Divine Comedy: Purgatorio Quizzes

Divine Comedy: Purgatorio Quiz 1

By Robert Watson · Edited by James Cooper · Last reviewed October 21, 2020

1 What does Dante say he is leaving behind at the beginning of Canto I?

"the hellish pits"

"the Satanic circles"

"that cruel sea"

"Virgil's guidance"
2 What can Dante see in Purgatory that he couldn't see in the Inferno?

The sky

Ulysses

The ground

Italy
3 Where do Virgil and Dante find themselves, geographically?

The antipodes (where the Garden of Eden was)

Mantua

Italy

Jerusalem
4 At what are the souls of Purgatory often amazed?

Beatrice's beauty

Dante's shadow

Virgil

The sun
5 For what does Cato criticize Virgil?

His appearance

His poetry

Trying to flatter him

Not mentioning his wife, Marcia
6 What happens to the reed Virgil plucks to attach to Dante?

It withers

Nothing

It regenerates

It begins to speak
7 The reed is referred to as:

Tall

Humble

White

Droopy
8 What is the crowd of newly arrived souls doing as they come to shore?

Singing a hymn

Praying

Standing by the angel in silence

Dancing joyously
9 How does Cato respond to Casella's singing alone?

Joins in

Castigates him and the souls nearby

Praises the song

Asks him to sing more loudly
10 What does Dante try and fail to do when he sees Casella?

Embrace him

Remember him

Speak to him

Run away
11 What adjective is often used to describe singing in the Purgatorio?

"Quiet"

"Holy"

"Sweet"

"Dull"
12 The slopes in Purgatory are often what?

Steep

Smooth

Wide

Covered in flame
13 The souls in Purgatory are often amazed at what?

Cato's strict moralism

Virgil's mind

Dante's voice

Dante's shadow and body
14 The angels in the valley of princes uses what to scare away the serpent?

Their flaming swords

A song

A speech

Their green wings
15 Before Dante meets Belacqua, he complains of what?

Being tired

A twisted ankle

The confusing path

The sunlight
16 Virgil suggests that what will happen to the climb as they ascend the mountain?

It will involve more and more obstacles

It will get easier

It will change based on the time of day

It will get harder
17 How do the souls crowd Dante?

Like sheep

As if he is the winner of a dice game

As if they are pulled to him

As if he is a salesman
18 Sordello and Virgil are both from where?

Carthage

Rome

Mantua

Troy
19 Dante criticizes Italy for what?

The church's lack of political participation

Their centralized government

Improperly guiding its citizens

The lack of a social safety net
20 What is Dante picked up by in his dream?

An eagle

A snake

A griffin

God's hand
21 Who was the eagle in the "real" world?

Sordello

Beatrice

Saint Lucy

Virgil
22 How many steps are there to enter Purgatory?

7

1

3

33
23 What colors are the steps?

The colors of Christ's body

Red, white, and blue

White, purple, and red

White and red
24 What is the contrapasso punishment for the prideful?

They must walk bent under heavy burdens

They must lick the dirt

They must criticize themselves constantly

They are forced to do charity work
25 Who is the first example of charity carved into the walls?

Mary

Beatrice

Jesus

Paul

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