Doctrine, Dialogue, and Drama in Inferno XI

Abstract

Virgil's speeches in Inferno XI describing the circles of Hell seemingly explain the hierarchy of sins. Some view this as an unpoetic moment in which Dante, speaking through Virgil, explains the rationale of his Hell; others attempt to resolve the perceived problems in Dante's explanation. Rather, we should recognize that intellectual coherence is not possible in Hell, its failure being articulated in the interaction between Dante and Virgil and in Virgil's speeches.The canto dramatically represents the very problems it raises: there is poetry here best seen as a variant of the dramatic poetry of the Inferno generally.