Dante: Cocytus

Lesson Ten:

Cantos XXXII-XXXIV - Circle Nine : Cocytus
Grammar Skill: Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers

Dante and Virgil begin the last part of their journey. They have arrived at the Ninth and final circle of hell. The landscape here, perhaps surprisingly, is that of a vast frozen lake. It is described as "a lake so frozen/it seemed to be made of glass." Here are the sinners farthest away from the warm love of God. First Dante views the Treacherous Against their Kin. This particular section of hell -- Cocytus -- is called Caina, named of course, after the Biblical Cain. Next Dante arrives at Antenora and sees the Traitors to Country. Here Dante, along with the reader, is mesmerized by the terrifying story of Count Ugolino and Archbishop Ruggieri. The third section of Cocytus is called Ptolomea is the home of the Treacherous to Guests and Hosts. These sinners are pinned in the ice, their eyes shut with frozen tears. Section four, Judecca, named for Judas Iscariot, punishes the Treacherous to their Masters. At the center of this horrid ice-pit we find Satan. Although he is imprisoned in the ice, his great wings are free to beat the frozen air. He is a monster of the most grotesque nature. He has three faces. In each of his mouths Satan chomps on the greatest traitors in Dante=s view -- Judas, the betrayer of Christ, is ripped and guzzled in the center mouth of Satan. The other mouths shred Cassius and Brutus, the betrayers of Caesar. Dante=s reaction to this sight is one of the most awesome fear. His first view is described in this manner:

"Do not ask, Reader, how my blood ran cold

and my voice choked up with fear. I cannot write it:

this is a terror that cannot be told."

After observing the horrible image of Satan, Dante and Virgil must climb down the furry body of Satan, "repelling" off of this torso to arrive at the exit of Hell. They walk along the banks of Lethe, the River of Forgetfulness and emerge at the foot of Mount Purgatory. It is Easter Sunday morning.

Chart the Characters

To Infernal Grammar Lesson 10: Misplaced Modifiers

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