Oh my goodness, "The Inferno" really is something else. I`m sure everyone who has read it or is currently reading it agrees. It`s so detailed! Hmm actually a better word would be, graphic. Dante explains EVERYTHING - from how each monster looks like to the color of the air, he doesn`t miss a single detail. Plus, he uses fancy words like "retrograde" and "dalliance". He also uses personification like in "A monstrous clap of thunder broke apart..". Consequently, he plays with his fancy words and tries to make them sound even more fancy by adding other fancy words, here is an example: "that to hide the guilt of her debauchery she licensed all depravity alike..". Wow this guy never stops! But it really does keep me thinking, which is probably why I`m still reading this "horror-themed" book. Although Dante prefers to narrate his journey through Hell in poetic terms, the notes at the end of each chapter make everything so much clearer.(I would be saying "Ooooooh" after every note.)

                            I`m gonna try and reflect on each chapter or "Canto" so you can understand how graphic this book really is (and I`m not even done yet!) or at lease see what he sees. I won`t give too much detail, you should read it yourself and find out.
Canto I-The Dark Wood of Error: Dante describes the wood in one entire paragraph, of course including the three beasts of worldliness. Here he meets Virgil, his symbol of Human Reason who will lead him through error where he must first descend through Hell, ascend through Purgatory and only then will he reach Paradise. So the journey begins..

Canto II-The Descent: So basically this chapter is about how Dante feels unworthy of reaching Heaven which makes him want to stop following Virgil. He compares himself to Aeneas and Paul, how he is nothing compared to them. But Virgil tells him how Beatrice (symbol of Divine Love) was the one who sent him to lead Dante back to God. Fortunately, Dante realizes the gravity of all the heavenly powers that wish for his safe arrival in Heaven and so he continues the journey.

Canto III-The Vestibule of Hell: The interesting part about Inferno is that it describes the sinners and their punishments. (Yes I find it interesting.) In this chapter Dante sees the Opportunists who are the souls that in life they were neither for good nor for evil but only for themselves (kind of like atheists). Included here are the outcasts who took no sides in the Rebellion of the Angels. They neither in Hell nor out of it. Forever they run around pursuing a wavering banner while being stung by swarms of wasps and hornets. (YUCK) Among them is Pope Celestine V! That is another interesting concept of Inferno, it includes historical figures to make it more believable.

Canto IV-Circle One, Limbo:  In Limbo they see the virtuous pagans who were born before the time of Christ. Therefore, they did not receive the light of God`s revelation (baptism) and cannot come into the light of God (Heaven). Their pain is not torment nor torture but it is that they have no hope. Also, it was here that Dante entered the great citadel where he saw David, Noah, Homer, Socrates, Camila and so on! I don`t know about you but I would probably be starstruck the entire time if I were Dante at that point.

Canto V-Circle Two, The Carnal: Here Dante sees Achilles, Cleopatra, Francesca and Paolo who are all swept by the carnal (great whirlwind) because they betrayed their reason to their appetites or passion. What I picked up from this chapter is that the sinners here died for "love". Like Cleopatra who committed suicide to join Mark Anthony and Paolo and Francesca who were lustful and adulterous.

Canto VI- Circle Three, The Gluttons: Here Dante sees those who in life, made no higher use of God`s gifts than to feast in food and drink. Here they are like garbage, half-buried in fetid slush, while Cerberus slavers over them as in life they slavered over their food. Dante describes Cerberus as the ravenous three-headed dog of Hell that rips and tears the gluttons apart with his claws and teeth. Now we know not to dwell in gluttony!