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WorksheetsInferno Canto 1
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 8mins
Why does Dante end up in the Dark Wood of Error?
Angry, he searched for a way to rebel against God.
Sleepy, he wandered off "the true path."
Sad, he desired a place with little sunlight.
What sight begins to ease the terror in Dante's heart?
A flower appears among the twisted branches and thorns.
The moon appears over a lake.
The sun appears above a hill.
When Dante references a "grim defile [valley] /That never left any alive who stayed in it", it symbolizes:
Dante's spiritual condition
Dante's physical health
Dante's financial situation
What three animals block Dante's path as he ascends the Mount of Joy?
a rat, an alligator, and a bear
a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf
a snake, a raven, and a spider
Which animal symbolizes the sin of pride in Canto 1?
the lion
the she-wolf
the leopard
Which animal symbolizes the sin of lust or incontinence in Canto 1?
the lion
the she-wolf
the leopard
Which animal ultimately forces Dante to lose hope and go back down to the Dark Woods of Error?
the lion
the she-wolf
the leopard
Which historical figure's spirit appears to Dante as his guide through Inferno?
Beatrice
Julius Caesar
Virgil
When Dante hears his guide describe the she-wolf as promiscuous "Many are the beasts she mates", it suggests that greed/incontinence:
is common and leads to other sins.
is common and not a sin
is uncommon and the only mortal sin
Dante symbolizes the positive impact on Italy made by Cangrande della Scala, who supported Dante in exile, using what animal?
the Lion
the Hound
the Leopard
When Virgil references "the Emperor who governs from on high/Wills I not enter his city...", he means:
The Pope won't let him enter Florence because he has been exiled.
Lucifer won't let him enter Hell because his poetry demonstrated the grace of Human Reason.
God won't let him enter Heaven because he was a pagan Roman.
The "tormented spirits" who "lament/ In chorus the second death they must abide" are the souls in:
Hell (Inferno)
Purgatory (Purgatorio)
Heaven (Paradisio)
The "souls who are content/To dwell in fire..." are the souls in:
Hell (Inferno)
Purgatory (Purgatorio)
Heaven (Paradisio)
Which is the best synonym for the word grim as it is used in Canto 1?
calming
frightening
crying
Which is the best antonym for the word feral as it is used in Canto 1?
tame
wild
lithe
Which animal symbolizes the sin of malice or fraud in Canto 1?
the lion
the she-wolf
the leopard
