Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Here we see the panderers, seducers, and flatterers, as represented by the 15th-century artist Sandro Botticelli. Today's reading takes us further into the jaws of hell, passing through circle after circle on our way to the very bottom.

Homework Questions:

• What seem to be Dante's rationales, or principles, for placing sinners nearer to or farther from the depths of hell? How do the sins change as we go farther down? How does his system compare to what you would do to rank different kinds of sins?
• Do you feel sorry for any of these people, and if so, who, and why? Conversely, do you feel any of them get what they deserve?
• Note Dante's placement of Mohammed in canto XXVIII with the sowers of discord. How do you react to Dante's perspective?
• Among the evil counselors we hear a story about Boniface VIII in Canto XXVII. We also meet Nicholas III in Canto XIX, who addresses Boniface, thinking he has arrived in hell sooner than expected. What is your response to the way Dante represents this and other popes in the Inferno?

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 23, 2008

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