January 24

Great class yesterday everyone!  Here are your assignments for this week focusing on Dante's Inferno.  There is no additional reading in The Once and Future King this week.  Don't forget to click on the Virtual Tour link.  It will give you a nice overview. 

Part 1: Survey of the Inferno

• Thoroughly familiarize yourself with your new copy of Dante's Inferno.  Remember this is the first of three poems in his Divine Comedy trilogy.  Don't let the word comedy fool you.  A journey through hell hardly sounds "comical".  The word comedy is being used in a different sense than we are used to.  Classical Comedy originates in despair and moves toward redemption.  Classical Tragedy begins in bliss and ends in sorrow.  True to this pattern, The Divine Comedy begins in sorrowful circumstances as Dante is lost in a dark wood and then brought down into the very pit of hell.  So to understand this as a "comedy" you must keep in mind that Dante will ascend to Paradise over the course of the trilogy. 
• Inside the back cover of your book list ten things you notice during your survey of the book.  How is the book organized?  What resources has the publisher made available to you?  What details do you notice?

Part 2: Read the Greater Images section beginning on page 67.  Highlight key words!

Part 3: Introduction

• Scan the entire Introduction (pgs. 9-66)
• Carefully read the section you were assigned and list the 5 most interesting facts you learn.   We will share these in class.
• I have written the section assignments below

Part 4: Read the Dante's Universe essay beginning on page 292.  Highlight key words!

Part 5: Choose the canto you would like to translate into modern English and e-mail your selection to me.

Introduction Assignments
paragraph#s are in parenthesis

1. Davis -  9 - 16 (2)
2. Walker - 16(3) - 24
3. Alex - 25 - 31(3)
4. Emma - 31(4) - 38(1)
5. Mrs. Simcox - 38(2) - 45(1)
6. Caleb - 45(2) - 52(2)
7. Carter - 52(3) - 59(1)
8. Eva - 59(2) - 66