Dante MCQs

Option A: The poet who leads Dante on a tour of hell

Option B: Dante’s enemy

Option C: Dante’s patron

Option D: The emperor of Italy in Dante’s lifetime

Correct Answer: Dante’s patron ✔

Option A: He believed that eternal life in heaven was the real one.

Option B: Because he was pagan, he did not believe in heaven.

Option C: Because he was an early Christian, he believed that heaven was inaccessible.

Option D: He believed that heaven, hell, and earth were indistinguishable.

Correct Answer: He believed that eternal life in heaven was the real one. ✔

Option A: It is the ability to move above the earthly state into heaven.

Option B: It is the ability to reunite with the body.

Option C: It is the ability to commit sins while in the human body.

Option D: It is the ability to separate from the body in order to reach hell.

Correct Answer: It is the ability to move above the earthly state into heaven. ✔

Option A: Saint James

Option B: Saint John

Option C: Saint Peter

Option D: Saint Thomas

Correct Answer: Saint James ✔

Option A: Virgil

Option B: Thomas Aquinas

Option C: Judas

Option D: Cacciaguida

Correct Answer: Thomas Aquinas ✔

Option A: Those with the most constancy of characters

Option B: The proud

Option C: The best emperors and rulers

Option D: The souls of those who abandoned their vows

Correct Answer: The souls of those who abandoned their vows ✔

Option A: Easter Sunday

Option B: Wednesday after Easter

Option C: Good Friday

Option D: All Saint’s Day

Correct Answer: Wednesday after Easter ✔

Option A: The politics of Ravenna

Option B: The politics of ancient Greece

Option C: The politics of Italian city-states

Option D: The politics of the Roman Empire

Correct Answer: The politics of the Roman Empire ✔

Option A: Natural light

Option B: Revelations

Option C: The light of grace

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: His use of allegory

Option B: His opposition to the separation of Church and State

Option C: His belief in the infallibility of the popes

Option D: His interest in medieval cosmology

Correct Answer: His use of allegory ✔

Option A: The deadly sins

Option B: The steps to confession

Option C: The beatitudes

Option D: The angelic hierarchy

Correct Answer: The angelic hierarchy ✔

Option A: The deadly sins

Option B: The historical religious eras

Option C: The liberal arts

Option D: The sacraments

Correct Answer: The liberal arts ✔

Option A: The seven deadly sins

Option B: The seven types of sin that keep people from heaven

Option C: The three components of the perfect confession

Option D: The eight beatitudes

Correct Answer: The three components of the perfect confession ✔

Option A: The themes usually involve life after death

Option B: A character’s body is separated from his soul

Option C: A guide leads the narrator on a spiritual journey

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Cato

Option B: Beatrice

Option C: Virgil

Option D: Homer

Correct Answer: Beatrice ✔

Option A: A place for cleansing and purification

Option B: The place of transition between earth, heaven, and hell

Option C: The setting for the middle portion of Dante’s The Divine Comedy

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Vita Nuova

Option B: The Convivio

Option C: De Vulgari Eloquentia

Option D: The Divine Comedy

Correct Answer: The Divine Comedy ✔

Option A: Pope Boniface

Option B: Pope Clement

Option C: Saint Stephen

Option D: John the Baptist

Correct Answer: John the Baptist ✔

Option A: In the southern hemisphere

Option B: In the northern hemisphere

Option C: In Florence

Option D: In Rome

Correct Answer: In the southern hemisphere ✔

Option A: Sonnet

Option B: Aubade

Option C: Ode

Option D: Elegy

Correct Answer: Aubade ✔

Option A: They are punished with whips and bridles.

Option B: They are forced to carry heavy rocks on their backs.

Option C: They have their eyes sewn shut with wire.

Option D: They must walk through thick smoke.

Correct Answer: They are forced to carry heavy rocks on their backs. ✔

Option A: The absence of heretics and monsters in medieval church history

Option B: The conflict between ancient Romans and the early Church

Option C: The impossibility for sinners to repent

Option D: The righteousness of the Roman Empire over time

Correct Answer: The conflict between ancient Romans and the early Church ✔

Option A: It means that sinners must resign themselves to life in hell.

Option B: It implies that Beatrice will return later in the poem.

Option C: It suggests that paradise is close to purgatory.

Option D: It highlights the idea that Dante is on a journey of poetry.

Correct Answer: It highlights the idea that Dante is on a journey of poetry. ✔

Option A: The secret confession of sins

Option B: A lack of remorse

Option C: The inability to reject one’s old life

Option D: A sense of gratitude for God’s mercy

Correct Answer: A sense of gratitude for God’s mercy ✔

Option A: Saint Augustine

Option B: Virgil

Option C: Homer

Option D: Judas

Correct Answer: Virgil ✔

Option A: A traditional type of poetry rejected by Dante in favor of new rhyme schemes

Option B: A form of blank verse

Option C: A poetic form with an interlocking three-line rhyme scheme

Option D: A poetic form with five-line stanzas

Correct Answer: A poetic form with an interlocking three-line rhyme scheme ✔

Option A: The idea that the punishment fits the crime

Option B: The poetic verse form used in Vita Nuova

Option C: The structure of the cantos in The Divine Comedy

Option D: The theme of love and lust in The Divine Comedy

Correct Answer: The idea that the punishment fits the crime ✔

Option A: Allegory

Option B: Metonymy

Option C: Synesthesia

Option D: Simile

Correct Answer: Synesthesia ✔

Option A: The sinners in the heretic circle

Option B: The furies

Option C: The fallen angels

Option D: The angelic messengers

Correct Answer: The fallen angels ✔

Option A: Dido

Option B: Pope Boniface

Option C: Beatrice

Option D: Judas

Correct Answer: Judas ✔

Option A: Reason

Option B: Compassion

Option C: Temperance

Option D: Fortitude

Correct Answer: Reason ✔

Option A: As the denial of the soul’s immortality

Option B: As the rejection free will

Option C: As the choiceof lust over love

Option D: As the decision to indulge in various sins

Correct Answer: As the denial of the soul’s immortality ✔

Option A: They violently fight each other in a muddy swamp.

Option B: They are burned in their graves.

Option C: They roll heavy stones onto one another.

Option D: They are forced to lie under the surface of a marsh.

Correct Answer: They violently fight each other in a muddy swamp. ✔

Option A: The circle of lust

Option B: The circle of gluttony

Option C: The circle of heresy

Option D: The circle of treachery

Correct Answer: The circle of gluttony ✔

Option A: “Allegory of speech” and “allegory of the poets”

Option B: “Allegory of speech” and “allegory of irony”

Option C: “Allegory of speech” and “allegory of the theologians”

Option D: “Allegory of the poets” and “allegory of the theologians”

Correct Answer: “Allegory of the poets” and “allegory of the theologians” ✔

Option A: Lust is often pure, while love tends to be crude.

Option B: Lust and love are both sins that place the sinner in hell.

Option C: Lust involves the subordination of reason to desire.

Option D: Lust leads to moral improvement, while love is a more destructive force.

Correct Answer: Lust involves the subordination of reason to desire. ✔

Option A: Unlike Virgil’s hell, Dante’s underworld focuses on punishment for sins.

Option B: Unlike Virgil’s hell, Dante’s underworld is concerned with destiny and future.

Option C: Unlike Virgil’s hell, Dante’s underworld is not expected to last forever.

Option D: Unlike Virgil’s hell, Dante’s underworld does not include examples of justice.

Correct Answer: Unlike Virgil’s hell, Dante’s underworld focuses on punishment for sins. ✔

Option A: He came to prefer the idea of an enlightened emperor.

Option B: He decided that only a dictator should be in power.

Option C: He decided that only the Catholic Church should be in power.

Option D: He came to the realization that all emperors are unjust.

Correct Answer: He came to prefer the idea of an enlightened emperor. ✔

Option A: The historical evolution of language

Option B: The language of different literary genres

Option C: The difference between grammar and language

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: The Italian Renaissance

Option B: The Black Death

Option C: The Crusades

Option D: The Enlightenment

Correct Answer: The Crusades ✔

Option A: He thought the popes failed to live up the requirements of their offices.

Option B: He disbelieved in the Christian doctrine.

Option C: He believed that most of the teachings were incorrect.

Option D: He thought that the popes were the only successful part of the Church.

Correct Answer: He thought the popes failed to live up the requirements of their offices. ✔

Option A: “The sweet silence”

Option B: “The sweetness of love”

Option C: “Sweet and still”

Option D: “Sweet new style”

Correct Answer: “Sweet new style” ✔

Option A: Both believed that reason was unrelated to faith.

Option B: Both believed in the joint power of the Church and the State.

Option C: Both believed that only faith was an important part of the Christian worldview.

Option D: Both believed that reason and faith were part of the quest for truth.

Correct Answer: Both believed that reason and faith were part of the quest for truth. ✔

Option A: He wrote classical epics with Christian materials.

Option B: He promoted the worship of idolatrous statues from the ancient times.

Option C: He rejected the influence of Scholasticism.

Option D: He was uninterested in the poetics of the sublime.

Correct Answer: He wrote classical epics with Christian materials. ✔

Option A: He held several positions in the local government.

Option B: He conducted diplomatic missions.

Option C: He literally fought at the Battle of Campaldino.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Latin

Option B: Tuscan

Option C: English

Option D: French

Correct Answer: Tuscan ✔

Option A: Tuscan

Option B: Italian

Option C: Latin

Option D: English

Correct Answer: Latin ✔

Option A: Because many people were deeply offended by The Divine Comedy

Option B: Because he was embroiled in the conflict between the Black Guelphs and White Guelphs

Option C: Because Pope Boniface VIII was upset by his representation of the church in The Divine Comedy

Option D: Because Beatrice’s family wanted the two lovers separated

Correct Answer: Because he was embroiled in the conflict between the Black Guelphs and White Guelphs ✔

Option A: In written literature

Option B: In everyday speech

Option C: In essays

Option D: In love poetry

Correct Answer: In essays ✔

Option A: He promotes the separation of Church and State.

Option B: He declares papal authority infallible.

Option C: He declares emperors infallible.

Option D: He says that all empires should be ruled by dictators.

Correct Answer: He promotes the separation of Church and State. ✔

Option A: Faith, hope, and love

Option B: Faith, wisdom, and love

Option C: Love, compassion, and pride

Option D: Justice, temperance, and faith

Correct Answer: Faith, hope, and love ✔

Option A: It symbolizes Dante’s distrust of the Church.

Option B: It is the home of the angels.

Option C: It separates heaven from hell.

Option D: It reminds Dante of his own pride

Correct Answer: It is the home of the angels. ✔

Option A: The Inferno

Option B: The Convivio

Option C: The Purgatorio

Option D: The Paradiso

Correct Answer: The Paradiso ✔

Option A: Virgil

Option B: Beatrice

Option C: Cato

Option D: Ulysses

Correct Answer: Beatrice ✔

Option A: Justice

Option B: Temperance

Option C: Fortitude

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: The soul’s union with the body

Option B: The soul’s ascent to heaven

Option C: The soul’s tour of purgatory

Option D: The soul’s descent into hell

Correct Answer: The soul’s ascent to heaven ✔

Option A: With his exclusion from purgatory

Option B: With a vision of the Trinity

Option C: With his return to hell

Option D: With his death

Correct Answer: With a vision of the Trinity ✔

Option A: The Renaissance concept of the planets

Option B: The Ptolemaic universe

Option C: Ancient Roman cosmology

Option D: Ancient Greek cosmology

Correct Answer: The Ptolemaic universe ✔

Option A: He says that God’s ways are similar to those of Roman emperors.

Option B: He says that God’s ways are extremely simple.

Option C: He says that God’s ways are beyond human understanding.

Option D: He says that God’s ways are only available to those in heaven.

Correct Answer: He says that God’s ways are beyond human understanding. ✔

Option A: English

Option B: Latin

Option C: Italian

Option D: Tuscan

Correct Answer: Latin ✔

Option A: It alludes to the Garden of Eden.

Option B: It symbolizes perfection and paradise.

Option C: It is a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: The wise

Option B: The warriors of faith

Option C: The justice rulers

Option D: The contemplative

Correct Answer: The warriors of faith ✔

Option A: A character who appears in the lust circle of hell

Option B: A character who appears in the ninth circle of hell

Option C: The example Dante uses to show a perfect Christian man

Option D: An ancient pagan that Dante meets in purgatory

Correct Answer: An ancient pagan that Dante meets in purgatory ✔

Option A: Sapia

Option B: Cato

Option C: Sordello

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: It separates heaven from hell.

Option B: It prevents sinners from escaping hell.

Option C: It washes away the memory of sin.

Option D: It separates Dante from the other sinners

Correct Answer: It washes away the memory of sin. ✔

Option A: The ability to move from purgatory into heaven

Option B: The translation of culture from one civilization to another

Option C: The movement from one circle of hell to another

Option D: The idea that the punishment fits the crime

Correct Answer: The translation of culture from one civilization to another ✔

Option A: The planets

Option B: The seven deadly sins

Option C: The Augustan calendar

Option D: The seven sacraments

Correct Answer: The seven deadly sins ✔

Option A: Rachel and Leah

Option B: Brutus and Cassius

Option C: Dido and Aeneas

Option D: Pope Boniface and Pope Clement

Correct Answer: Rachel and Leah ✔

Option A: The punishments prevent hope from being reborn in sinners.

Option B: The punishments keep the sinners from entering the path to salvation.

Option C: The punishments allow the sinners to purge their sins.

Option D: The punishments remind the sinners that they are damned to hell.

Correct Answer: The punishments allow the sinners to purge their sins. ✔

Option A: He must be allowed by Cerberus to pass.

Option B: He must walk through an immense wall of flames.

Option C: He must be escorted into the terrace by an angelic messenger.

Option D: He must first be ferried across the River Lethe.

Correct Answer: He must walk through an immense wall of flames. ✔

Option A: The penitent life

Option B: The afterlife existence for mortal sinners

Option C: The heavenly paradise

Option D: The earthly paradise

Correct Answer: The penitent life ✔

Option A: Purgatory is less future-oriented.

Option B: Purgatory is a place of redemptive intervention.

Option C: Purgatory includes references to time.

Option D: Purgatory is less rooted in the human, natural world.

Correct Answer: Purgatory includes references to time. ✔

Option A: The poet’s attempt to climb the mountain

Option B: The poet’s attempt to find his way back to Florence from Jerusalem

Option C: The poet’s descent into hell

Option D: The poet’s tour of earthly paradise

Correct Answer: The poet’s attempt to climb the mountain ✔

Option A: The souls of those who are ready to enter heaven

Option B: The souls of those who are not yet ready to purge their sins

Option C: The souls of those who are about to enter hell

Option D: The souls of the repentant who are punished for their sins

Correct Answer: The souls of those who are not yet ready to purge their sins ✔

Option A: The Gate to Limbo

Option B: The Garden of Eden

Option C: The Dark Wood

Option D: The circles of Hell

Correct Answer: The Garden of Eden ✔

Option A: Francesca

Option B: Judas

Option C: Ciacco

Option D: Alberigo

Correct Answer: Francesca ✔

Option A: In The Inferno, the place for many ancient Roman, Greek, and Egyptian thinkers

Option B: For Dante, the home of major figures from the Hebrew Bible

Option C: The place for virtuous non-Christian adults

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Vita Nuova

Option B: The Divine Comedy

Option C: De Vulgari Eloquentia

Option D: De Monarchia

Correct Answer: The Divine Comedy ✔

Option A: The circle of violence

Option B: The circle of wrath

Option C: The circle of heresy

Option D: The circle of treachery

Correct Answer: The circle of violence ✔

Option A: Guinevere, Dido, and Francesca

Option B: Homer, Dante, and Virgil

Option C: Brutus, Cassius, and Judas

Option D: Pope Nicholas, Pope Boniface, and Pope Clement

Correct Answer: Brutus, Cassius, and Judas ✔

Option A: Beneath Cairo

Option B: Beneath Jerusalem

Option C: Beneath Rome

Option D: Beneath Florence

Correct Answer: Beneath Jerusalem ✔

Option A: Fortune is a “divine minister” similar to an angel.

Option B: Fortune is responsible for the distribution of worldly goods.

Option C: Fortune is beyond human understanding.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: He remains in hell.

Option B: He returns to earth.

Option C: He escapes into Purgatory.

Option D: He emerges in Paradise.

Correct Answer: He escapes into Purgatory. ✔

Option A: Christmas

Option B: All Saint’s Day

Option C: All Soul’s Day

Option D: Good Friday

Correct Answer: Good Friday ✔

Option A: Fraud

Option B: Reason

Option C: Justice

Option D: Lust

Correct Answer: Fraud ✔

Option A: The Annunciation

Option B: Baptism

Option C: Holy Communion

Option D: The Last Judgment

Correct Answer: The Last Judgment ✔

Option A: Gluttony

Option B: Avarice

Option C: Heresy

Option D: Treachery

Correct Answer: Treachery ✔

Option A: His dislike of the vernacular language

Option B: His opposition to the separation of Church and State

Option C: His love for Beatrice

Option D: His experiences in exile

Correct Answer: His love for Beatrice ✔

Option A: Many people were unable to understand Church texts written in Latin.

Option B: Many people were unable to understand the language of the Mass.

Option C: Many people took issue with the Pope’s inordinate wealth and power.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Cicero

Option B: Thomas Aquinas

Option C: Brunetto Latini

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Most professional scribes found it difficult to write in Medieval Latin.

Option B: The spoken language tended to take precedence in areas where the Church was weak.

Option C: Official documents were written in spoken language.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Paris

Option B: Ravenna

Option C: England

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: The movement to write more in vernacular

Option B: The intellectual movement interested in classical antiquity

Option C: The scientific movement away from classical antiquity

Option D: The movement based on literature about courtly love

Correct Answer: The intellectual movement interested in classical antiquity ✔

Option A: Vita Nuova

Option B: De Monarchia

Option C: De Vulgari Eloquentia

Option D: The Divine Comedy

Correct Answer: Vita Nuova ✔

Option A: The Convivio

Option B: Vita Nuova

Option C: De Vulgari Eloquentia

Option D: Eclogues

Correct Answer: Vita Nuova ✔

Option A: London

Option B: Rome

Option C: Florence

Option D: Sorrento

Correct Answer: Florence ✔

Option A: Love is an ennobling force that offers a chance for salvation.

Option B: Love is problematic for Dante, because Beatrice is considered impure.

Option C: Love has little to do with spirituality.

Option D: Love obscures all possibility for salvation.

Correct Answer: Love is an ennobling force that offers a chance for salvation. ✔

Option A: The relationship watches Dante pass through stages of love for Beatrice’s physical, moral, and divine beauty.

Option B: The relationship provides an example of passionate love rather than arranged matches.

Option C: The relationship focuses on Beatrice’s chastity and purity.

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: Autobiography

Option B: Framed narrative

Option C: Lyric poetry

Option D: All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above ✔

Option A: It is static language with unchanging rules.

Option B: It is the language spoken by everyday people.

Option C: It is the only kind of illustrious vernacular.

Option D: It is synonymous with natural language.

Correct Answer: It is static language with unchanging rules. ✔