An Outline of Dante’s Inferno

I. The Wood of Error: Cantos I-II.

A. The Leopard (Fraud), the Lion (Violence), and the She-Wolf (Lust).

B. Virgil (Human Reason).

II. The Vestibule of Hell: Canto III

A. The Opportunists.

B. River Acheron and Charon.

III. Upper Hell—Lust: Cantos IV-VIII.

A. Circle I: Limbo: IV—The Virtuous Pagans.

B. Circle II: The Carnal: V—Minos; Paolo and Francesca.

C. Circle III: The Gluttonous: VI—Cerberus; Ciacco.

D. Circle IV: The Prodigal and Miserly: VII—Plutus; Fortune.

E. Circle V: The Wrathful and Sullen: VII-VIII—River Styx and Phlegyas.

IV. The walls of the City of Dis: VIII-IX—The division between Upper and Lower Hell.

V. Lower Hell – Violence and Fraud: Cantos IX-XXXIV.

A. Circle VI: The Heretics: IX-XI.

B. Circle VII: The Violent: XII-XVII.

1. Round 1: Against Neighbors: XII—The Minotaur; River Phlegethon; Centaurs.

2. Round 2: Against Themselves: XIII—The Wood of the Suicides; the Profligate.

3. Round 3: Against God, Nature, and Art: XIV-XVII—The Burning Plain.

a. Against God: Blasphemers: XIV—The Old Man of Crete.

b. Against Nature: Sodomites: XV-XVI—Edge of the Waterfall.

c. Against Art: Usurers: XVII—Geryon.

C. Circle VIII: The Fraudulent: XVIII-XXX—Malebolge.

1. Bolgia 1: Panderers and Seducers: XVIII—Jason.

2. Bolgia 2: Flatterers: XVIII—Thais.

3. Bolgia 3: Simoniacs: XIX—Two Popes.

4. Bolgia 4: Soothsayers and Fortunetellers: XX.

Comic Relief?—The Red Devils—XXI.

5. Bolgia 5: Grafters: XXII.

6. Bolgia 6: Hypocrites: XXIII.

7. Bolgia 7: Thieves: XXIV-XXV.

8. Bolgia 8: Evil Counselors: XXVI-XXVII—Ulysses.

9. Bolgia 9: Schismatics: XXVIII.

10. Bolgia 10: Falsifiers: XXIX-XXX.

a. Class 1: Alchemists: XXIX.

b. Class 2: Evil Impersonators: XXX.

c. Class 3: Counterfeiters: XXX.

d. Class 4: Liars: XXX.

D. The Central Pit: XXXI—The Giants.

E. Circle IX: Cocytus: XXXII-XXXIV—Compound Fraud.

1. Round 1: Caina: XXXII—Betrayers of Kin.

2. Round 2: Antenora: XXXII—Betrayers of Country.

3. Round 3: Ptolomea: XXXIII—Betrayers of Guests.

4. Round 4: Judecca: XXXIV—Betrayers of Spiritual and Earthly Rulers

Satan: Judas, Brutus, Cassius.