Name:
Class/Period:
Notes on The Inferno
Date:
Essential Question: How can Dante’s journey through the Inferno help me in my
Journey throughout life?
Questions:
Notes:
What happens in
Canto III is the “Vestibule” of Hell – a vestibule is an entryway
“Canto III”?
ABANDON ALL HOPE, ALL WHO ENTER HERE!
What is famous saying?
Who are the people The people here are the “Opportunists;” they did not side with either
in this Canto?
good or evil, but only looked out for their own interests
Cornell Notes
Topic/Objective:
~there are also those who did not take sides in the Rebellion of
the Angels here, too~
They are neither in Hell or out of it – for eternity, their punishment is
is to follow a wavering banner wherever it goes, being chased by
stinging insects that make them bleed and ooze gross stuff - there
are worms and maggots all over the ground here
Who does Dante
recognize here?
In the vestibule, Dante sees POPE CELESTINE V – this was a pope
that did not stand up to the corruption that he saw in the church, but
gave up his position to become a monk and avoid conflict
What is punishment
called in the inferno
Punishment is called contrapasso – the punishment of the sinners
reflects whatever crimes they are guilty of
? is ACHERON?
Summary:
This is the river that takes souls to hell – boat is steered by CHARON
– he didn’t want Dante to get in boat because he was still alive
Dante was in trouble and exiled from his home in Florence because he stood up against
the corrupt government and pope of his time – therefore, he makes sure he punishes
people who are too afraid to stand up for their beliefs in this Canto.
Questions:
Notes:
Who is in Canto 4? CIRCLE ONE of hell: LIMBO
What happens here? THE VIRTUOUS PAGANS
~People here are virtuous, good people, but were born before Christ
was born, so are not “Christians” – therefore, they cannot go to
Heaven, but they will not be condemned to Hell
Is there a punishment here?
No real punishment except they cannot come into the light of god Their only pain is that they have no hope…
Who are the 4 great The four great poets here are Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan
Poets here?
Virgil is called the Prince of Poets here
Who can get out of
the first circle?
The MIGHTY ONE (JESUS CHRIST) came into Limbo after he was
crucified and took out the Jewish predecessors to Christianity: Abel,
Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Israel and his children, Rachel…
Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Electra, Queen of Amazons, Seneca,
Who are other great Euclid, Ptolemy, Hippocrates
people in Limbo?
What happens in
“Canto V”?
Canto V (5) tells about the 2nd Circle of Hell: The Carnal (Adulterers)
These people had affairs while they were married.
Who is here?
Cleopatra, Helen, Achilles, Paris, Dido, Tristan
Who does Dante
Dante talks to Franscesca and Paolo and hears their story and feels
talk to?
sorry for them.
Summary:
In Limbo, the people in this first Circle of hell are not really punished like the other circles These people did not do wrong as the other circles, but because they were born before
Christ, they cannot go to heaven. Their circle is lit by the light of Human Reason.