1. Intro to the Inferno

2. Allegory Extended metaphor
Conveys both universal and specifically significant meanings
Has a meaning beyond the obvious

3. Inferno
The poem is in the pattern of the “peregrination” (or pilgrimage)
Traits of a peregrination (pilgrimage) are:
Essentially an individual journey (one must take it alone, for only the person taking the journey can grow and learn for themselves
Carpe diem – we must always prepare for death (“O death thou comest when I had thee least in mind”)

4. Inferno
It is described through “worldly” vernacular as a journey to better illustrate spiritual progress
Dante uses this motif in his Divine Comedy
The narrator is on his “journey through life” and is diverted from the earthly world to a pilgrimage through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise
This pilgrimage is filled with all kinds of dangers and only through one coming to spiritual maturity and full understanding of hope/faith/charity, can one survive this journey
Our protagonist learns this on his journey

5. Inferno On this spiritual journey one needs an intercessor (or guide)
This guide has to have gone through a variety of trials himself in order to be successful on his journey
In our book, our narrator’s guide is Virgil
Virgil represents human reason in our story

6. Symbolic Retribution
Retribution – that which is given in repayment or compensation – commonly use in a negative connotation- punishment for wrong doing
In Dante’s Divine Comedy the punishment incurred for the character’s choices and actions are appropriately and symbolically reflective of those choices and actions – the punishment fits the crime

7. Epic This is an epic adventure What exactly does that mean? Hero
Goes through a series of adventures
Refers to the quality the poem creates – is in some way exploring or celebrating something much larger than the particular characters and places it describes
Brings a world view, a sense of cultural completeness

8. The dreaded “H” word… HOMEWORK - Read Cantos 1-3
We will discuss this tomorrow