Dante's epic poem, The Inferno, follows the descent of Dante himself into the bowels of hell in search of salvation. This poem follows the monomyth pattern very closely. There are ten parts to the monomyth (birth/home, call to adventure, helpers/amulet, crossing the threshold, tests, helpers, climax/final battle, flight, return and elixir) and The Inferno has them all. However, Dante focuses on four of those parts more specifically. These parts are Dante's tests, helpers and his flight and return to earth.

Starting at the beginning of the story Dante is tested continually. His first test takes place at the start of the story.

Midway in his allotted threescore years and ten, Dante comes to himself with a start and realizes that he has strayed from the True Way into the dark Wood of Error. As soon as he has realized his loss, Dante lifts his eyes...