Dante: The Violent

Lesson Eight:

Cantos XII-XVIII: Circle Seven - The Violent
Language Skill: Affect and Effect

In Circle Seven Dante sees the punishments of the Violent. The organization of this circle, and those that follow, becomes increasingly complex. Circle Seven is divided into three parts (or "rounds") with each section providing appropriate torments for different types of violence. As always, this section of The Inferno follows the plan of symbolic retribution. In order to enter the Seventh Circle Dante and Virgil must first pass by the dreaded beast the Minotaur and circle around the Phlegethon River, the river of boiling blood. This boiling blood provides proper torment for the inhabitants of the First Round--the Violent Against Neighbors. The evil-doers thrash around in the boiling swirling liquid. Guarding the banks are centaurs, "well armed with arrows," who shoot at any sinner who dares attempt to escape. In this section of the circle Dante sees the famous violent sinners Attila the Hun and Alexander the Great.

The poets progress to Round Two--the Violent Against Themselves. Here the inhabitants are imprisoned in trees. The leaves and branches are fed upon by Harpies, causing the wounds to bleed profusely. In Round Three Dante sees the Violent against God, Nature and Art. These sinners are tormented on a burning plain. The arid sand represents the fruitless nature of their sins. It is in this circle that Dante sees the hideous monster Geryon, a creature that is emblematic of fraud. This disgusting creature serves a "flying ferry" and carries Dante and Virgil down the cliffs to Circle Eight.

Chart the Characters -- along this part of the trip.

To Infernal Grammar Lesson 8: Affect and Effect

To The Inferno Lesson 9: Malebolge!

Back to The Inferno Guide