A Day in Purgatory Trivia Quiz

Answer: Manfred of Sicily

"I tow'rds him turn'd, and with fix'd eye beheld. / Comely, and fair, and gentle of aspect, / He seem'd, but on one brow a gash was mark'd. / When humbly I disclaim'd to have beheld / Him ever: "Now behold!" he said, and show'd / High on his breast a wound: then smiling spake. / "I am Manfredi, grandson to the Queen / Costanza" (III, 106-113)

Manfred (1232-1266) was King of Sicily from 1258 until his death. During his life he was excommunicated by three different Popes due to his participation in the conflict between the Papacy and the Hohenstaufen (his) dynasty. Excommunication refers to removal/shunning from the communion and practices of the religious community. Manfred was killed during the Battle of Benevento when he refused to flee and instead rushed into the fray. As an excommunicate, Manfred must wait at the base of Purgatory for a period 30 times as long as his excommunication. Considering he was an excommunicate for over a decade and has been dead less than 35 years at the time "Purgatorio" was set, Manfred will be here for a while.

Answer: Henry III of England

"Behold the king of simple life and plain, / Harry of England, sitting there alone: / He through his branches better issue spreads." (VII, 131-133)

The Late Repentant include those too lazy or distracted to repent, those who repented at the last moment without last rites (due to a violent death), and negligent rulers. The Late Repentant have to wait outside of Purgatory for as many years as they were alive. Henry III (1207-1272) was King of England from 1216 until his death. He was known during his life for great piety and donating generously to religious charities. He also taxed the Jewish population of England heavily and made it difficult for them to conduct business.

Answer: Omberto Aldobrandeschi

"A Latian was I, and born of a great Tuscan; / Guglielmo Aldobrandeschi was my father; / I know not if his name were ever with you. / The ancient blood and deeds of gallantry / Of my progenitors so arrogant made me". (XI, 61-65)

Dante expected to find himself here after his death because of his challenges in conquering pride. While he travels through purgatory, he encounters Omberto Aldobrandeschi the Count of Santafiore, who is an example of excessive pride in descent. Dante also mentions pride in accomplishments and influencing others as he travels through Purgatory. The opposite of pride is humility.

Answer: Guido del Luca

"But since God willeth that in thee shine forth / Such grace of his, I'll not be chary with thee; / Know, then, that I Guido del Duca am. / My blood was so with envy set on fire, / That if I had beheld a man make merry, / Thou wouldst have seen me sprinkled o'er with pallor." (XIV, 82-87)

Guido del Luca was a member of a noble family in Romagna who served as judge for a time. Guido does not speak too much about himself, but instead critiques the people of Tuscany (Dante's area of Italy) while speaking with Dante. Interestingly, one of the penances many in this level of Purgatory receive is that their eyelids are sewn shut with iron thread. The opposite of envy is generosity (of spirit).

Answer: Marco Lombardo

"Lombard was I, and I was Marco called; / The world I knew, and loved that excellence, / At which has each one now unbent his bow." (XVI 45-47)

Marco Lombardo was a noble from Venice who was known for his wit and learning but also for his disdainful side. Dante uses Marco appearance to express some of Dante's thoughts about free will. Dante feels that free will represents on humanity's responsibility. The opposite of wrath is peace.

Answer: Abbot of San Zeno

"I was San Zeno's Abbot at Verona, / Under the empire of good Barbarossa, / Of whom still sorrowing Milan holds discourse / And he has one foot in the grave already, / Who shall erelong lament that monastery" (XVIII, 118-122)

The opposite of sloth (laziness) is zeal. Not much is known about the Abbot of San Zeno's Abbey in Verona. He uses his appearance to complain about his successor who was the son of man that Dante knew. Perhaps (and this is speculation) he felt he should have done more to prevent that choice. As opposed to their sloth in lilfe, those on this terrace now run very quickly.

Answer: Adrian V

"Until that time a wretched soul and parted / From God was I, and wholly avaricious; Now, as thou seest, I here am punished for it." (XIX, 115-117)

Adrian V (1210-1276) was briefly Pope for the several weeks leading up to his death. Interestingly, he had not yet been elevated to the priesthood at the time he was elected as Pope (and would not be before his death). Dante placed Adrian at this level regretting excessive worldly ambition. Adrian, like others at this level, lies prostrate on the ground. The opposite of avarice is moderation.

Answer: Forese Donati

"This spark within me wholly re-enkindled / My recognition of his altered face, / And I recalled the features of Forese." (XXII, 46-48)

Forese Donati (died 1296) was a personal friend of Dante, who had died several years before the setting of "Purgatorio". Dante's personal poetry suggests that Forese Donati may have been someone "dissolute" in his life. The gluttonous are disciplined at this terrace by being starved of food and drink. The opposite of gluttony is temperance.

Answer: Arnaut Daniel

"So pleases me your courteous demand, / I cannot and I will not hide me from you. / I am Arnaut, who weep and singing go; / Contrite I see the folly of the past" (XXVI, 140-143)

Arnaut Daniel was a 12th century troubadour who Dante himself had described as "the best smith". Perhaps his emphasis on love poetry has placed him here on this terrace. Daniel was the creator of the sestina, a poem of six six-line stanzas. The opposite of lust is chastity.

Answer: Matilda of Tuscany

"For such a prayer, 'twas said unto me, "Pray / Matilda that she tell thee;" and here answered, / As one does who doth free himself from blame" (XXXIII, 118-120)

In the poem, Dante only describes the woman as Matilda, but many scholars identify her as Mathilda of Tuscany. She was the ruler of much of Northern Italy in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. She was also involved in the investiture controversy between Pope Gregory VI and King Henry IV. It is interesting that Dante has placed Matilda, a person heavily involved in political conflict, at the summit of the Mountain of Purgatory, but some scholars have suggested that she is preparing Dante for his meeting with Beatrice, who instigated Virgil leading Dante on this journey.