Inferno Canto I, II, III
Discuss your reading experience with Dante's Inferno. What is making sense? What are you finding confusing? Cite connections you have made. Explain the reading process. Include specific examples/cantos/pages as evidence to your understanding.
In Dante's inferno, I understand that he is brought to hell and is now in the first part of hell just beyond limbo. (thats what its called right?) The first part of hell is for people who pretty much were led into temptation and could not make descisions with themselves, such as the people who could not decide who to follow, and have to follow a banner for the rest of their eternal lives. I don't really understand though, in the whole story so far, why Dante? what made him so special that he was witnessed and told he needs to take a journey through hell, purgatory and heaven because he is having a midlife crisis. There are a lot of people who have midlife crisis's so why him?. The first two canto's were the most confusing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started reading Dante's Inferno I did not understand a lot of things but then when we discussed it as a class it really helped me. I did not really understand what the animals stood for but I knew they stood for something. Then when we went over it in class I saw what they were really suppose to mean. Also I did not really know if he was truly alive in the story or if he was just imagining it all. Then when I read the part when Charon says “…And you the living soul get away from all these people who are dead.” (pg. 92) It tells you right their, that Dante is not dead and that he is truly in Hell. The thing that I still really don’t understand is why he would choose to go though Hell when he had a choice. I also don’t understand why Dante is being called a hero. I hope that when we go over more of the book I will understand more but for not I think I am doing pretty well.
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ReplyDeleteTo me, the wording of Dante's inferno is very confusing. I understand that he is on a journey to hell and that Virgil is his guide. I understand certain things when it's written but other times I have to stop and think for a while just to understand what he's talking about. I'm understanding the text a little better now that some of the story was explained but it's still a little difficult. It's not the easiest read. I also understand that Dante is alive through his journey into the underworld. But can he die while he's in hell? And if so then what would happen?
ReplyDeleteWhen we first started reading Dante's Inferno I had to keep reading it over and it took me forever to understand the text because I've never really read a book where you have to read very critically and look into things. As we keep reading though I'm progressing and starting to not take as long to read it, it's starting to all come together and make more sense. Why would Dante move forth through hell if he's so scared though? Why would a living person want to endure pain and suffering if it's really not necessary?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading Canto I, II, and III, I had a hard time understanding what exactly was going on. I had many questions, but going over the main points in class, and also talking about the symbolism with the animals really helped me. I think I have a better understanding of what this means. I hope that we will continue to go over the cantos as we read them. This really helped me. On page 83, lines 121-123 say, "So what is wrong? Why, why do you delay? Why are you such a coward in your heart, why aren't you bold and free of all you fear.." I think it's dumb to ask why is he a coward. Everyone would be a coward when they see what horror this "Hell" is.
ReplyDeleteSo far I am enjoying and understanding the first three cantos in Dante's Inferno for the most part. I understand that Dante was chosen to go through a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Because we havn't reached this section of the book yet, I am still confused on what purgatory really is. I would imagine it's the "in between" that is in the middle of Heaven and Hell, but to me that sounds alot like earth and life itself. In Canto III we are introduced to the first part of Hell and where Dante really begins his divine quest. Dante describes the punishment or "contrapasso" of the people who were indecisive on whether they beleived in God or Lucifer. These souls were rejected by both Heaven and Hell and the text reads, "...and this blind life they lead is so abject it makes them envy every other fate." This sounds like it's the worst punishment of all but I thought the worst punishment would be given to those in the last circle of Hell.
ReplyDeleteThe wording of Dante's Inferno, the way it is set up as a poem, reminds me of The Odyssey. Both, to me, can be quite confusing, the way they're set up and worded. So far, though, I find Inferno more interesting than the Odyssey, so that makes it a bit better. It's also interesting to find out what the punishments of each sinner are. I wonder what the punishment given in the last circle will be. Also, what is Dante's purpose for going through Hell? Can he die in the process? Where would he wind up if he did?
ReplyDeleteSo far, Dante's Inferno is very interesting to read, and since I heard about it last year it sounded so thought provoking and interesting that I've been looking forward to reading it. Now that we have started to read it, I never took into account as to how difficult the actual reading would be. My difficulties in reading Dante's Inferno is trying to locate all of the allegory's and interpret what they really mean. Also, the way it is written makes it a little more difficult, and the way that it's narrated, in which the way the characters talk. (I'm sorry for it being late, but I missed class yesterday and was just informed today that we had a blog post)
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