Middle Ages and Dante

1/16: Humanities: in small groups (groups of 4) – talk about Cantos 33 and 34. I am leaving for you some notes from the Pinsky translation – these should help shed some interesting light on some of the elements of these two cantos. Read the notes in the modern translation as well. Talk about Ugolino’s story, about his desire to be remembers, about his remorse (or lack thereof), etc. Talk too about that final circle deep in Hell – look who is there, think about their crimes, think about the ways in which those crimes illustrate Augustine’s warnings about choosing the City of Man over the City of God. On the front of the notecard: make me a list of the important elements/ideas from your discussion. On the back: tell me what you thought of this more modern translation. How was it to read, how did it compare to the Pinsky version, what did you like/dislike about it, should I consider using more of this version in the future. Please turn the notecards in at the end of the period.

1/14: Reading Cantos 33 & 34: We are in the ninth circle now (third and fourth rings) – betrayal of friends or guests and betrayal of masters or benefactors. They are ensconced in ice. Dante expresses such fear that he is afraid he cannot even tell the stories accurately, but he forges ahead. At the end of Canto 32, Dante encounters (in the ring) those who have betrayed their homelands. He comes across a sinner who is gnawing on the skull of another. Dante asks him who he is, what he did to be in this place and even hints that he might be able to tell the man’s story when Dante is safely back on earth. This is where Canto 33 begins

1/12: Read cantos 5 and 6. These are important aspects of the poem so far (and as we continue) that you need to pay attention to (PLEASE come prepared to talk about these). The final review sheet is on the Humanities I home page (click on link to the left) as is the list of blue book entries (due tomorrow, no coupons):

· sensory images (sight and sound especially)

· poetic conventions (especially similes)

· crime and punishment

· the mind of the concerned sinner (what is Dante thinking/feeling and why does that matter)

· wisdom (Virgil)

· the reactions of those who could not be saved

1/9: We talked about City of God and its underpinnings for Dante. We read the first canto in Inferno Homework this weekend is to read cantos 2-4 (see below)

1/7: Reading chapters of City of God in an effort to understand the difference Augustine makes between the City of Man (Earthly City) and the city of God (handout and the assignment are attached below under "City of God excerpts") Homework: See "Starting Dante" below.

1/5: Reading the 1^st Medieval packet (A World Lit Only By Fire "The Medieval Mind" pages 8-15 in your packets - we all found them before break): You are reading to understand three things – the role of the early church in life developing after the fall of Rome, Augustine’s writing, his motivation and his influence and the beginning of church and state ruling as one. Take notes about each of these as you read.