than a thousand souls of the
  ruined Flee before one who strode across the Styx
  Dry-shod as though on land. (70)
• Dante saw and Angel come down to open the gates
  for them
• With his left hand He cleared the polluted air
  before his face And only in that annoyance did he
  seems tired. (72)

85
Canto 9

• Dante realizes that this Angel was sent from
  Heaven to help (76)
• Virgil signaled to Dante to be mute and bow
  before the Angel (77)
• The Angel waved a little wand to open the
  gateno resistance
• Symbolic of the magic of angels
• The Angel questions the souls on why they are
  trying to stop what Gods will intends (81)

86
Canto 9

• The Angel reminds the souls of their pain and
  fate (85)
• The Angel leaves without a word to Dante and
  Virgil
• Dante and Virgil enter the city
• Dante is eager to see what the condition is in
  the city since it was guarded so tightly (97)

87
Canto 9

• Dante sees land filled with torment and woe (100)
• He compares what he sees to other places he has
  seen
• He describes what he sees (104)
• the ground is made uneven by the tombs-- . .
  .but these were of a mode More bitter, for among
  the graves were flames That made the sepulchers
  glow with fiercer heat Than a smith could use.
  Among these catacombs The lids were raised with
  sounds of woe so great Those within sure suffered
  horrible pain.

88
Canto 9

• Dante asks Virgil who these souls are (111)
• Virgil responds (114)
• Here, arch-heretics lieand groan Along with all
  the coverts that they made, The followers of
  every sect, with like Entombed with like. A
  greater multitude Crowds into these graves than
  you may think they take. Some sepulchers grow
  hotter, and some less.
• They continued to walk

89
Canto 10

• No one guards this part of Circle Six (Heretics)
  (5-8)
• Dante asks if the souls in the flaming tombs can
  be seen
• Virgil responds that when they return from
  Jehoshaphatoutside Jerusalemafter Judgment
  Daytheir bodies will join the souls and the
  tombs will close and be sealed forever (9-11)

90
Canto 10

• Epicurus (11)
• Lies with his followers in Circle Six
• Epicurus lead people under his belief
• Epicureans believe that the souls does not exist
  without the bodyit doesnt outlive the body
  (11-13)
• Dante speaks to Virgil about how he does not hide
  his heart from him that he will speak little and
  listen more (16)

91
Canto 10

• A shade recognizes Dante as a fellow Tuscan
  because of his speech (19-23)
• The soul calls out to Dante from a flaming tomb
• Asks Dante to stop talk for a moment (22)
• Dante turns to Virgilnervous (27)
• Virgil tells Dante to go and talk to the souls
  (28-30)
• This soul is Farinata who Dante asked about in
  Canto 6 with Ciacco

92
Canto 10

• The soul is sitting up in his tomb (31)
• Virgil comforts Dante by placing his hand on his
  and tells him to choose his words wisely and
  speak to the soul (33-36)
• Farinata asks about Dantes pasthis ancestors
  (39)
• Dante tells of his family (40-42)
• Farinata realizes that these were his enemies
  (42-43)

93
Canto 10

• Dantes Guelph family returned but Farinatas did
  not (46-48)
• Another shade pops up from his tombonly from the
  chin upwards (49-50)
• This is Dantes friends fatherCavalcanti
• He asks Dante about his sonGuidoDantes friend
• Dante tells Cavalcanti that he did not choose the
  journeyanother chose it for him

94
Canto 10

• Cavalcanti assumes his son is dead because Dante
  used a past tense verb when he mentioned him
  (59-63)
• Dante is a little confusedhe thought that the
  shades in Hell knew the present since they know
  the future (66)
• Cavalcanti falls back into his tomb
• Guido is actually not deadbut will be in four
  months

95
Canto 10

• But when the Ladys face who rules this place
  (74)
• Referring to the wife of Pluto
• She is the Queen
• Hectate (also known as Proserpina or
  Persephonewe will refer to her as Hectate)
• 50 times (75) 50 months
• Symbolizes the 50 months after April of 1300 that
  a move was made in Florence to return the exiled
  White Geulphs (like Dante) but fails

96
Canto 10

• Arbia is a river that Farinata lead the
  Ghibellinese to victory over the Geulphs in 1260
  (80)
• Continues to tell his story
• The souls here do not realize that Dante is
  unaware that they do not know the present times
• The shade tells Dante they do not know
• Cavalcanti and Farinata are opposite parties and
  are next to each other here

97
Canto 10

• Virgil calls Dante back (107)
• Dante hurries to ask the shade who else is in the
  Circle with them
• Cavalcantis response
• I lie with a over a thousand of the dead (111)
• Frederick IIheaded the Holy Roman Empire from
  1215-1250 but believed to be a Heretic
• Cardinal Ottavio delgi UbaldiniBishop of
  Bolgnaan ancient Ghibilline and is believed to
  have lost his soul a thousand times over because
  of his part affiliation

98
Canto 10

• The soul returns to his tomb
• Dante is a bit disturbed
• Virgil tells him (119-124)
• Preserve in memory what you have heard Against
  yourself . . . And I pray You listen, . . . When
  you confront her radiance, whose eyes can see
  Everything in their fair clarity, be assured Then
  you shall learn what your lifes journey will
  be.
• her Beatrice

99
Canto 10

• Dante and Virgil continue towards the center of
  Circle Six
• The stench repelled us even high up there.
  (130)