Canto 32 teaching guide

H.ATAKAN KESKIN

THE INFERNO -CANTO XXXII

About the Ninth Circle

• Dante and Virgil are in the ninth circle and walking on Cocytus which is the fourth and the last biggest lake in the circle.

• The people are getting punished in this Canto is the ones who were traitors and betrayed the people who trusted in them.

Summary of the Canto

• In the beginning of this canto , Dante and his master Virgil are in the ninth circle which is a place for the people who were traitors and betrayed people. Their punishment is to be in this frozen and the one of the greatest lake called Cocytus. The reason that Dante has these people punished in a frozen lake is because he thinks they used people's warm feelings, their love and gods love for their benefit so Dante thinks that now they should feel how is it to be like without his warmth from sun.
• The ice is divided by 4 different rings. First ring is called “Caina” which is named from Cain. These people are punished because they denied the love of the people who they were related. This is also a reference from a bible because Cain betrayed and killed his brother Abel and he was punished rest of his life in an island(Genesis). These people's punishment is to be in the frozen lake. They are allowed to move their heads and helps them to have some protection from freezing dales and lets their tears drop without freezing them. In this ring , Dante sees some famous people such as Alessandro and Napoleone Degli Alberti. He also talks to Camicion and he identifies some of the sinners around.

• The second ring is called Antenora, coming from Antenor. He was a Trojan and most of the people thought that he betrayed his city over Greek people. This ring contains people who were traitors against their own country. They are in the frozen lake as well but their neck is covered with ice so they cannot move their heads at all. As Dante and Virgil are walking , Dante accidentally kicks one of the sinners cheek. As he bends down for and apology , he realizes that it is Bocca Degli Abbati who betrayed Italy and its people. He gets mad like he has never felt to any other souls in the hell and threatens him. Bocca names some of the traitors in this ring. As they move on Dante sees one soul gnawing behind another souls head , and asks him why is he doing that so he can give explanation to the world for his cruelty.

The Punishments

• The name of Caina is coming from Cain who killed his brother Abel and the name of Antenora is coming from Antenor who was thought to betray his city.

• The traitors are to stay in a frozen lake and face against the freezing dales. They are punished in a frozen lake because they used people's and God's warm feelings for their own benefit so now they are far away from God's warm sun.

CHARACTERS

Cain	He is one of the sons of Adam and Eve , he killed his brother Abel because he thought his father liked him more. He was punished by God.
Napoelone Degli Alberti	He was in the family of Alberti. He lived in the thirteenth century. He was not Guelph, and he fought against his brothers in the wars between Ghibellines and Guelphs.
Antenora	He was a Trojan , and betrayed his people over Greece
Camicion de' Pazzi	He was an Italian who killed a member of his family.
Bocca degli Abbati	He fought as a Guelph , and was suspected as a betrayer because somebody cut his hand of to make him drop the flag.

QUESTIONS

1. Do you think the punishment of the Betrayers fits them ? If you were the author of the book , how would you punish them ?
2. What conclusions can you draw about Dante using Cain and Antenora in the ninth circle ?