On Good Friday eve in the year 1300, a traveller (the narrator, Dante himself) loses his way and wanders into a dark mysterious wood, where he happens upon the ghost of the ancient Roman poet Virgil. Virgil promises to help Dante find his way back to the top of the mountain (Heaven), but first they must traverse the nine levels of Hell. As each concentric circle increases in horror and wickedness, the traveller encounters monsters (human and otherwise) and other fantastical creatures as he comes to understand the various sins of humanity such as lust, gluttony, heresy, and violence toward others. Transformed by his harrowing experience, Dante reaches his mountain-top destination as the sun rises on Easter morning.