““Abandon all hope ye Abandon all hope ye who enter here . . .”who enter here . . .”

Join Dante and Virgil on a descent into Join Dante and Virgil on a descent into hell hell

in the “Inferno” from Dante Alighieri’s in the “Inferno” from Dante Alighieri’s

The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy (1315)(1315)

In his In his Divine ComedyDivine Comedy, Dante , Dante explores the seven deadly sins:explores the seven deadly sins:

PP PridePride

EE EnvyEnvy

WW WrathWrath

SS SlothSloth

AA AvariceAvarice

GG GluttonyGluttony

LL LustLust

MichelinoMichelino

In the In the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Inferno, Purgatorio, and ParadisoParadiso

Dante Alighieri, translated by John Ciardi, guides us fromDante Alighieri, translated by John Ciardi, guides us from

toto

Here’s how . . .Here’s how . . .Fra AngelicoFra Angelico Fra AngelicoFra Angelico

The Dark Wood: Good The Dark Wood: Good FridayFriday

Midway in his life, Dante realizes Midway in his life, Dante realizes he has strayed he has strayed

from the True Way from the True Way into the Dark Wood of Error (Worldliness).into the Dark Wood of Error (Worldliness).

He sees the sunrise, He sees the sunrise, a symbol of Divine Illumination,a symbol of Divine Illumination,

over a little hill, the Mount of Joy,over a little hill, the Mount of Joy,and he is filled with relief.and he is filled with relief.

He starts towards the light and hillHe starts towards the light and hillbut finds his way blocked.but finds his way blocked.

DoreDore

Dante assaulted by three Dante assaulted by three beastsbeasts

Three fierce beasts block his path:Three fierce beasts block his path:

The Leopard of Malice and Fraud,The Leopard of Malice and Fraud,

The Lion of Violence and Ambition,The Lion of Violence and Ambition,

and and

The She – Wolf of Incontinence.The She – Wolf of Incontinence.

Of these three, Dante is most intimidatedOf these three, Dante is most intimidatedby the She – Wolf.by the She – Wolf.

He begins to despair and move deeper into He begins to despair and move deeper into the Dark Wood of Error.the Dark Wood of Error.

But suddenly . . .But suddenly . . .

DoreDore

Virgil saves Dante from Virgil saves Dante from the three Beaststhe three Beasts

Virgil, the greatest Latin poet Virgil, the greatest Latin poet and author of the and author of the Aeneid,Aeneid,appears to rescue Dante.appears to rescue Dante.

Virgil, symbolizing Human Reason,Virgil, symbolizing Human Reason,explains that he has been sentexplains that he has been sentto guide Dante away from error.to guide Dante away from error.

However, there is no easy way out.However, there is no easy way out.Any man who would escape theAny man who would escape the

three beasts must travelthree beasts must travela longer and harder path.a longer and harder path.

BlakeBlake

Virgil explains the only way out Virgil explains the only way out is through hellis through hell

First, Virgil will guide Dante throughFirst, Virgil will guide Dante througha recognition of his sin a recognition of his sin

in a descent through hell (The in a descent through hell (The InfernoInferno).).

Then, Virgil will guide Dante toThen, Virgil will guide Dante torenounce his sinsrenounce his sins

in an ascent through Purgatoryin an ascent through Purgatory(The (The PurgatorioPurgatorio).).

Finally, Virgil, who is pagan and also Finally, Virgil, who is pagan and also limited by the boundaries of human reason limited by the boundaries of human reason

and therefore cannot cross into heaven, and therefore cannot cross into heaven, will turn Dante over will turn Dante over

to Beatrice who will guide Dante’s to Beatrice who will guide Dante’s path to the Light of God in heavenpath to the Light of God in heaven

(The (The ParadisoParadiso).).

DoreDore

The Gate of The Gate of HellHell

Virgil leads Dante away from Virgil leads Dante away from the Dark Wood and up to the Gate of Hell.the Dark Wood and up to the Gate of Hell.

There they readThere they read

I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOEI AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE

I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLEI AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE

I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW. . . .I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW. . . .

ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.

BlakeBlake

Vestibule: The OpportunistsVestibule: The Opportunists

The first souls in torment Dante and VirgilThe first souls in torment Dante and Virgilencounter are the encounter are the Opportunists, Opportunists,

those souls who in life those souls who in life were neither for good nor evil were neither for good nor evil

but only for themselves.but only for themselves.

They race round and round on the beachThey race round and round on the beachof the River Acheron of the River Acheron

while pursuing a wavering banner.while pursuing a wavering banner.

As they run they are pursued As they run they are pursued by swarms of wasps and hornets, by swarms of wasps and hornets,

which sting them which sting them and produce a constant flow and produce a constant flow

of blood and putrid matterof blood and putrid matterfed on by maggots on the ground.fed on by maggots on the ground.

DoreDore

River AcheronRiver AcheronThe poets reach Acheron, The poets reach Acheron, the first of the rivers of Hell.the first of the rivers of Hell.

Here newly – arrivedHere newly – arrivedsouls of the damnedsouls of the damned

gather and waitgather and waitfor the monster Charonfor the monster Charonto ferry them over to to ferry them over to their punishments.their punishments.

Charon does not wantCharon does not wantthe living Dante to board,the living Dante to board,

but Virgil demandsbut Virgil demandspassage for their passage for their

divine mission.divine mission.

Charon gives in, Charon gives in, and Dante faints.and Dante faints.

DoreDore

The Funnel of HellThe Funnel of Hell

Dante wakes up on the brink of Hell, Dante wakes up on the brink of Hell, which Dante conceives as a greatwhich Dante conceives as a greatfunnel – shaped cave lying belowfunnel – shaped cave lying belowthe northern hemisphere with its the northern hemisphere with its

bottom at the earth’s center.bottom at the earth’s center.Each ledge is called a Circle, Each ledge is called a Circle,

and each Circle holds one category of sin.and each Circle holds one category of sin.

BotticelliBotticelli

Circle 1: LimboCircle 1: Limbo

Here Dante and Virgil find the Virtuous Pagans.Here Dante and Virgil find the Virtuous Pagans.

Since they were born without the light of Christ’s revelation,Since they were born without the light of Christ’s revelation,they cannot come into the light of God, but they are not tormented.they cannot come into the light of God, but they are not tormented.

Their only pain is that they have no hope.Their only pain is that they have no hope.

BlakeBlake

Poets in Poets in LimboLimbo

Virgil is welcomed back to his Circle Virgil is welcomed back to his Circle by the greatest Classical poets, by the greatest Classical poets,

including Homer and Ovid.including Homer and Ovid.

The great men welcome Dante as The great men welcome Dante as one of their own.one of their own.

Limbo is the highest stateLimbo is the highest stateman can attain without God.man can attain without God.

DoreDore

Minos, Judge of HellMinos, Judge of Hell

Blocking the way to Hell proper, Blocking the way to Hell proper, beginning in Circle 2, beginning in Circle 2,

Sits king Minos, Sits king Minos,

a half – man / half – bull Minotaura half – man / half – bull Minotaurlike Minos’ illegitimate stepson in like Minos’ illegitimate stepson in

Ovid’s Ovid’s Metamorphoses.Metamorphoses.

He judges the souls of the damned, He judges the souls of the damned, wrapping his long tailwrapping his long tail

one time around his huge bodyone time around his huge bodyfor each circle the damnedfor each circle the damned

soul must descend.soul must descend.

DoreDore

Circle 2: The LustfulCircle 2: The Lustful

BlakeBlake

Paolo and Paolo and FrancescaFrancesca

On a dark ledge, On a dark ledge, swept by a great whirlwind, swept by a great whirlwind,

Dante encounters famous lovers Dante encounters famous lovers including Helen, Paris, and Dido.including Helen, Paris, and Dido.

Virgil explains that their sin was Virgil explains that their sin was to abandon themselves to passion,to abandon themselves to passion,

so they are swept in forever in a tempest.so they are swept in forever in a tempest.

Paolo and Francesca explainPaolo and Francesca explaintheir sad tale of an illicit kiss,their sad tale of an illicit kiss,

inspired by reading about Sir Lancelot,inspired by reading about Sir Lancelot,and, in pity, Dante faints again.and, in pity, Dante faints again.

DoreDore

Circle 9: Frozen Lake Circle 9: Frozen Lake CocytusCocytus

BlakeBlake

At the bottom of Hell’s funnel,At the bottom of Hell’s funnel,Dante finds the huge, frozen Dante finds the huge, frozen

lake of Cocytuslake of Cocytusand the Ninth Circle.and the Ninth Circle.

Here, fixed in ice,Here, fixed in ice,each according to his guilt,each according to his guilt,

are punished sinners are punished sinners guilty of treachery against thoseguilty of treachery against those

to whom they were bound to whom they were bound by special ties.by special ties.

Since these sinners denied allSince these sinners denied alldivine love and human warmth,divine love and human warmth,they are forever encased in ice.they are forever encased in ice.

They are furthest They are furthest removed from God’s love removed from God’s love

and the light and warmth of the sun.and the light and warmth of the sun.

Canto 34: LuciferCanto 34: Lucifer

DoreDore

In the center of Lake CocytusIn the center of Lake Cocytusis Satan.is Satan.

He is fixed into the ice He is fixed into the ice at the center.at the center.

As he beats his wings asAs he beats his wings asif to escape, their icyif to escape, their icy

wind only freezes him morewind only freezes him moresurely into the polluted ice.surely into the polluted ice.

In a grotesque parodyIn a grotesque parodyof the Trinity, he has three faces,of the Trinity, he has three faces,

each a different color,each a different color,and in each mouth he clampsand in each mouth he clamps

a sinner whom he rips eternallya sinner whom he rips eternallywith his teeth:with his teeth:

Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.

Leaving Leaving HellHell

BlakeBlake

To leave hell, Dante and VirgilTo leave hell, Dante and Virgilclimb down Satan’s hairyclimb down Satan’s hairy

legs and, when they have passedlegs and, when they have passedthrough the centerthrough the center

of all gravity,of all gravity,emerge from Hell.emerge from Hell.

Literary TermsLiterary Termsseven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Avarice, Gluttony, Lust seven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Avarice, Gluttony, Lust

allegory: the discussion of one subject by disguising it as another; allegory: the discussion of one subject by disguising it as another; Dante’s literal descent into hell is a figurative spiritual and psychological journeyDante’s literal descent into hell is a figurative spiritual and psychological journey

terza rimaterza rima: Dante’s three line stanzas rhyming : Dante’s three line stanzas rhyming aba, bab, cdc, ded, aba, bab, cdc, ded, etc. etc.

vernacular: the local dialect; Dante wrote in Italian, not Latinvernacular: the local dialect; Dante wrote in Italian, not Latin

archetype: an image, symbol, or pattern that appears in literature of many cultures archetype: an image, symbol, or pattern that appears in literature of many cultures In the In the Divine ComedyDivine Comedy Dante separates from society in the Dark Wood, Dante separates from society in the Dark Wood,is initiated through his journeys in the is initiated through his journeys in the Inferno, Purgatorio, Inferno, Purgatorio, and and Paradiso, Paradiso, and and returns to earth to share his tale through his writingreturns to earth to share his tale through his writing

epic simile: a long, extended comparison using the word “like” or “as” epic simile: a long, extended comparison using the word “like” or “as”

allusion: a reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place, thing, or ideaallusion: a reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place, thing, or idea

catalog: a long listcatalog: a long list

epithet: descriptive words and phrases composed of an adjective and a proper nounepithet: descriptive words and phrases composed of an adjective and a proper noun

imagery: descriptive language that appeals to one of the five sensesimagery: descriptive language that appeals to one of the five senses

The Numbers 3 and 10The Numbers 3 and 10

DaliDali

The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy has three parts: has three parts:Inferno, Purgatorio, ParadisoInferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso

InfernoInferno has 1 canto on earth and 33 in hell has 1 canto on earth and 33 in hellPurgatorioPurgatorio has 33 cantos has 33 cantosParadisoParadiso has 33 cantos has 33 cantos

100 (10 x 10) total cantos = perfection100 (10 x 10) total cantos = perfection

Dante wrote in three – line stanzas called Dante wrote in three – line stanzas called terza rimaterza rima

Dante’s journey lasts three days, Dante’s journey lasts three days, beginning on Good Fridaybeginning on Good Friday

and Ending on Easter Sundayand Ending on Easter Sunday

Dante’s Trinity includes Father, Son, and Holy GhostDante’s Trinity includes Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

There are three main characters: Dante, Virgil, and BeatriceThere are three main characters: Dante, Virgil, and Beatrice

Cerberus has three headsCerberus has three heads

How many other 3s can you find?How many other 3s can you find?