The Ninth and Final Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? Entering the 9^th and final circle of Hell, bound for betrayers, Dante encounters a mix of emotions toward the damned souls, all stronger than ever before. As Dante walked through the first found, he had a conversation with one of the frozen souls, of which only his head was emerged. The souls in this lever were frozen solid through with ice up to their heads. This image fills Dante with remorse for the terrible torture these souls have to go through.
2. Where does he express his feelings? As Dante is leaving the first round of the 9^th circle of hell, he expresses his emotions about his encounters with the souls, “And leaving him, I saw a thousand faces discolored so by cold, I shudder yet and always will when I think of those frozen places,”(Dante 32: 70-72). He is showing that he is leaving these bodies emotionally scarred; as he will never forget the terrifying glare of all of those faces, looking up at him.
3. Where do they change? Dante's feelings seemingly fall out of sight as Dante moves deeper and deeper into the Inferno; as he is getting closer to the center of Hell, where he will encounter Satan
4. Where does Dante need help? As Dante gets closer and closer to the center of Hell, his emotions heighten, and he needs more support from Virgil than in any other circle so far. Virgil is helping Dante greatly, but at the same time, Dante has grown and learned much from the beginning of his journey.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? As with Dante's emotions in the previous circle, Dante's heightened anxiety and emotions are signs pointing to his morality and his devotion to his religion. In the deeper rounds of the 9^th circle of Hell, the souls become more recognizable, and more relevant to his religion, such as Judas, and, of coarse, Satan. Dante feeling these emotions says that he knows what is coming ahead, and he wants to push on to learn more about his faith.

The Eighth Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? Entering the 10+ Bolgia filled 8^th circle of Hell, Dante has the strongest feelings about the damned than in any other circle. In this circle of Hell Dante encounters the Simoniacs, who essentially sold the catholic sacramental rights. This is the worst sin of all and upsets Dante greatly. The Simoniacs were essentially large frauds, as the 8^th circle of Hell was reserved for fraudulence, who made money off of sacramental rituals, such as the use of holy water, or selling artifacts saying they were blessed by Christ himself.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante became considerably enraged by the Simoniacs and he found himself being pushed to a boiling point. He found that God alone was the only force holding him back, “...were it not that I am still constrained by the reverence I owe to the Great Keys you held in life, I should not have refrained from using other words and sharper still, and exalts of evil'(Dante 19: 91-99)
3. Where do they change? Dante's feelings of anger do not change until Virgil and him move on to the next Bolgias, where, as in the 7^th circle of Hell, Dante experiences his childish curiousity.
4. Where does Dante need help? When put into perspective, Dante's feeling of intense anger and negative emotion would be understandable. One can assume that every person has something held near and dear to themselves, and in Dante's case it is indeed his religion. He may be a victim of his times, but his passion for his religion is still true, and the Simoniacs actions are blatantly wrong by his standards. All things considered, one can assume that Dante didn't need help in expressing his emotions, as he did so very well.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante's feelings of anger are very evident of his time setting and background. During his time in Europe, Roman Catholicism was law, and it was widely believed as so. Dante's anger shows his strong devotion to his religion, which shows the reader that the people of his time were very morally defensive of their religion.

The Seventh Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? By the damned entering the larger seventh circle of Hell, the circle for the Violent, Dante is very frightened by the damned, “...I dropped the branch that I was holding and stood transfixed by fear”(Dante 13: 44-45) It was not only the state and nature of these souls he encountered but it was also their treatment, grim and harsh as it was, that disturbed him a great deal. His fear also however, changes to emotion.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Throughout the different layers and sub layers of the seventh circle in Hell, Dante expresses his fear through many words, including those shown above. (These layers being the three sections for violence against neighbors, oneself, and god, which in itself has three separate zones. It is in the second ring of the seventh circle of hell where he is told a tale by one of the tree souls, “...that my glad honors to dismal mournings. My spirit, in disdainful exultation, thinking by dying to escape disdain.
3. Where do they change? Dante's feelings change from fear to emotion upon meeting the tree souls, criminals guilty of violence to themselves, and he is told the tale one trees reason for being there.
4. Where does Dante need help? Dante is surrounded by the sadness of hell throughout his journey, and repeatedly he has heard the many-a-tragic tales as to why souls are there. To Dante, the meaning of hell has been added upon, nearly to the point where Dante will have a perfect perspective of this Inferno. Due to his new opened eyes, he is more susceptible to experience pity and anxiety, which are not negative, but need to be controlled.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante's initial fear show how the time frame in which Dante lived was one rather unaware of true suffering. His reaction shows how unaware he is, as a Tuscan from Florence, that even outside the fiery boundaries of hell there is true suffering of such a nature. His compassion and pity also shows that his life may not have been as hard as the lost souls up to the point before his journey.

The Sixth Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? After the 'difficulties' passing the guards to enter the third circle of Hell, Dante is still shaken. He and Virgil enter the circle of the Heretics, which is inhabited with tombs of souls. At first, Dante feels very curious about the souls inhabiting this circle of Hell, as all he sees are tombs, and there are no souls to interrogate.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante's curiosity, as curiosity often does, sparks a childish instinct inside Dante that makes him need to talk to the people of the Tombs, “The people who are lying in these tombs, might they be seen? Already are uplifted, the covers all, and no one keepeth guard”(Dante 10: 7-9). It is quite almost humorous the way Dante asks Virgil to see the souls; almost in a childish 'can we?' manor. He even states reasons for why it would be easy to talk to them, such as, 'they are already open and unguarded.
3. Where do they change? These curious thoughts change after Dante is given the chance to speak to one of the souls. He even means the departed father of his friend, who gets very confused to see Dante, and not his son.
4. Where does Dante need help? In this circle of Hell Dante needs extra help getting past the guards, who did not let Dante and Virgil in at first. Dante also needs help bowing to his curiosity, a whim to which Virgil satisfies in letting Dante speak to the souls.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante's feelings of curiosity mainly only show that he is a normal man, surrounded by many unfamiliar and strange things. It is natural for one to be curious, as it is for anyone of any time.

The Fifth Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? The fifth circle of hell is home to the Wrathful. Here, Dante experiences feeling entirely different about the damned than before. He recognizes a soul by the name Philippo Argenti, and he feels anger, and wishes to see his suffering.
2. Where does he express his feelings? He expresses his disdain for this man by watching him suffer, after Virgil cast him away from their boat, “...I saw such havoc made of him by the people of the mire, that still I praise and thank my God for it”(Dante 8: 58-60) From the plentiful information provided about Dante at this point in the story, it seems out of character for Dante to be capable of holding such feelings of cruelty towards a suffering soul.
3. Where do they change? After the witnessing of Argenti's disembodiment, Dante and Virgil travel on, and Dante himself say the words, “...we left him there, and more of him I tell not...”(Dante 8: 64) showing that his feelings do not change.
4. Where does Dante need help? AS Dante's journey continues, the reader repeatedly uncovers personality traits about Dante that he needs help with. During his journey through the fifth circle of hell Dante shows a cruel side, while he watched Argenti suffer. In order to complete his journey to Paradise, he must learn more compassion in certain situations.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante's feeling of anger and cruelty ironically showed up when he was in the 'Wrathful' circle of hell, and it greatly shows what time Dante lived in; an older time when watching people suffer was desired to seek personal satisfaction.

The Fourth Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? In the fourth circle of Hell Dante encounters the domain of the Avaricious and Prodigal, essentially meaning those who hoarded their money. At first catching a glimpse of these circle Dante is greatly disturbed by the souls he sees. The souls are in a ring shaped ditch, pushing weights towards each other screaming in pain. It also seems that he shows a bit of concern for said souls.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante expresses his initial feeling of the souls by crying out, which is a very common reaction for one seeing an especially disturbing sight. After Dante gets over the initial shock, however, he expresses concern for the souls. “My Master, among such as these I ought forsooth to recognize some few, Who were infected with these maladies.”(Dante 7: 49-51) The reader can assume by his choice of words, such as infect, that he is concerned for these souls, especially enough to wonder if there are any he would know.
3. Where do they change? It is in the same excerpt from the reading that Dante's inverse feelings about these souls are shown. In the very introduction of his inquiry to Virgil, Dante's tone suggests that he would be very familiar with such people, “...among such as these I ought to forsooth to recognize some few...”(Dante 7: 49-51). This tone leads the reader to assume that Dante is familiar with those quilty of the crimes of his souls, which could indicate that Dante is not especially surprised at these souls.
4. Where does Dante need help? Aside from the now regular assistance required by Virgil in entering the deeper circles in Hell, Dante does not require anymore physical help from Dante. Dante does however require help (that which he may or not receive at this point) in building up his moral fiber, so to speak. Upon the entrance of this circle of Hell, Dante is childishly frightened by the sight of the souls, yet it is part of the point of his journey to make him a better man. Bravery, being part of becoming a better person, which at this point Dante needs assistance in.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante lived during a time in which people lived their lives based upon the acquisition of wealth. This acquisition transformed into intensive greed for many at that time. Even though it was extremely frowned upon morally, especially at a time where Roman Catholicism was so prominent, it was very common among people, because of which Dante shows no surprise in the sight of so many souls.

The Third Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? The third circle of hell is the darkest to be encountered by Dante yet, as the first thing he sees is the three headed dog Cerberus admitting the damned. The damned of the third circle of hell are guilty of gluttony. Dante thinks little of the damned souls he sees until he comes across a soul that recognizes him. A man name Ciacco, meaning The Hog, called out to Dante, identifying himself as a fellow citizen of Florence. Ciacco tells Dante of his fate in Hell and Dante, again, feels pity.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante shows his pity for Ciacco in his words, “Ciacco, your agony weighs on my heart and calls my soul to tears...”(Dante 56-57)
3. Where do they change? These feelings of sympathy towards Ciacco seem sincere until Dante then asks, in the same breath, for the fate of his city, Florence. Dante ultimately wants to know the fate of his beloved city. Dante is surprised at what he hears as Ciacco describes a dark and destitute fate for the city. He then feels confusion and wonders what will become of these souls on the day of judgment.
4. Where does Dante need help? In the third circle of hell the only specific help that Dante needs is that of getting through the gate guard, who, as in the past circles, warned against his entrance. In all cases Virgil helps him through. In this circle, however, Dante asks a question of Virgil, asking what will happen to the souls upon judgment day, to which Virgil replies their punishment will become perfect.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values/customs of the setting? Dante's inquiry and worry about his home city show the reader that Dante is from Florence, Italy. His concern for his city also show that he is a man of pride, and he is very proud to come from Florence, which is why he is troubled by Ciaccco's response.

The Second Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? In the second circle of hell, the damned souls of those of the lustful, who committed crimes of the flesh. A woman named Francesca explains her reason for being in the second circle of hell to Dante. When Dante learns that Francesca was damned by her forbidden love, he is immediately filled with pain and pity for these souls.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante's feelings of pain and pity are expressed most unfortunately when he faints for a second time. “...I felt my senses reel and faint away with anguish. I was swept by such a swoon as death is, and I fell, as a corpse might fall, to the dead floor of hell”(Dante 137-140) However oddly, Dante expresses his feelings and shows his heart by 'swooning to the dead floor of hell.
3. Where do his feelings change? Dante's feelings of the souls do not change from compassion as after he faints he wakes in the third circle of hell. Dante's initial feelings of the damned however were negative, “...those who sinned in the flesh, the carnal and lusty who betrayed reason to their appetite”(Dante 38-39). Dante's use of such strong words like carnal and lusty add a negative tone to this stanza, showing Dante's negative feelings towards these souls. His feelings eventually changed to compassion however.
4. Where does Dante need help? In this circle as well as the first circle Dante requires help after he faints for a second time, this time due to his pity. In this circle however Dante had to ask Virgil to identify those of notability residing in that circle, as to him it was not as clear as the first Canto. Virgil identifies Helen of Troy and Cleopatra.
5. What do Dante's feelings show about the values, customs of the setting? Much is to be said about the value of love in Dante's culture due to his literally fainting reaction to the sadness of Francesca's story. During the time of Dante's life, love was shown as a big romantic production, almost always filled with drama and adversity; the forever-living concept of the forbidden love. This is also very common in other literature such as Romeo and Juliet.

The First Circle of Hell

Charles Spencer

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB 5^th Hour

January 12, 2011 Limbo: The First Circle of Hell

Cantos I and II of The Inferno depict the beginning and departure of Dante on his journey with Virgil, the poet, as his guide to venture past the road blocked by the leopard, the lion, and the she-wolf. Virgil intends to bring Dante through the place of eternal punishment, the place of lesser punishment, before God's city is reachable. The Inferno tells the story of Dante's guided journey through the place of eternal punishment, Hell, or the Inferno, which has nine circles.

The first circle of hell, Limbo, is not displayed until Canto IV.

1. How does Dante feel about the damned? In Limbo the damned souls are those of 'virtuous pagans' and 'unbaptized babies'. As Dante is explained the situation of these souls, he feels a sympathy for the souls, for he notices these souls live without the light of god.
2. Where does he express his feelings? Dante expresses his sympathy for these light-less souls in asking Virgil, “Instruct me, Master and most noble Sir...has any, by his own or another's merit, gone ever from this place to blessedness?”(Dante 46-50). By asking this, Dante shows his compassion for these souls,

as he himself wishes to get to blessedness he also wishes for these other souls.

3. Where do they change? These thoughts change to a slight relief when Virgil informs Dante that souls “crowned with the sign of his victorious years”(Dante 54) have been personally ascended into heaven by god. Such souls being Abraham, Moses, and Noah.
4. Where does Dante need help? In the first circle of hell Dante is still getting over the initial shock of the sights that he sees in hell. Upon entering hell Dante fainted, and was assisted on by Virgil.
5. Dante's feelings of sympathy say a great deal about the religious values of the time. Catholicism was very prominently accepted as true law, and it was on this basis that Dante wrote this tale, through layers of heaven and hell as depicted in biblical teachings. Dante's wishes for souls worthy of the light of God to have it shows his moral values in play as a Catholic man.