Dante Canti 1-6, Question 1

Dante immediately sets the atmosphere by showing almost immediately that there are divine powers at work—as Virgil explains that he was sent to guide Dante by the intercession of Beatrice, who resides in heaven. It is said through the story on an almost incessant level that Dante has a lot of "cowardice" in his soul, and is off to bad start along his spiritual journey or life, these two things being almost inseparable at the time the Inferno was written. Therefore, it is up to Virgil to show Dante what could happen to him if he continues down a crooked path. As they pass through the first few circles of Hell, Dante is frightened, repulsed, and saddened at what he sees, but cannot help questioning the events before him, acting to help provide a foundation for answers in order to keep the readers informed.