DANTE EXAMS SET FEATURING SOLVED
QUESTIONS AND ACCURACY CHECKED
ANSWERS
●● Canto 2
Answer: SUMMARY- After the invocation to the Muses, Dante begins
the narrative. But, first he has to clear his doubts about the validity of
this journey, for he fears that he may be heading for failure. Virgil
assures him that the journey is favored by three heavenly Ladies, the
Virgin Mary, St. Lucia, and Beatrice. The latter summoned Virgil to go
out of Limbo and rescue Dante from the three beasts.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil
●● Canto 3
Answer: SUMMARY- Dante enters the Gates of Hell. He finds himself
in a vestibule, an area reserved for the souls of those who never made
any decisions, the Neutrals. These people are best described as cowards
and are not good enough to be in heaven, but not bad enough to be in
hell. Dante then reaches the shore of the first infernal river, Acheron.
Here Charon picks up the damned who keep falling down to ferry them
to other side, to Hell.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Charon
,Important Note- When Dante and Virgil enter the gates of hell, they see
an inscription that says "Abandon hope all ye who enter here"
●● Canto 4
Answer: SUMMARY- First circle of Hell: Limbo. This is the place for
the souls of those who were good people, but did not know Christ,
because they came before him. Here Dante encounters the ancient
philosophers. The most important episode is when Dante and Virgil are
joined by four ancient poets: Homer, Horace, Ovid, Lucan. Together
they talk about poetry.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Homer, Horace, Ovid, Lucan
SIN- The unbaptized and pre-christians (they didn't really sin)
CONTRAPASSO- An eternal life with a constant and unfulfilled longing
for God.
●● Canto 5
Answer: SUMMARY- Second circle of Hell: Lustful. This is one of the
most popular cantos of the Commedia. It has captured the attention of
many scholars since Dante's times, mainly because Dante finds here
among the lustful: Francesca da Rimini. Among other sinners, Dido,
queen of Cartage. Minos is the guardian of the circle.
, THEME: Courtly Love.
CHARACTERS- Dante, Virgil, Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Achilles
SIN- Committed sins of the flesh (they had lots of sex)
CONTRAPASSO- Because, these people couldn't control their physical
urges a storm controls their whole life (They're blown around in a raging
storm)
●● Canto 6
Answer: SUMMARY- Third circle of Hell: The Gluttonous: The setting
of the third circle is again visual and graphical: heavy, steady rain, hail
and snow. It is monotonous, never ending, and weakens the souls to the
extent that they lay down because they have no strength to rise. This
monotony becomes an obsession. Dante talks to Ciacco, a Florentine,
who predicts Dante's upcoming exile. Cerberus, a three-headed dog, is
the guardian of the circle.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Ciacco
SIN- Excessively pursuing pleasure in overabundance
QUESTIONS AND ACCURACY CHECKED
ANSWERS
●● Canto 2
Answer: SUMMARY- After the invocation to the Muses, Dante begins
the narrative. But, first he has to clear his doubts about the validity of
this journey, for he fears that he may be heading for failure. Virgil
assures him that the journey is favored by three heavenly Ladies, the
Virgin Mary, St. Lucia, and Beatrice. The latter summoned Virgil to go
out of Limbo and rescue Dante from the three beasts.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil
●● Canto 3
Answer: SUMMARY- Dante enters the Gates of Hell. He finds himself
in a vestibule, an area reserved for the souls of those who never made
any decisions, the Neutrals. These people are best described as cowards
and are not good enough to be in heaven, but not bad enough to be in
hell. Dante then reaches the shore of the first infernal river, Acheron.
Here Charon picks up the damned who keep falling down to ferry them
to other side, to Hell.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Charon
,Important Note- When Dante and Virgil enter the gates of hell, they see
an inscription that says "Abandon hope all ye who enter here"
●● Canto 4
Answer: SUMMARY- First circle of Hell: Limbo. This is the place for
the souls of those who were good people, but did not know Christ,
because they came before him. Here Dante encounters the ancient
philosophers. The most important episode is when Dante and Virgil are
joined by four ancient poets: Homer, Horace, Ovid, Lucan. Together
they talk about poetry.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Homer, Horace, Ovid, Lucan
SIN- The unbaptized and pre-christians (they didn't really sin)
CONTRAPASSO- An eternal life with a constant and unfulfilled longing
for God.
●● Canto 5
Answer: SUMMARY- Second circle of Hell: Lustful. This is one of the
most popular cantos of the Commedia. It has captured the attention of
many scholars since Dante's times, mainly because Dante finds here
among the lustful: Francesca da Rimini. Among other sinners, Dido,
queen of Cartage. Minos is the guardian of the circle.
, THEME: Courtly Love.
CHARACTERS- Dante, Virgil, Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Achilles
SIN- Committed sins of the flesh (they had lots of sex)
CONTRAPASSO- Because, these people couldn't control their physical
urges a storm controls their whole life (They're blown around in a raging
storm)
●● Canto 6
Answer: SUMMARY- Third circle of Hell: The Gluttonous: The setting
of the third circle is again visual and graphical: heavy, steady rain, hail
and snow. It is monotonous, never ending, and weakens the souls to the
extent that they lay down because they have no strength to rise. This
monotony becomes an obsession. Dante talks to Ciacco, a Florentine,
who predicts Dante's upcoming exile. Cerberus, a three-headed dog, is
the guardian of the circle.
CHARACTERS- Dante Alighieri, Virgil, Ciacco
SIN- Excessively pursuing pleasure in overabundance
