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At the start of the poem, Dante is lost in a dark forest. He tries to get back to 'the straight path', but is prevented by three savage beasts: a lion, a wolf and a leopard. As he begins to despair, he meets the ghost of Virgil, who explains that he has been sent by Beatrice to guide Dante to safety. However, his predicament is so dire that the only way out leads through Hell.

At the start of the poem, Dante is lost in a dark forest. He tries to get back to 'the straight path', but is prevented by three savage beasts: a lion, a wolf and a leopard. As he begins to despair, he meets the ghost of Virgil, who explains that he has been sent by Beatrice to guide Dante to safety. However, his predicament is so dire that the only way out leads through Hell.

===[[Hell]]===

===Hell===

''Main article: [[Dante's Inferno]]''

''Main article: [[Dante's Inferno]]''

Virgil and Dante begin their journey through the gate of Hell, across the river Acheron and down into [[Limbo]] and the lower circles. In each place, Dante questions the souls dwelling there, called ‘shades’ due to their lack of a body. All the shades will be resurrected and given new bodies, and continue in their deserved location. The people he meets are mostly taken from classical history and mythology, the Bible, and more recent Florentine and Italian history.

Virgil and Dante begin their journey through the gate of [[Hell]], across the river Acheron and down into [[Limbo]] and the lower circles. In each place, Dante questions the souls dwelling there, called ‘shades’ due to their lack of a body. All the shades will be resurrected and given new bodies, and continue in their deserved location. The people he meets are mostly taken from classical history and mythology, the Bible, and more recent Florentine and Italian history.

As well as the sinners who are punished there, Hell is inhabited by various monsters and demons. Some punishments are carried out by demons, especially in the eighth circle, and each circle is also home to a monster from classical mythology who guards it, while also being punished there for its own sins. For example, the circle of [[gluttony]] is guarded by the ravenous three-headed dog [[Cerberus]].

As well as the sinners who are punished there, Hell is inhabited by various monsters and demons. Some punishments are carried out by demons, especially in the eighth circle, and each circle is also home to a monster from classical mythology who guards it, while also being punished there for its own sins. For example, the circle of [[gluttony]] is guarded by the ravenous three-headed dog [[Cerberus]].

At the bottom of the ninth circle of Hell, at the center of the frozen lake Cocytus, Dante and Virgil behold [[Satan]]. They then make their way out by climbing down Satan's body to a tunnel that leads from the Earth's center to the southern hemisphere, where Purgatory is located.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol 1: Inferno. Copyright 1970 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>

At the bottom of the ninth circle of Hell, at the center of the frozen lake Cocytus, Dante and Virgil behold [[Satan]]. They then make their way out by climbing down Satan's body to a tunnel that leads from the Earth's center to the southern hemisphere, where Purgatory is located.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol 1: Inferno. Copyright 1970 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>

===[[Purgatory]]===

===Purgatory===

''Main article: [[Dante's Purgatorio]]''

''Main article: [[Dante's Purgatorio]]''

At the top of Mount Purgatory is the [[Garden of Eden]], commonly referred to in this context as the Earthly Paradise. Here, Dante is reunited with Beatrice amid an elaborate pageant. She rebukes him for his sins and readies him for their journey through Heaven, while Virgil departs.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol 2: Purgatorio. Copyright 1973 by Princeton University Press.</ref>

At the top of Mount Purgatory is the [[Garden of Eden]], commonly referred to in this context as the Earthly Paradise. Here, Dante is reunited with Beatrice amid an elaborate pageant. She rebukes him for his sins and readies him for their journey through Heaven, while Virgil departs.<ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol 2: Purgatorio. Copyright 1973 by Princeton University Press.</ref>

===[[Heaven]]===

===Heaven===

''Main article: [[Dante's Paradiso]]''

''Main article: [[Dante's Paradiso]]''

Dante and Beatrice leave the Earthly Paradise and ascend into Heaven, which is located in what we would now call [[outer space]]. As Dante nears the edge of Heaven and approaches God's throne, he begins to comment on the inadequacy of his poetic gifts to describe what he has seen. The poem ends at this point, and it is implied that Dante then returns to Earth to begin the task of recounting his marvellous journey, the result of which is the Divine Comedy itself.<ref>  [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>

Dante and Beatrice leave the Earthly Paradise and ascend into [[Heaven]], which is located in what we would now call [[outer space]]. As Dante nears the edge of Heaven and approaches God's throne, he begins to comment on the inadequacy of his poetic gifts to describe what he has seen. The poem ends at this point, and it is implied that Dante then returns to Earth to begin the task of recounting his marvellous journey, the result of which is the Divine Comedy itself.<ref>  [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>

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