Canto 1 describes how Dante got lost in the forest and came across a leopard, a lion and she-wolf. Here, he met Virgil who reasoned that there are many beasts in the forests and that the only way to get out is if he lets Virgil guide him. Canto 2 talks about Dante’s hesitations to proceed because he though he doesn’t have the power to proceed. Virgil encouraged him by telling him how he was asked by a spirit from heaven to guide him in this journey.With this, Dante found the courage to proceed.
Canto 3 brought Virgil and Dante at the gates of hell, where Dante was able to read the warning on the gate, heard and glimpsed what further he will see. There, he met Charon, who will bring them across the river towards hell. Canto 4 describes the first circle of hell. Here he saw Homer, Ovid, Horace and Lucan who were granted grace for their contributions while alive.This circle also contains the non-Christians and the unbaptized which includes philosophers, scientists and politicians. Canto 5 describes the second circle of hell – the carnal sinners.
At the entrance he saw Minos, who judges the souls who will enter and assign them the circles they will belong to. Dante saw in this circle Semiramis, Sichaeus, Cleopatra, Helen and others and here, he heard the story of Francesca. Canto 10 refers to the sixth circle of hell – the heretics.Here Dante met Farinata and saw Frederick and the Cardinal. Canto 25 refers to the eight circle of hell – the fraudulent thieves. Here Dante witnessed how a thief was being pursued by a centaur whom Virgil said was Cacus.
He also saw 3 beasts whose original form was human. Canto 34 refers to the ninth circle of hell – the traitors. Here Dante saw Lucifer at the middle and saw Brutus, Cassius and Judas Iscariot. Virgil said that it was Judas who suffered most out of the rest.
