paxton.tucker

pick

Alighieri‘s Inferno is an intricate commentary on the innate tendency to sin, the consequences and human emotions that follow, and man's search for redemption through God. Written in the first person perspective, characterized by the use of I, we, and our, this epic provides insight into how a man would act if thrust into hell and includes Dante‘s thoughts and observations.

paxton.tucker Written in 1321, the poem makes many references and allusions to the city state of Florence, Catholicism, respected writers and philosophers, influential politicians, myths, and religious texts. Readers of other classical literature such as Homer's The Odyssey will be intrigued by how many important connections exist between this poem and other pieces of writing; it is a stepping stone for many other books and modern literature.
2d

paxton.tucker Canto 1
Halfway through his life, Dante awakens in a dark forest where misery surrounds him; he is in the area outside of hell. He is unable to say how he arrived at this place but knows he strayed from the straight road. In his pursuit of light, representing Christ, he climbs a hill. However, blocked by beasts symbolizing the three types of sin separating mankind from God (deception, violence, and greed), he decides to turn back to the forest. 2d

paxton.tucker Canto 2
Approaching hell's gates on Good Friday, Dante laments that he is not worthy to enter the afterlife and return. Virgil tells him that the virgin Mary knows he has strayed off course and has sent her messenger to tell Virgil to guide him. Heaven is with them so Dante agrees to enter hell.

2d

See All 12 Comments

paxton.tucker Canto 3
Outside of hell is a place for the uncommitted in life. These people never chose a side, good or bad and only did what was best for themselves. This group includes the angels who chose no side in the rebellion of angels. The uncommitted scurry restlessly through fog in search of a blank banner they can never catch while being pursued by wasps and hornets. Their bodies drop with pus and blood that attracts maggots.

2d

paxton.tucker There are 9 circles of hell and the evilness of sin increases as you go down with Satan at the final level. The punishment given for each sin in some way fits the evil done. The first circle of hell is for those who died before Jesus was born. The souls in this level are sinless but can‘t enter heaven because they died without knowing Jesus. Virgil, along with many famous thinkers including Homer, Julius Cesar, Brutas, Socrates, and Euclid, are 2d

paxton.tucker Sinners are condemned to their fate by Minos, a serpent who indicates the circle of hell they will reside in. The second circle of hell is for those who fell to lust. In this circle the punishment is being pushed around by constant winds and having no say in where they go. This punishment symbolizes the power of lust to blow aimlessly. Dante feels sympathy for those in this circle and faints after talking with them.

2d

paxton.tucker
The third circle of hell is for those guilty of gluttony. These sinners wasted their lives eating and drinking too much so they are forced to bathe in a foul slush that rains on them. Cerberus, the three headed dog of myth, drools over the people. Dante meets up with a man from Florence who tells him about the future.

2d

paxton.tucker
The fourth circle of hell is for the hoarders and the wasters. The hoarders only wanted to gain wealth and things on earth and the wasters spent money recklessly. These sinners were blind in life and in hell their souls can‘t be seen. For punishment, they joust with heavy boulders and mock one another. This is a fit punishment because one side is hoarding and the other side is throwing away just like they did on earth but now with rocks.
2d

paxton.tucker People who are wrathful and sullen are condemned to the 5th circle which is the river Styx. The wrathful are those who are aggressive and angry toward others while the sullen are people who hold deep hatred inside. These sinners live in the river which is full of dirty boiling water.
2d

paxton.tucker Virgil and Dante cross the river in a boat and one person in the water talks to Dante, Dante knows him as an enemy and makes fun of him. Virgil and Dante can‘t get through to the capital city of Hell because it is guarded by fallen angels. Virgil tells Dante to be patient because help is coming to get them into the city.

2d

paxton.tucker A reader who enjoys A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens would enjoy Alighieri‘s Inferno. Scrooge and Dante are characters who have strayed off the straight path and need to find their way back. Reluctantly they leave behind their everyday lives and travel into other realities. Dante, unsure of how he arrives in the dark woods consents to travel through hell with Virgil as his guide. 2d

paxton.tucker Similarly, Scrooge is warned by his deceased partner, Jacob Marley, that he must change his ways so he agrees to go with the ghosts of the past, present, and future. At the end of their journeys, both men are given a chance to correct their behavior and change their fates. As the characters transform themselves to avoid a miserable end, the reader can reflect on the changes and consider how what the characters learned applies to them. 2d

2 likes12 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books

paxton.tucker

Joined November 2024