Another guide will take him to this last realm, which Dante cannot (or may not) enter. This is Dante’s journey through the nine circles of Hell, guided by the poet Virgil. Guido tells how he, being a master of deceit, was deceitfully deceived by Pope Boniface VIII, who absolved him of a sin he was about to commit. Start studying Dante's Inferno Study Guide. Study Guide. Now, canto 21, we come to the next ditch: the grafters. These people are best described as cowards and are not good enough to be in heaven, but not bad enough to be in hell. The entire description is presented through images resembling the logic of a dream. SUMMARY- Third ditch of the eight circle. SUMMARY- Ninth circle, first ring, called Caina. These sinners are set heads down into holes in the rock, with their feet coming out of the hole tormented by flames. He had an arranged marriage with a woman of a noble background, Gemma di Manetto Donati, but he fell in love with a woman named Beatrice, who appears repeatedly in his poetry. Dante and Virgil enter the city and find themselves into a huge cemetery (circle 6). Dante readily agrees, and the two poets begin their long journey. Dante, in fact, wrote. The river Styx is on the fifth circle of Hell, and it is a disgusting pool where wrathful people … Ten demons are in charge over these sinners; they are led by Malacoda (evil-tail); who is the chief of the Malebranche (evil claws). Main character: Pope Nicholas III, who refers to Pope Boniface VIII and Pope Clement V. The canto closes with Dante's invective against the simonist popes. Dante's Inferno: A Discussion Guide. 2. Dante himself places his epic poem in a tradition of works by great classical authors like Homer, Virgil, and Ovid. Basically, he has strayed from his path and finds himself lost in a dark wood. Wrath. They are represented by the three Erinyes: Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. What does Virgil use to fish out the creature from Circle 8? SUMMARY- End of the fifth ditch: The demons, scorned by Ciampolo fight against each other. Two Jovial Friars of Bologna, Catalano and Loderigo are among these sinners. So Dante tries to climb the hill, but three beast stop him. (including. There have been countless translations of the Inferno, but this one by poet Robert Pinsky is both eloquent and tailored to our times. SUMMARY- Seventh circle, third ring. Dante originally titled his epic masterpiece simply La Commedia (the comedy), meaning that, as opposed to a tragedy, it had a happy ending. SUMMARY- Programmatic canto, The structure of Hell. SUMMARY - Dante describes an undefined forest, then a hill lighted by the spring sunshine. SUMMARY- Seventh circle, third ring. 3. As Dante descends from the First Circle, he finds that the Second Circle holds greater woe. There is a reference to Pope Anastasius' tomb, but the main issue is Virgil's exposition of the structure of Hell. Theme of the canto: Corruption of the Church. INFERNO Canto V In this canto, where the lustful are punished, are several similes drawn from birdlife, which Dante loved to depict. beenthe"object"of"intensive"study"andextensive"commentary." The canto ends with the river Phlegethon cascading into the next zone. This canto deals with the first two ditches: 1) the Panderers , who are scourged by horned demons. At the beginning of the story, a woman, Beatrice, calls for an angel to bring Virgil to guide Dante in his journey so that no harm will befall him. Divine Comedy-I: Inferno study guide contains a biography of Dante Alighieri, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. " Here Charon picks up the damned who keep falling down to ferry them to other side, to Hell. This is one of the most popular cantos of the Commedia. At the center of the frozen lake is Lucifer, the emperor of the kingdom of Hell(Satan). The Third Ring, Ptolomea, holds the traitors against their Guests. Dante then reaches the shore of the first infernal river, Acheron. SUMMARY- Seventh circle, second ring First Zone: Violent Against Self (Suicides, Squanderers). The structure of Dante's Inferno; Take the Dante's Inferno Test. Theme: Decadence of the city of Florence. This giant monster has three faces, with its three mouths chewing three sinners: Juda, Brutus and Cassius. One of these flames, with two points, is shared by Ulysses and Diomedes. In his time, the fighting between the two groups became fierce. The demon Plutus stands as the guardian of the circle. They are led by Chiron, who orders Nessus to guide Dante and Virgil across the boiling river of blood, the Phlegethon. A … The Free Study Guides & Practice Tests are further proof of our commitment to your excellence. After the Guelph's had taken power, though, they soon split into factions: the Black Guelphs, who wanted to work with Pope Boniface VIII (whom Dante despised) to maintain power, and the White Guelphs, who preferred Florentine independence from Papal influence. SUMMARY- Passage to the ninth circle. Dante, as a Guelph, was a supporter of the imperial authority because he passionately wanted Italy united into one central state. Our Study Guides & Practice Tests are offered to you at no charge because we want you to succeed.