Name__________________________________
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Contextual Information:
1. In what city did Dante live prior to being exiled?
2. What religion was the dominant religion at the time?
3. The Inferno was written during the ________________________ Ages.
4. Dante wrote his poem in vernacular language: ___________________________.
Identify all 9 Circles of Hell:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Canto I
1. How old is Dante when he realizes he has strayed from the true path?
2. In what season does The Inferno open?
3. Name the three animals blocking Dante’s path.
4. Who arrives to help Dante find his way?
Writing Response for Canto I: Assuming that you were undertaking a journey such as Dante’s, whom would
you choose as your guide and why? Explain your choice and in doing so tell why there would be special
advantages that stemmed from your decision. Be ready to discuss with the class.
Canto IV
1. The first circle of hell holds whom?
2. The Citadel in which these souls reside is the Citadel of _________________ ______________________.
3. Besides the poets, philosophers, and pre-Christ souls, the Citadel also holds children who have not
been ________________________.
4. Name three of those who are taken from the Citadel to Heaven.
5. What is the highest state man can achieve without God?
Canto V
1. What is the name of the semi-bestial judge who assigns each soul to its eternal torment?
2. What spins within the great whirlwind?
3. Name the nine souls specifically mentioned in Circle 2.
4. The sinners of Circle 2 betrayed ________________________ to their _________________________.
5. Why does Dante feel sympathy for these sinners?
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Canto VI
1. Circle 3 holds what sinners?
2. What three headed-mythological dog is in this circle?
3. What citizen of Florence does Dante encounter?
4. What’s the weather like in circle 3?
5. Ciacco prophesies to Dante regarding what?
Canto VII
1. Circle 4 holds the ___________________________ and ____________________________.
2. Circle 5 holds the ___________________________ and ____________________________.
3. The sinners of circle 4 thought only of ___________________________ during their lives.
4. To what marsh do Virgil and Dante come?
5. What explanation does Virgil give as to why Dante cannot make out or identify any of these sinners?
6. Plutus was the God of ___________________________________.
Writing Response for Canto VII: How is Dante’s reaction to these sinners from the reactions he has had to
sinners thus far? Do you think his reactions are justified?
Canto VIII
1. Circle 6 holds what beings?
2. What is the name of the boatman of Styx?
3. What wrathful, muddy souls arise from Styx?
4. After Dante berates this muddy soul, all the other sinners in Styx fall upon him and do what?
5. What is the capitol of hell?
6. Of what is the gate of the city made?
7. Who guards the gate?
8. More than how many of those purged from Heaven stand above the gates and cry, “Who is it that
invades Death’s kingdom in his life?”
Canto IX
1. Whose punishment is in an eternal grave in the fiery morgue of God’s wrath?
2. Upon what mythological creature do the three infernal furies threaten to call?
3. Who comes to Dante and Virgil’s aid?
4. Circle 6 contains what sinners?
5. What is the name of the final pit of hell?
6. What precedes the Messenger of Heaven?
Canto XII
1. Who do Dante and Virgil evade at the beginning of their descent into the seventh circle?
2. What river marks the first round of circle 7?
3. Who are located in the first round? V__________________________ against N_________________________.
4. In what are these souls immersed?
5. What creatures patrol the banks of the river?
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6. What “Great” Greek emperor (actually Macedonian) is located here?
7. What HUNny of a guy is here as well?
8. Who is the chief Centaur?
9. What is the proper name of the river of blood? P____________________________
10. Upon what Greek hero did Nessus get revenge?
Canto XIII
1. Who are located in Round 2 of Circle 7? V_____________________ against T____________________________.
2. What wood do Dante and Virgil enter in Round 2? Wood of S__________________________.
3. What is the punishment for the souls in the second round?
4. Souls can only speak when they do what?
Canto XVIII
1. Circle 8 holds whom?
2. Bolgia 1 holds what sinners?
3. Bolgia 2 holds what sinners?
4. Who drive the two lines of sinners in the first ditch? H________________________ D_________________________
5. What great Greek Hero is in Bolgia 1? J______________________________.
6. What are the flatterers sunk in?
7. This substance is the true equivalent of what? Their F_______________________ F__________________________.
8. Name two women Jason seduced for which he is being punished. H _____________________________________
and M______________________________.
Canto XX
1. Bolgia 4 of Circle 8 holds whom? F________________________ T__________________ and D________________________.
2. Name the 8 souls mentioned specifically as damned.
3. What is their punishment?
Canto XXVIII
1. Who are located in Bolgia 9? S ______________________ of D_______________________________.
2. What is their punishment?
3. By the time these souls walk the circuit, what happens to their wounds?
4. List three classes of sinners: R____________________________, P____________________________, and
K____________________.
5. What is Mohamet’s appearance?
6. Bertrand de Born separated father from son, and for the offense he carries what? His H______________.
7. Pier de Medicina does not speak through his mouth but through his what?
Canto XXXIV
1. Round 4 is called J________________________.
2. What type of treachery is punished in this round? Treachery against M__________________________.
3. Who is in the middle mouth of Satan? J___________________________.
4. What two souls are in the other two mouths of Satan? B____________________________ & C______________________.
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5. What kind of animal’s wings do Satan’s wings resemble?
6. Ironically, Satan’s perpetual flapping of wings in an attempt to escape only does what to him?
7. What does Dante choose to represent the most terrible part of Hell as a frozen lake?
8. Why does Virgil have to carry Dante out of Hell by climbing over Satan?
9. Dante himself called punishment “the sword of Heaven.” First explain the meaning of this
statement. Then tell how it applies to Canto XXXIV.
10. What does Dante learn from this experience?
Writing Response for Canto XXXIV: Do you feel Dante fit the punishment of the souls to the sins they
committed? If so, give at least three examples of punishment fitting the crime and explain how they
complement each other. If not, which would change and why would you change them?
