The first canto of Dante’s Inferno is set apart as a prelude to the other 99 (33 cantos each for journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven in the Divine Comedy). While we may read the events autobiographically, as representing Dante’s exile from his native Florence, the phrase “our life” at the beginning, along with numerous symbolic images, suggest that we should read Canto I as a religious allegory. If we consider “Dante-pilgrim” as representing “every soul,” then what is the situation of the soul at the midpoint of life? Why can’t the soul take a direct route up to the sun-bathed hilltop? Consider the allegorical significance of the landscape, the terrifying beasts, and the guide who appears in the pilgrim’s path as you address these questions.

The first canto of Dante’s Inferno is set apart as a prelude to the other 99 (33 cantos each for journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven in the Divine Comedy). While we may read the events autobiographically, as representing Dante’s exile from his native Florence, the phrase “our life” at the beginning, along with numerous symbolic images, suggest that we should read Canto I as a religious allegory. If we consider “Dante-pilgrim” as representing “every soul,” then what is the situation of the soul at the midpoint of life? Why can’t the soul take a direct route up to the sun-bathed hilltop? Consider the allegorical significance of the landscape, the terrifying beasts, and the guide who appears in the pilgrim’s path as you address these questions.