Great Books III Study Questions for Assignment 19, Dante, The Divine Comedy
Lewis, "Dante's Similes"
- Summarize Lewis's point about what sets Dante's similes apart from other kinds, and how that reflects Dante's poetry in the
Comedy in general.
Dante, The Divine Comedy; "Paradise", cantos 1-17
o Intro note on Barbara Reynolds, Dorothy Sayers's successor in the completion of the translation and commentary on the Comedy.
o Read at least this much of the introduction (although I don't know how you could stand not to read the whole thing): the bottom paragraph on pg. 16 to the bottom of pg. 18.
o The following study questions (intermixed as they are with uncontainable expressions of glee) are not necessarily meant to suggest the most important points in each canto, merely to point out particularly fascinating (for me) spots in the narrative.
- * Canto 1, lines 91-141 What is happening to Dante, and why is it happening?
- * Canto 2, lines 1-15 What is the poet's warning? What is the right attitude for the reader?
- Canto 2 Why is the moon's appearance varied?
- Canto 3, lines 10-21 What is the influence of the image on Dante and on us?
- Canto 3 Explain the connection between the Inconstant Souls and the moon (what is the moon's influence on earth?).
- Canto 4, lines 37-39 What are these lines saying about the real location of the souls Dante sees? (read the note on these lines also)
- Canto 6, lines 112-114 What characterizes the souls in Mercury?
- * Canto 6 The commentary on canto 6 is very important, especially the Images. However, a critical element is missing from the commentary which nonetheless requires serious meditation; viz, what are we to make of the fact that Justinian, in whose mouth Dante the poet puts a most glorious recounting of the sublimity of the Roman Empire, was a wicked man? Can a Head represent truly even though it is evil? Is Christ's Church glorious though it is full of tares? You need not write out answers to these questions; we will reflect together on this in class, as it is most important.
- Canto 7, lines 85-120 Compare the argument concerning redemption with Anselm's in Cur Deus Homo and Athanasius's in On the Incarnation.
- In Canto 6.93 and 7.20-21, what is the "ancient sin", what is the vengeance, and how was the vengeance avenged? If if the vengeance was "just" (7.20) then why was it avenged?
- Canto 10, lines 1-27 How can you stand the glory of these lines I(especially lines 7 and 8) without rushing headlong outdoors to look up at the stars in the night sky? (oops, that's not really a proper study question, is it? Oh well)
- Canto 10, lines 99 (Thomas Aquinas!), 124-129 (Boethius!) and 131 (Bede!)
- Canto 12, line 137 (Anselm!) Ok, so these aren't proper study questions either, so sue me.
- * Canto 14, lines 100-111 Why is it appropriate that a cross appear in the heaven of Mars? What souls are here? Compare this with Eusebius, the beginning of bk 5 (grab your Penguin Eusebius, look at page 138, second paragraph)
- Canto 17, lines 109-142 What do these lines suggest about Dante's purpose in writing?
- * Canto 17, lines 133-142 Why did Dante the poet choose only famous people to include in his story? Compare this with Plutarch's purpose in writing, and his use of eminent Greeks and Romans.
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