In Relation to Boyd

• Souls is referred to as being “hoarse”
• “To make these new things clear, I say we reached a plain, where the land repels all vegetation” –the two environments are presented as clear opposites of each other
• Virgil instructs Dante to “always keep back close to the wood” –offered as a place of refuge
• Steam is referred to as “little”, appearing to not take up much space in the wood
• Dante equates knowledge/information to food

In Relation to Wilstach

• Not only does the plain present an opposite to the woods, but it is said to actively “repel” plants, as though it views them with disdain
• Dante appears to draw his conclusion that the souls lying on the ground are suffering the most due to their cries being the loudest
• The God mentioned is Jupiter
• Reference to the Cyclopes
• Mongibello is not mentioned
• “Under whose king Saturn” -another reference to Roman mythology

In Relation to Langdon

• The circle of trees is simply referred to as a “circle”, using very neutral language
• “Ditch”, rather than “moat”, makes the water appear much less prominent
• Virgil says the soul of the king “value[d God] lightly” -implication that he did value God to some extent, even if it was very little
• Mention of “Viterbo” while discussing Bulicame in relation to the river
• While sentence structure of old English is sometimes used, the individual words are all modern
• “Now is abandoned like an ancient spoil heap” –Very strong emphasis on how run-down and unappealing the mountain has become since its glory days
• It is not clear what the source of the shouts is that is said to have concealed the baby’s cries