Canto 8 Summary and Analysis of Imagery

Dante and Virgil continue on towards a fire-lit tower. Here, Phlegyas the boatman carries them across River Styx to the city, Dis. As they glide over the cloudy channel, Dante recognizes his political enemy, Filippo. Dante is truly pleased to see him suffering ample punishment. Upon their arrival of Dis, Virgil leaves the boat to discuss their passage through the gates. Dante is forced to wait, guide-less, The rebellious demons refuse Virgil. The Roman poet returns to Dante, and claims as their journey is Willed in heaven they must await divine assistance.

The canto opens with the poets eyes following two small flames (fiammette), towards a tower (Dante Canto 8; ll. 3). These faint lights are answered by a barley visible beacon from far away. A boat travels towards them, as quickly as an arrow through skimming across the sky. All this imagery alludes to something far away... the small lights, the far-away beacon, a boat forced to travel far distances like an arrow. The imagery exposes how something far that "the eye could barely catch" is coming (Dante Canto 8; ll. 6). In line 64, the poets enter the city of Dis, which is where the more intense punishments take place (Dante Canto 8). Also Dis is the place of Virgil's underworld (Aeneid Book 6). The previous landscape of the poem set the tone for the deeper and harsher part of hell.

"The walls of that bleak city, which seemed cast

of solid iron;" (Dante Canto 8; ll. 73-74)