In Dante's ascent to enlightenment, what term refers to symbolic obstacles?

• A. Wild Beasts
• B. Retribution
• C. Metonymy
• D. Irony

Answer: (A)

Dante’s ascent is described as a climb blocked by symbolic forces that embody sin, preventing the pilgrim from progressing until he confronts and purifies himself. The wild beasts—the leopard, the lion, and the she-wolf—stand for these untamed obstacles, representing the sins that hinder enlightenment. That makes wild beasts the best fit, because it directly names the imagery Dante uses for the impediments in the ascent. The other terms don’t fit this context: retribution refers to punishment, metonymy is a figure of speech where something stands for something else, and irony is a rhetorical device signaling contrast. None of those names the obstacles blocking the climb.