Obsession, compulsion, and the appeal of doing what you are not supposed to do.
Finish Circle IX discussion Reminder: turn in SP FD to TII by TH and hard copy of FD in class on Fri. Graded/returned by Dec 4. Rewrite (up to 10% grade improvement) by Dec 11.
Form groups of 3. Each group will choose one of the 10 Bolgia of Circle 8 to study.
Groups will lead the discussion of that Bolgia.
Circle VI: Heresy (the denial of the soul's immortality): other types of heresy are placed in Circles VII (usury, sodomy) & VIII (witchcraft, etc). We'll talk about why when we get there.
Explain the contrapasso based on Dante's conception of heresy as the denial of the immortality of the soul. Who is here? What are they "in for"? Why does Dante's use of the past tense in verse 63 ("held in disdain") cause Cavalcante such grief? And why is Dante then confused by this reaction? How does Dante's treatment of his friend, Guido Cavalcanti, symbolically recall his relationship with Guido in real life? Circle VII: the Violent (sins of the Lion) round 1: Violent against neighbors or property (murderers & bandits) round 2: Violent against themselves (suicides & squanderers) round 3: Violent against God, nature, & 'art' (blasphemers, sodomites, usurers) Why is there a concentration of hybrid creatures (composite monsters) in this region? What is the punishment and contrapasso here? WHO is here (name names and explain what they did, include the 'guards'). Note how Dante's use of anaphora in the opening description of the forest (Inf. 13.1-9--more evident in the Italian) reinforces his conception of suicide. Look at this passage and other language and imagery in canto 13: how do they contribute to Dante's conception of suicide and the suicidal state of mind? Do you see evidence of Dante's participation in this idea of suicide? Why is this level worse than suicide for love (circle 2) or prodigals/wasters (circle 4)? Capaneus' continued defiance of "Jove" (Roman name for god) in hell draws a harsh response from Virgil, who explains to Dante that this unabated rage only adds to the blasphemer's punishment (Inf. 14.61-72). What do you think? Could Virgil be wrong and Capaneus actually gain a measure of satisfaction from his contempt in the afterlife? Or does the logic of hell require only punishment and suffering? Define Biblical sodomy (no, it's not JUST homosexuality). Whom does Dante "out" in this round? What are the implications of Dante's attitude toward the sodomites in cantos 15-16? What is blasphemy worse than heresy (circle 6)? What does Dante's presentation of the usurers (loan sharks, investors/day traders, and bankers) tell us about his attitude toward money and economics? |
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September 2016
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