Canto 5
Summary
Virgil has finish showing Dante the first circle of
hell and moves on to the second circle. The second circle of hell is for those
who are lustful. When they enter the second stage of hell, they see Minos.
Minos is the creature that decides which stage or circle of hell you belong in.
Who is Minos to decide what stage of hell you belong in? Dante takes Minos from
the story Aeneid and from ancient mythology. This shows us how Dante uses and
mixes different religions in his story. Dante feels sorry for those in the
second circle because he feels that they are not in control of their lustful
sins. Dante wants to speak to someone in the second circle to hear their story.
Francesca notices him as a living soul and tells her story. Francesca tells
Dante that she was overpowered by love and how she fell in love with her
husband’s brother, Paolo. While they were reading “Lancelot's
love for Guinevere” they got to an intimate scene in the story and fell in love
and that is when the cheating took place. Francesca husband soon found out and
had them both killed. Now they both are damned in second circle of hell for
eternity. Because of Dante’s sympathy and
pity for Francesca and Paolo he faints again. (http://www.novelguide.com/TheInferno/summaries/Canto5.html)
Sins
The second circle of hell is for those who
commit sins of the flesh. Otherwise known as lustful sins. A good example for a
lustful sin is cheating on your spouse.
Punishment
They are in “ the infernal whirlwind,
which never rests, drives the spirit before its violence; turning and striking,
tortures them” (canto 5, line 31-33). Meaning that they are never in control of
where they want to go.
Contrapasso
The
sinners committed lustful sins and let passion control them, so in hell, they are
not in control of where they go. They are stuck in a wind that can take them anywhere.
“ All light is silent,” the second circle of hell is in complete darkness and I
think that is because the lustful sins usually happen in the dark.
Characters
Dante- the main character in the story and is the one
being lead through hell.
Virgil- is Dante’s most famous poet, and is leading
Dante through all 9 circles of hell.
Francesca and Paolo- Francesca and Paolo tell their
story to Dante and tell him how she ended up in the second circle of hell.
Minos- the demon who choses what level in hell the
sinners go to.
Minor characters
Dante saw Cleopatra, Helen, Achilles, Semiramis,
Paris, and Tristan. They are souls who are in hell for eternity for committing
lustful sins.
Discussion Questions
1.
Why does Dante use Francesca and Paolo story? How
does it relate to his life in the real world?
2.
What feeling is Francesca making you feel when she
tells Dante about her sins? How?
Multiple choice questions:
1.
What level of hell is Dante in?
a.
One
b.
Four
c.
Three
d.
Two
2. How does Dante feel about the souls
in the second circle of hell?
a. Mad
b. Sorry for them
c. Happy
d. All of the above
3. What
kind of sin is the second circle of hell for?
a. Hatred
b. Lustful
c. Murder
d. All of the above
3.
Who decides what level of hell sinners goes to?
a.
God
b.
Virgil
c.
Lucifer
d.
Minos
4.
How many circles of hell are there?
a. 5
b. 7
c. 8
d. 9
5.
Who tells Dante his or her story?
a.
Cleopatra
b.
Paris
c.
Tristan
d.
Francesca
6.
How does Minos decide what hell you go to?
a.
Points and chooses
b.
Tells them
c.
How he wraps his tail
d.
The number appears on his hand
7.
What does Dante do after he hears Francesca’s story?
a.
Hugs her
b.
Laughs
c.
Faints
d.
Screams
8.
Who does Francesca cheat with?
a.
Virgil
b.
Dante
c.
She didn’t cheat
d.
Paolo
9.
What circle does hell really begin to start torturing
the sinners?
a.
Third
b.
Second
c.
Last
d.
First
10. Why
does Dante faint?
a.
He’s scare
b.
He’s angry
c.
He doesn’t
d.
Because of pity
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