Group 4- Grade 10 Aloysius

INFERNO
PURGATORY
PARADISE
History
"The Divine Comedy" is a renowned epic poem written by the Italian
poet Dante Alighieri in the early 14th century. It is considered one of the
greatest works of world literature and a significant piece of Italian and
European culture. The poem consists of three parts: "Inferno,"
"Purgatorio," and "Paradiso," which together represent Dante's
allegorical journey through the afterlife and his quest for spiritual
enlightenment.
Characters - Inferno
Dante Alighieri: The protagonist of the poem who embarks on a journey through the afterlife, guided by Virgil.

Virgil: The ancient Roman poet who serves as Dante's guide through Hell. He represents human reason and wisdom.

Beatrice: Dante's idealized love and spiritual guide, who appears in the later parts of the poem, particularly in "Purgatorio"
and "Paradiso."

Various historical and mythological figures: Throughout "Inferno," Dante encounters numerous souls who are being
punished for their sins, including figures like Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Paolo and Francesca, and others.

Satan: At the center of Hell, Satan is a monstrous and grotesque figure. He is frozen in a lake of ice, where he chews on the
three greatest traitors in history: Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.
INFERNO: Hell
The 9 Circles Of Hell
1st Circle - Limbo:
Limbo is the outermost circle of Hell. It is
the residence of virtuous non-Christians
and unbaptized souls, including ancient
philosophers and poets. The punishment
here is that these souls are excluded from
God's presence, which is their greatest
torment.
2nd Circle - Lust:
The second circle is where those who
indulged in excessive and uncontrolled
sexual desire reside. The souls here are
blown about in a violent storm,
symbolizing their lack of self-control.
The 9 Circles Of Hell
3rd Circle - Gluttony: 4th Circle - Greed :
In this circle, the souls are condemned for Souls in this circle are divided into two
their excessive indulgence in food and groups: the hoarders and the
drink. They are forced to lie in a vile slush, spendthrifts. They are made to push
enduring an eternal rain of filthy, cold, and enormous weights in opposite directions,
unending hail. symbolizing their never-ending pursuit
of material wealth.
The 9 Circles Of Hell
5th Circle - Wrath: 6th Circle - Heresy :
The fifth circle is divided into the River In this circle, heretics who held beliefs
Styx, where the wrathful fight each other contrary to Christian doctrine are punished.
on the surface, and the swampy, stagnant
They are confined to burning tombs,
waters below, where the sullen lie.The
symbolizing their spiritual blindness.
wrathful constantly battle one another,
while the sullen are submerged in the filthy
waters, representing their sullen and
gloomy disposition.
The 9 Circles Of Hell
7th Circle - Violence:
The seventh circle is divided into three rings,
each for a different type of violence. The outer
ring punishes those who were violent toward
people and property, while the inner rings contain
those who committed violence against
themselves (suicides) and those who committed
violence against God (blasphemers). The violent
are punished in various ways, such as being
immersed in a river of boiling blood or being
turned into thorny bushes.
8th Circle - Fraud :
The eighth circle is divided into ten bolgias, or
ditches, each for a different form of fraud or
deceit.cThe punishments here vary depending
on the specific sin, but they generally involve
suffering and deception. The fraudulent souls
suffer a range of punishments, including being
immersed in a lake of boiling tar or being
forever transformed into monstrous creatures.
The 9 Circles Of Hell
9th Circle - Treachery:
The innermost circle of Hell is reserved for the worst sinners of all, those guilty of treachery. It is further
divided into four rounds, each punishing a different type of treachery: against kin, against country, against
guests, and against lords and benefactors. The punishments here are the most severe, including being
encased in ice or other forms of inescapable suffering. The worst sinners, traitors, endure the most severe
punishments. They are encased in ice, often in contorted and agonizing positions, representing the coldness
of heart and betrayal.
Allegory & Symbolism
An allegory is a complete story, poem, or picture that can be read in two levels: Literal and
figurative. It represents a political or a spiritual meaning hidden behind events, characters,
or objects found in the text. Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy: ferns is considered as an
example of an allegory because it portrays Dante as a character who finds himself in dark,
scary forests trying to find his way back home. This character represents every man or
woman who might have lost his/her moral bearings and is in search of his/her purpose in
life. Virgil's role in the narrative is that of a guide who accompanies Dante in his descent
to Hell but he can also be seen or interpreted as a representation of wisdom and reason that
Dante is in dire need of.
Allegory & Symbolism
Symbolism, on the other hand, is a representation of an idea or concept that has a different
meaning across a literary text. These representations may be in the form of in object, a
character in the story, a color, or a place. For instance, flags are commonly used as a
symbolism for nationalism; Venus as a symbol of beauty and love, or white for purity. In
Dante's Inferno, the dark, scary forest is interpreted as a symbolism for Dante's state of
mind at the time he wrote the story-confused and afraid. Sinners guilty of lust are
described by Dante as perpetually tossed and subjected to the wrath of violent storms
symbolizing their blown passion in life.
Purgatory
Dante and his guide, Virgil, enter the realm of Purgatory at the base of the mountain known as Mount Purgatory. Unlike Hell,
Purgatory is a place of hope and purification, where souls can attain salvation.

The mountain has seven terraces, each dedicated to one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Dante and Virgil ascend through these
terraces, and on each level, Dante encounters souls undergoing penance for specific sins.

Souls in Purgatory are actively seeking redemption, and they are relieved to be there, knowing that their ultimate destination
is Paradise. They are also marked by their humility, repentance, and their willingness to endure suffering to cleanse
themselves.

The overall theme of "Purgatorio" is one of hope, transformation, and the possibility of redemption. It emphasizes the
importance of acknowledging one's sins, repenting, and striving for spiritual growth and purification.
Paradise - Heaven
Dante ascends through the nine celestial spheres, each corresponding to a different attribute or theological concept.
These spheres, in ascending order, are: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars,
and the Primum Mobile (the Empyrean).

Each sphere is associated with a specific virtue or attribute, and Dante encounters souls who embody these virtues.
For example, the sphere of Mars represents the virtue of fortitude, and it is inhabited by souls who demonstrated
great courage during their earthly lives.

Throughout "Paradiso," Dante meets and converses with a multitude of saints, theologians, and blessed souls who
share their wisdom and insights into the divine mysteries.

Among the notable figures he encounters are Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Peter, Saint John, and Saint
Augustine, all of whom guide him toward his ultimate encounter with God.