Inferno Canto 34

Canto 34

Cristina Wang

Summary

Virgil and Dante came to the last round of the Hell. Dante shrank behind Virgil because of the wind. The shades were all covered. Some were lying, some were vertical, some were like bows and turned their faces toward their feet.

They came to Dis. The emperor of the dolorous kingdom who had 3 faces made the Cocytus frozen. Each of its three mouths was breaking one sinner: Judas, Brutus, and Cassius, who were three of the sinners with the greatest punishment.

Virgil then explained to Dante,” you have your feet on a little sphere that makes the other face of the Judecca. When here is morning, there is evening. The ice fell down from heaven and dry land, which previously extended over here, he took the sea as a veil and came to our hemisphere because of fear.”

They entered on a hidden path and climbed, and came back to the earth again, finished their journey in the Hell.

Sin / Punishment

There is no sin or punishment in this Canto.

 

Characters

Satan	Great wings beating like windmill is the source of the icy wind of Cocytus, the exhalation of all evil.
Judas (Judecca)	One of the sinners who with greatest punishment: head inside, waving legs outside.
Brutus	Heads were below, hung from the black muzzle, didn’t say a word.
Cassius	Heads were below, seemed so powerfully built.

 

Higher-order Questions

1.     What did Dante mean when he said,” I did not die and I did not remain alive”? What did he try to express?

2.     Why did Dante mention the emperor of the dolorous kingdom?

 

Multiple choice questions

1.     Where did Dante and Virgil come through this Canto?

A.    Dis

B.     Cocytus

C.     Styx

2.     Who was the emperor of the kingdom?

A.    Satan

B.     Brutus

C.     Judas

3.     Why did the emperor of the kingdom go to the Hell?

A.    Lustful

B.     Avaricious

C.     Against God.

4.     How many faces did the emperor have?

A.    1

B.     3

C.     7

5.     What are beneath the faces?

A.    Necks

B.     Hands

C.     Wings

6.     What made the lake of Cocytus frozen?

A.    Three winds went out from the emperor.

B.     The temperature was low.

C.     Demons in the lake controlled it and made it frozen.

7.     Where were the three sinners of the emperor’s body?

A.    On his shoulders.

B.     In his mouth.

C.     On his head.

8.     Which mouth was Judas in?

A.    The left one

B.     The central one

C.     The right one

9.     What was Lucifer look like when Dante saw him again?

A.    Extended his legs upward.

B.     His body was inside the pit.

C.     He was naked.

10.  What is the other face of the sphere?

A.    Judecca

B.     Malebolge

C.     Styx