Dante's inferno is an epic poem that was written in the 14th century by author Dante Alighieri. The poem is an excursion through hell taken by Dante that is led by an ancient poet Virgil, Virgil is a spirit. Throughout the poem Dante’s experience is told in an extremely detailed way that allows the reader to visualize and fully understand hell step by step. Dante uses imagery, figurative language and other writing techniques throughout the poem and in particularly circle seven to show the depth of hardship the two characters face to get to redemption.
While traveling to circle seven Dante and Virgil come up to a minotaur, half man half bull that protects the ring. Virgil Taunts the half bull half man, showing the reader he can distract him just like an animal, therefore they can enter the …show more content…
One of the best ways Dante explains to the readers is through the intimidating figures. And at the edge above the cracked abyss, there lay outstretched the infamy of Crete, conceived within the counterfeited cow; and, catching sight of us, he bit himself like one whom fury devastates within. Turning to him, my sage cried out:…"Be off, you beast; this man who comes has not been tutored by your sister; all he wants in coming here is to observe your torments." Just as the bull that breaks loose from its halter the moment it receives the fatal stroke, and cannot run but plunges back and forth, so did I see the Minotaur respond; (Inf. XII, 11-25) Dante explains all the beast and intimidating guards so descriptively that the reader can think of what these guards look like in their mind just the way Dante wants the reader to see the guards/beast. Through Dante’s descriptions you can tell who the scariest most intimidating beast are to the least frightening ones. This helps you see as the get deeper in hell the guards are scarier and