Your
paper must be typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins in a
reasonable 12-point font.
Suggestions:
*Avoid summarizing the text. Use the text to argue a specific position.
*Avoid
overly broad claims in your essay, especially in the opening paragraph
(e.g. Ever since time began, mankind has asked questions about the meaning
of life.)
*Give
canto and verse references when you cite the poem or refer to passages in the
poem.
(Purg. 5, 22-47, for example)
*To test and strengthen your claim, consider (and perhaps address) possible counter-arguments.
*Do
not feel compelled to provide a definitive interpretation of the poem.
Provide instead an interesting, analytical, well-grounded exploration of your
position on some aspect of the poem.
Donna Yowell's topics
1. Explore
the reasons for which Dante invented the Ante-Purgatory, this subdivision not
acknowledged by theologians, scholastics, other literary treatments of the Purgatory.
In
order to do this, consider the themes that dominate the Ante-Purgatory, the
concerns
and mode of expression of its inhabitants, the pilgrim's response to them, the
similes, temporal periphrases employed by the poet.
2.
Examine the ways in which a character or episode in the Purgatory functions
as a
narrative recasting or a purgatorial corrective of Infernal types or episodes.
Look for
verbal, structural, thematic correspondences. Among the many episodes or
characters that lend themselves to this topic are:
La Pia (Purg. 5) and Francesca (Inf. 5);
Buonconte da Montefeltro (Purg. 5) and
Guido da Montefeltro (Inf. 27);
Sordello (Purg. 6 & 7) and Farinata
(Inf. 10),
infernal vs. purgatorial treatments of
wrath, gluttony, lust, or avarice.
You may choose to extend this topic to include an episode or character
from the Paradiso, such as (La Pia, Francesca and Piccarda (Par. 3);
Brunetto Lattini (Inf. 15)
and Cacciaguida (Par. 15-17).
3.
Study Ovid's account of the contest between Arachne and Minerva (Met.
5-145).
How might it function as an illuminating subtext to Dante's discourse on art,
divine and human, in Purgatory 10-12 and the theme of the poet’s pride?
How is
pride represented in terms of art and story both in the cantos of Purgatory
and in
Ovid’s text? Explore the similarities and the differences between Arachne and
Dante.
4.
The Comedy, like Augustine’s Confessions, is, in part, a book
that aims to teach
its readers how to read. What does the poem suggest about the role,
task, difficulty,
goal of reading and how we must read this poem, in particular? You may want
to
focus on specific episodes in the poem (Inf. 3 – the pilgrim’s reading
of the gates of Hell,
Inf. 5 – Francesca’s reading of the Lancelot romance, Purg. 22 –
Statius’ reading of Virgil).
5.
Examine one or more aspects of Virgil’s complex character and function in the
poem.
Attempt to respond to (if not answer) the compelling questions raised by Dante’s
portrayal
and treatment of Virgil ; in other words , why does Dante do what he does with
Virgil?
6.
Consider carefully the pilgrim’s dreams in Purgatory; how do they function in
their
immediate context; what is their role in the journey/poem at large; how do they
gloss
one another?
7. At
the center of the Purgatory and of the poem, Virgil delivers his discourse on
love.
Analyze Virgil’s speech or some aspect of it, its content and/or style. Is it
cogent, effective,
convincing? Consider the ways in which it does or does not explain the poem
that precedes
and that follows.
8.
Compare and contrast the structures and systems of Hell and Purgatory. In doing
this,
you may consider some or all of the following: Virgil’s outline of Hell (Inf.
11) vs. his outline
of Purgatory (Purg. 17), the hierarchies that subtend the two canticles,
significant
differences and/or overlaps between the two systems. You may choose to consider
purgatorial vs. infernal treatment of wrath or love or lust or gluttony.
9.
Beatrice’s apotheosis or arrival in the poem. Beatrice is presented in
the opening cantos
of the poem as “the destination” of the journey. In what ways, has the poem
invited you to
anticipate her (cite the text)? In what ways and for what reasons might her
long-awaited
appearance be anticlimactic? Does this recall other anticlimactic moments in
the poem?
10. Consider the opening terzina of the Paradiso:
"The
glory of the One who moves all things
permeates the universe and glows
in one part more and in another less."
Comment
upon their content and style (what they say and how they say it), in terms of
their specific position in the poem (how they function in their immediate context),
and as
verses which open up or contain the rest of the canticle, which in some sense can
"stand
for" the entire Paradiso. At this point, discuss the verses in relation
to
a)
one character
b)
one circle
c)
one doctrinal or philosophical discourse
Greta D’Amico suggested topics -
1) Discuss Dante’s presentation
of Pride in Cantos 10-12.
- How is pride represented in terms of art and story, the prideful
(encountered in canto XI)? - In what ways is the artist particularly
susceptible to the sin of pride? - What does the example of Arachne (XII)
suggest about Dante poet and the poem itself?
(see course reader for Arachne story from Ovid.)
2) Discuss the central canto of
the Purgatory and of the poem, canto XVII.
Consider the themes of wrath and love, Virgil’s discourse on love and on
Purgatory’s seven terraces punishing the seven sins.
Consider/ compare purgatorial vs. infernal examples of wrath and love.
What are some similarities and differences? Has the poet himself evolved?
What is the significance of the opening verses (1-9) and how do they
relate to the pilgrim’s journey/ progress, expiation, purgation, grace?
Look also at verses 31-33 and 52-54.
3) Discuss Hugh Capet’s role in canto
XX.
Why is he on the terrace of the Avaricious and the Prodigal?
How does this canto reflect the poet’s views of church and state?
Consider vv. 85-91: reference to Boniface VIII’s imprisonment, Christ’s torture.
How is this reconciled with Dante’s placing of Boniface among the simonist
popes in canto XIX of the inferno? (Simony = buying & selling of holy things)
Hugh Capet condemns his descendants. What does this suggest about
Dante’s view of empire? To what extent is the father responsible for the
sins of the sons and vice versa (the biblical Sins of the father...)?
- What is the significance of the earthquake (v. 127-129) and the souls’
and pilgrim’s response to it?
Genevieve Landis suggested topic:
Pick a character in Purgatory to
compare with a character in Inferno.
(Francesca vs Pia, Sordello vs Farinata). What are the differences and
similarities? How do Virgil and the Pilgrim interact differently with
infernal and purgatorial people?
Professor O'Neil: historical
topics to be added this week.