... as criticism of his Italian contemporaries, some from history and legend from his era, marred by the severity of their sin (Sayre 441). Alighieri opted to write Inferno as vernacular literature in order to address and apply its message of conflicting moralities to a wider audience, of and from medieval Italy, and to the world today. In Canto IV, the poets Dante ... by the great souls of philosophy (Alighieri III. 131-132)." The philosophy of Aristotle influenced Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas, two of Dante's favorite Christian thinkers, whom, Raffa notes, "strove to validate the r...

• Word Count: 1365
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... goodness. The main points in canto two lie in the fact that Dante introduces the character of Beatrice. Dante held her in high regard and thus immortalized her in his literature. In Canto III Dante and Virgil enter the gate that leads to the Vestibule of Hell, a place described as "nowhere." Here, "souls who lived a life but lived it with no ... 8). As Dante and Virgil descend into the Fourth Circle, they meet Plutus, the god of Wealth. At a word from Virgil, Plutus falls to the ground. Entering the Fourth Circle, Dante notes that "more shades were here than anywhere else." (ln 25). At ...

• Word Count: 881
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School