TO PREPARE FOR EACH CANTO

      Dante’s classic epic has deep symbolism, historical figures, philosophy (political and moral), idealism, spirituality, autobiography, artistry, individualism, community, world-view, various critiques, invitations to personal explorations for the reader – a cosmic poem in many senses of the term! In order to keep our bearings as we travel to Paradise, take notes on your thoughts/reading (date them for the future -- this IS a classic, which means.... more tomorrow, forever!).

1.) Caption: What short, revealing ‘title’ would you give to this Canto, and why? (Hint: Master the “Commentaries”).

2.) What question (created by you) gets at the heart of this Canto’s message, or reveals this Canto’s raison d’être?

3.) What does this Canto show about Dante’s Vision of the Universe? A Big Question here -- Check out the "Notes" for direction & focus.

4.) What does this Canto contribute toward the question of humanity’s “over-weening sense” of importance within the Universe? (Intro, 20) i.e., (Renaissance?) individualism or community or...?

5.) How does this Canto address gender relationships? Is there a hierarchy, an equality, or superiority or....? What is Dante ‘teaching’?

6.) In what ways does this Canto accept or reject “normative” ethics of human life? (e.g., St Francis’ Perfect Joy) What did he hope to teach/present as normative? (in place of...., or corroborating...., or conforming to...., or rebelling against...., or....?)

7.) Did this Canto succeed, or fail, in laying “claim to the serious attention” of me? (Intro, 29) Why, in all honesty? If it failed, nail the reason why.

8.) What does the Four-Fold Interpretive Method add to understanding this Canto? (cf. Sayers intro, Paradise, pp. 44 ff as Dante explains it)

9.) What favorite line would you take away from this Canto?