Canto X

Summary

In canto ten Dante and Virgil are still wandering the sixth circle of hell. Dante and Virgil are walking among the tombs of the Heretics. Virgil talks about the Epicureans and how they always aimed to find pleasure in life, mainly because they believed that when they died their soul died with them. Farinata who was a political leader during Dante’s life interrupts Virgil and Dante and addressed Dante as a Tuscan. Then while Dante and Farinata talk another souls interrupts them and that’s the soul of Calcante de’ Cavalcanti, the father of Dante’s close friend Guido. The father of Guido questions Dante on why Guido has not came with him. Dante answers by saying the maybe it is because Guido does not like Virgil. Calcante assumes that his son has died and goes back into his tomb. Meanwhile Farinata keeps talking about Florentine politics. Dante and Farinata are from opposite parities and argue politely. Dante figures out the souls in Hell can see the future but not the present. Farinata predicts that Dante will get exiled. Virgil and Dante wander through the remaining parts of the Sixth Circle. Dante now thinking about his exile in the future becomes nervous and anxious but Virgil reassures him. (http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/section5.rhtml)

Sins

            The sinners in the Sixth Circle of Hell are Heretics. They are first guilty of not believing in the Christian faith and in the resurrection of Christ and believed that the body did not contain a soul. Second, they are guilty of always seeking pleasure.

Punishment/Contrapasso

            As a punishment the Heretics can only see the future and not the present, and most lay in a burning tomb. This is contrapasso because for not believing in the resurrection of Christ they must stay in a burning tomb for the rest of eternity. Also since the Heretics always lived for pleasure in the moment they could not see the present. They could only see the future.

Characters

            Farinata- He was a political leader during Dante’s life time. Him and Dante had different views on politics. He was also a leader of the Ghibellines.

            Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti- Father of Guido, who was one of Dante’s close friends. He was also a contemporary poet.

Discussion Questions-

1)     Why do you think as a punishment the sinners in this level can only see the future?

2)    Do you think that now Dante knows he is going to be exiled is going to affect him as he goes down to the lower levels of hell? If so, how?

3)    What do you think Farinata represents?

Multiple Choice Questions.

1.    What level of Helll is Dante at?

a)        fifth

b)        seventh

c)         fourth

d)        sixth

2.   Who first calls out to Dante?

e)         Virgil

f)         Beatrice

g)        Christ

h)        Farinata

3.    Who are the sinners at this level?

i)         Rapist

j)         Murderers

k)        Greedy people

l)         Heretics

4.   What part(s) of time can the heretics see?

m)       future

n)        past

o)         present

p)        all of the above

5.    What part(s) of time can the heretics not see?

q)        future

r)         present

s)         past

t)         both r and s

6.   Which of the following is one sin of the Heretics?

u)        Always seeking pleasure in life

v)         Committing a murder

w)        stealing

x)        always looking out for him or herself

7.    Which of the following is another sin of the Heretics?

y)        Denial of Christian beliefs

z)         Denial of after life

aa)      Denial of muslim beliefs

bb)      gluttony

8.    What does Farinata address Dante as?

cc)       Roman

dd)      Italiam

ee)       Tuscan

ff)       Greek

9.   Why does Dante feel sad at the end of the Canto?

gg)      Because Farinata told Dante that Beatrice hates him

hh)      Farinata hit him

ii)       Because Farinata predicted his exile

jj)        All of the above

10.What does Virgil do at the end of the Canto?

kk)      Reassure Dante

ll)        Make Dante faint

mm)    Curse Dante

nn)     Praise Dante