THE DIVINE COMEDY

COMPREHENSION RESPONSE

1. Show how the punishments of the souls in hell are commensurate to the sins they committed on earth.

• The punishments in hell in Dante’s Divine Comedy match the sins individuals committed on Earth. This is illustrated
through the idea of “contrapasso,” where the punishment aligns with the nature of the sin. For example, those guilty of
violence are submerged in a river of boiling blood, symbolizing their violent acts.

2. Where were the deadlier sins punished-on the upper ledges of hell or in the lower depths?

• The deadlier sins in Dante’s Divine Comedy are punished in the lower depths of hell. The more severe sins in Dante’s
Divine Comedy receive harsher punishments in the deeper levels of hell. As one progresses into the inferno, sins and their
corresponding penalties become more severe.

VALUES

1. Why is Dante’s Divine Comedy called a vision?

• Dante’s Divine Comedy is referred to as a vision because it constitutes a poetic journey through the afterlife. Dante, the
main character, undergoes a guided exploration of heaven, purgatory, and hell, bestowed through divine intervention,
revealing a mystical vision.

2. Why is it called the Divine Comedy? Why divine? Why comedy?

• The term “Divine Comedy” is used to describe the work’s structure and purpose. “Divine” signifies the heavenly and
spiritual aspects of the journey, and “Comedy” in medieval literature means a narrative with a positive resolution, as it
ultimately leads to salvation and redemption.

3. Why is it called a Christian epic?

• Dante’s Divine Comedy is termed a Christian epic as it has deep roots in Christian theology and addresses themes like sin,
salvation, and divine justice. It traces a Christian’s journey through the afterlife, making it an essential work in the Christian
literary tradition.

4. Why can Virgil not follow Dante up Purgatory and Paradise?

• Virgil, being a pagan poet, cannot accompany Dante through Purgatory and Paradise because these realms are reserved
for the souls destined for heaven. Virgil symbolizes human reason and philosophy, while these realms necessitate divine
guidance, highlighting the limitations of human wisdom in achieving spiritual salvation.