Inferno Canto 10 Study Guide

THE DIVNE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIERI

INFERNO

CANTO X

l  Summary

Dante and Virgil are still in the sixth circle of the Hell. Virgil leads Dante walk through the grave of Epicurus and his followers. When they are walking, Dante hear it has some sound come from the grave. Then, Farinata shows up. Dante is so scared. Virgil encourages Dante to talk to Farinata. When they are ready to talk, a ghost whose name is Cavalcanti, shows up. Cavalcanti is looking for someone. After Cavalcanti leave, Farinata tells his prediction to Dante. Dante is so apprehensive after that. Finally, Dante and Virgil leave the grave of Epicurus and his followers, and keep walking through the sixth circle; and they arrive the center of the sixth circle.

l  Character

Ø  Farinata

was a Tuscan aristocrat and military leader who believed that the soul dies with the body, denying life after death. Condemned as a heretic for those beliefs, his body was exhumed and burned.

Ø  Cavalcanti

is a merchant banker who was denounced as a heretic for his atheist beliefs. He resides with the other heretics among the Flaming Tombs.

l  The sin in the sixth circle

The "heretics" in the sixth circle didn't just deny God but all the teachings of the Church. They deny the immortality of the human soul.

l  Punishment in the sixth circle

When they die, their souls become trapped in fiery tombs so that they'll come to realize how wrong their perspective about the human soul was when they were alive. Being trapped in such a place is a reflective punishment for how wrong they've lived out their lives.

l  10 Multiple-Choice Questions

Ø  Where do Dante and Virgil walk through when they are in the sixth circle?

A.    The grave of Epicurus and his followers

B.     The past of Francesca and Paolo

C.     The future event that Farinata predict

Ø  How does Dante feel when he walks through the sixth circle?

A.    Happy  B. Upset  C. Scared

Ø  Who is the first person Dante and Virgil meet when they walk through the sixth circle?

A.    Paolo  B. Farinata  C. Cavalcanti

Ø  How does Dante know Farinate is showing up?

A.    He hears some sound comes from the grave

B.     Farinata catches him

C.     Virgil tells him

Ø  What does Virgil do when Farinata shows up?

A.    Leaving right after Farinata shows up

B.     Encouraging Dante to talk to Farinata

C.     Killing Farinata

Ø  Who does show up when Dante is going to talk to Farinata?

A.    Epicurus  B. Paolo  C. Cavalcanti

Ø  What does Farinata tell Dante?

A.    His story  B. His prediction  C. His family

Ø  What happen to Dante and the ghosts when the door of future is closed?

A.    They will forget everything

B.     Dante cannot go back to the real world

C.     Dante will stay in the sixth circle forever

Ø  Why does Dante feel apprehensive at the end of this canto?

A.    Because he talks to Farinata( Farinata’s prediction)

B.     Because he need to keep walking through the sixth circle

C.     Because he doesn’t understand what Farinata talks about

Ø  How does the center of the sixth circle?

A.    Beautiful  B. Smelly  C. Nothing else there

l  Two Higher-Order Discussion QuestionsWork Site

ü  Why does Dante feel scared even though he has already walked through 5 circles?

ü  Why does Farinata tell his prediction to Dante?

l  Work site

Ø  http://dantesinferno.wikia.com/wiki/Farinata_Uberti

Ø  http://dantesinferno.wikia.com/wiki/Cavalcante_de_Cavalcanti

Ø  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110511195621AAu3bn9