Canto Guide #2: Canto 16

Canto 16

Canto Summary

In this canto, Dante and Virgil are between levels. They are not out of level seven yet, but they are not quite into level eight. They are approached by three souls that come running up to them from the sand. They recognize Dante as someone that might be from Florence just by looking at his clothes. The souls were also from Florence. After they introduce themselves to Dante, he wishes he could throw himself on the fire just to embrace them & show them pity but he knows he can’t or he will be scorched to death. The three men turn out to be poets that Dante had admired. He tells them that he loves their work and has read it many times. The souls acknowledge that Dante has been given a chance to preview Hell and fix his life in order not to end up there. They tell him to take every opportunity he gets to give to others so when he ends up in aven, he can be proud of himself when he was alive. After the souls leave them, Dante and Virgil continue on. They come across roaring waters so loud they can hardly head each other speak. Dante has a cord tied around him but on Virgil's command, he unties it and gives it to him. He had briefly contemplated capturing the leopard with it. The leopard that represents lust from the first canto comes back into play at this moment. Virgil then throws the rope, knotted into a capturing device, into a pit and waits for something to be caught. Virgil warns Dante that his inner thoughts are about to be drawn out of the pit.

Characters

-Guido Guerra- “in his life accomplished much with the wisdom and sword” (38)

-Tegghiaio Aldobrandi- “whose words should have been more pleasing in the world above” (40)

-Iacopo Rusticucci- one of the three souls

*There is no contrapasso for this canto*

Thinking Questions

1. What is significant about the three souls dancing in a circle around Dante and Virgil?

What could Dante be expecting to come out of the pit Virgil baits?

Multiple Choice Reading Questions

Who was not one of the souls that approached Dante?

a. Iacopo Rusticucci

b. Tegghiaio Aldobrandi

c. Guido Guerra

d. Tegghiaio Rusticucci

What animal is brought back from the first canto?

a. she wolf

b. three headed dog

c. leopard

d. lion

Where are the three souls that approach Dante and Virgil from?

a. Sicily

b. Venice

 

c. Rome
d. Florence

Which sin did the souls commit based on where the travelers find them?

a. violence against god

b. violence against nature

c. violence against neighbor

d. anger

What is implied when “step with your living feet” is said?

a. To feel the pain of human skin on hot sand

b. To have weight

c. To walk