You're sitting there with your morning coffee, the Wall Street Journal spread out or pulled up on your tablet, and you're staring at a grid that feels like a personal attack. Crossword puzzles are supposed to be relaxing. Usually. But when the clue asks for the first word of Dante's Inferno WSJ crossword style, and the letters aren't clicking, it’s enough to make you want to close the tab and go back to bed.
The answer you're hunting for is MIDWAY.
It sounds simple once you see it. But why that word? Why does the WSJ love this specific piece of literary trivia? It’s because The Divine Comedy doesn’t just start; it launches. Dante Alighieri didn’t waste time with fluff. He dropped us right into the thick of a midlife crisis, 14th-century style.
The Literal and Literary Root of Midway
When you look at the original Italian text, the poem begins: "Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita." If you've ever taken a crack at translating that, "Nel mezzo" translates pretty directly to "In the middle" or, more poetically for a crossword solver, midway.
The WSJ crossword creators—folks like Mike Shenk or the various guest constructors—love this clue because it bridges the gap between high-brow literature and common English vocabulary. It’s a six-letter word that fits perfectly into those tricky corner pockets of a grid. Honestly, it’s one of those "aha!" moments that makes you feel smart for remembering 10th-grade English class, even if you only skimmed the SparkNotes back then.
Dante was thirty-five years old when he wrote this. At the time, the biblical lifespan was considered seventy years. So, he was quite literally midway through his life. He’s lost in a dark wood, he’s confused, and he’s about to take a guided tour through the worst places imaginable. It’s a mood. We’ve all been there, usually on a Tuesday afternoon at the office.
Why the WSJ Crossword is a Different Beast
If you’re a regular solver, you know the Wall Street Journal puzzles aren't the same as the New York Times or the LA Times. They have a certain... vibe. They tend to lean into puns and "meta" themes, especially on Fridays.
But their daily puzzles often rely on what we call "crosswordese" or standard academic trivia. Finding the first word of Dante's Inferno WSJ crossword clue is a classic example of how they test your cultural literacy without being totally obscure.
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You see, the WSJ likes to reward people who have a broad, if sometimes shallow, knowledge of the classics. You don't need to be a Dante scholar. You don't need to know the difference between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines—though that helps with other clues! You just need to know how the journey starts.
Breaking Down the Grid Mechanics
Let’s talk about the letters themselves. M-I-D-W-A-Y.
The 'M' often crosses with words like 'MET' or 'MRS'.
The 'W' is usually the killer. 'W' isn't the most common letter in crosswords, so if you see a 'W' hanging out in the middle of a six-letter word, your brain might automatically pivot to something like 'ALWAYS' or 'WAYWARD'.
But "Midway" is sturdy. It’s a solid anchor.
Sometimes the clue is a bit more cryptic. It might say "Start of a hellish journey" or "Opening of a 14th-century epic." Regardless of the phrasing, the answer remains the same. Dante starts in the middle. It’s a technique called in media res, and while that’s a great phrase for a cocktail party, it doesn’t fit in a six-letter slot.
Common Pitfalls for This Clue
I’ve seen people try to jam "THOUGH" or "UNDER" into this space. They’re thinking of different translations. Longfellow’s translation starts with "Midway," but others might start with "In." However, "In" is too short. "Middle" is six letters, but it rarely shows up as the specific answer for this Dante-themed clue because "Midway" is the more traditional, formal translation used in academic circles and, consequently, by crossword editors.
It's also easy to confuse the Inferno with other epic poems. If you’re thinking of Paradise Lost, you’re looking at "Of." If you’re thinking of the Iliad, you’re looking at "Sing." Dante is unique because he places himself—the "I"—directly into the timeline of his own life immediately.
The Construction of the Puzzle
Think about the person who built this puzzle. They probably had a theme involving "Middles" or "Halfway points." Maybe the theme was "Midlife Crises." When a constructor builds a grid, they start with the themed long answers first. Then they fill in the gaps. Midway is a "glue" word. It’s high-quality glue, but it’s still there to make the rest of the puzzle work.
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The WSJ is edited with a very keen eye. They won't use an obscure translation if a standard one exists. If you see Dante mentioned, think "Midway" first. It’s a high-probability bet.
Literature Meets Strategy
Solving a crossword is basically a battle of wits between you and the editor. They want to trick you; you want to prove you're un-trickable.
When you encounter the first word of Dante's Inferno WSJ crossword clue, you are tapping into a tradition of "Western Canon" clues. These are the bread and butter of the WSJ. They expect you to know a bit about Shakespeare, a bit about the Bible, and a bit about Italian poets from the 1300s.
It’s not elitism. It’s just the rules of the game.
If you’re stuck on the surrounding words, look for the 'Y'. Endings in 'Y' are often adverbs or plurals in some cases, but here, it's part of the root word. If you have the 'Y' from a vertical clue like "Yearly" or "Yesterday," it almost confirms you're looking at "Midway."
Real Talk on Crossword Frustration
Let’s be honest. Sometimes these clues feel dated. Who is reading Dante while eating their cereal? Probably not many people in 2026. But the beauty of the crossword is that it keeps these linguistic fragments alive. "Midway" isn't just a word for a fairground or a Pacific battle anymore; it’s a link to a guy in a red hood wandering through a spooky forest.
When you're staring at those blank white squares, don't overthink it. Most solvers fail because they assume the answer is more complex than it actually is. They look for metaphors. They look for hidden meanings. Sometimes, the answer is just the first word of the book.
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Actionable Tips for Your Next WSJ Solve
If you want to stop getting stumped by these kinds of literary clues, there are a few things you can do that don't involve getting a PhD in Comparative Literature.
- Learn the "Firsts": Keep a mental list of how major epics start. The Odyssey (Tell), The Aeneid (I sing), Inferno (Midway). These appear constantly.
- Check the Year: If the clue mentions a specific translation year, it’s a huge hint. For Dante, the 19th-century translations are the ones crossword editors grew up on.
- Look for the Vowels: "Midway" has an 'I' and an 'A'. These are common "crossers." If you have an 'A' in the fifth position, start testing "Midway."
- Don't Fear the Delete Key: If you put in "Middle" and the down-clues aren't working, rip it out immediately. Solvers often get "married" to an answer and try to force the rest of the grid to fit it. That’s a recipe for a DNF (Did Not Finish).
The first word of Dante's Inferno WSJ crossword is one of those classic "gimme" clues once you've seen it a few times. It’s like knowing that a three-letter bird is an "Emu" or a three-letter beverage is "Ade." It’s part of the vocabulary of the game.
Next time you see Dante's name in the clues, don't panic. Just remember he was 35, he was in the middle of his life, and he was "Midway" through his journey. Fill in those six letters and move on to the next challenge. You've got a whole grid to finish, and that coffee isn't getting any hotter.
To really master the WSJ style, start paying attention to how they reuse certain literary figures. Dante shows up a lot. So does Homer. So does Poe. Once you recognize their "entry words," you'll find your solve times dropping significantly. No more staring at the screen for twenty minutes wondering what an Italian guy was thinking 700 years ago. You’ll just know.
And honestly? That's the best feeling in the world for a crossword lover. That moment where the pen (or the thumb) doesn't hesitate. You're not guessing. You're knowing. Now, go finish the rest of that Saturday stumper.
Next Steps for Solvers:
To improve your speed on literary clues, try keeping a small digital note of "First Words" for famous books you see in puzzles. For the Wall Street Journal specifically, focus on the 14th through 19th-century classics, as these are their favorite hunting grounds for trivia. If you are ever truly stuck, try searching for the specific date of the puzzle alongside the clue, as constructors often cycle themes based on anniversaries.