Allusions:
Virgil: a B.C. era Roman poet known for his epics such as Homer, the Iliad, and Odyssey. Dante uses Virgil as a guide because he views himself as a great poet on the levels of Virgil and believes he is worthy enough to be led by a man who many consider the greatest poet ever.
Lion of Violence and Ambition, Leopard of Malice and Fraud, and She Wolf of Incontinence: each animal represents a category for carnal sins. These animals have an evil connotation with Christianity. The lion is an aggressive and assertive animal that tends to satisfy his desires. The leopard has spots which they use to conceal themselves to their prey in order to deceive them. The She Wolf is a representation of incontinence because wolves are known to stay in packs, hence relating to lust and adultery as both sins requires a group to commit.
Dark Woof of Error: an area which uses the crowded and convoluted nature of woods to depict the nature of those who enter Hell. At the beginning of Hell, the Dark Wood allows for foresight of the nature of Hell being that they share a complex path and many become lost in the depths of Hell.