Dante’s Divine Comedy

Canto IBy Andrea Landry

Dante Alighieri Characters of Canto I

• Dante-voyager and narrator, is afraid, not sure where he is, where to go and why he is there.

• Virgil-soul of revered poet, guides and comforts Dante. He explains where Dante is going and why.

Virgil

was born in the year 1265 in Florence, Italy. He was a writer and an active member of the White guelph political party. Because of his political association, Dante was exiled from Florence in 1301. It is during this time that he writes “The Divine Comedy” which is believed to be inspired by his feelings during exile. As a scholar, Dante revered the poet Virgil, who is his guide and mentor in “The Divine Comedy”.

Dante found himself at the age of 35 in a rough, dark forest with no pathway. He felt sleepy and very afraid.

After resting Dante heads up the slope only to see a swift leopard blocking his path.

As the sun began to rise, a hungry lion appears.

A she-wolf appears who makes Dante lose all hope and go back into the dark forest. Then the soul of the poet, Virgil appears and guides

Dante through the forest.

SUMMARY:Dante the narrator tells of how he finds himself lost in a

dark forest at night. Sleepy and not knowing how he got there, he begins to try to find his way out. He sees a leopard, not long afterward he sees a lion and then a

she-wolf. Dante is afraid and not able to continue, when suddenly a shadow appears which is the soul of the revered poet Virgil. As Virgil comes into view, he

introduces himself to Dante. Dante pleads to Virgil for help. Virgil explains that he has been sent to guide him

through hell where he will then be met by “…a soul more worth than I am”. (Beatrice)