Cantos I
Line 25-29--"a leopard, near the place: The way grew steep...Blocking the path...she made me turn about: To go back down"
The Leopard, according to the notes in the book, symbolizes lust. However, i view it as the only of the three animals that doesnt threaten Dante. The lion roars and frightens him, the grey wolf stalks and scares him, however, the leopard only made him turn back. She acts more like a "gaurdian" than a "gaurd", that is, she is there more to warn the oncomer than to scare them away. Also, she appears in the "early morning" while the "fair sun rising", this is more of a good sign.

Line 55--"Of the false gods who lied."
This is the first true statement by the author that christianity is right and paganism was wrong. He is referring to the pagan gods who lied about the afterlife and all of religion.


Cantos II

Line 49-50--"my friend-No friend of Fortune-"
In these lines, Beatrice the Lady of Heaven is speaking to virgil and trying to persuade him to go and guide Dante through Hell. However, there is also an allusion to Lady Fortune who represents fate. Dante the author is saying here that he did not come upon good fortune or fate in his life. this could be a coment on his exile.

The three ladies and even God are shown in an interesting way in this Canto. God passes on the order to help Dante to Lucy who passes it to Beatrice who passes it to Virgil. This could either be a comment on comradary, or laziness. Why do they pass it on so many times?