Figurative Language

Figurative Language The Inferno was written in the form of a three-line stanza known as Terza Rima. The structure for this type of poetry is aba, bcb, cdc, ded. It wasn’t too hard for Dante to follow this form because he wrote it in Italian (the Italian language only has seven different sounds for vowels). “Whoever you are, sad spirit,” I began, “who lie here with your head below your heels and planted like a stake-speak if you can.” (pg. 168) (Simile) I leaned against the jagged face of a rock and wept so that my Guide said: “Still?” (pg. 175) (Personification) “Master, within my soul your word is certainty, and any other would seem like the dead lumps of burned out coal.” (pg. 178) (Simile) “That one whose beard spreads like a fleece over his swarthy shoulders, was an augur in the days when so few males remained in Greece that even the cradles were all but empty of sons.” (pg. 178) (Simile) Lift up your eyes, lift up your eyes and see him the earth swallowed before all the Thebans, at which they cried out: “Whither do you flee, Amphiareus?” (pg. 175) (Personification)