Being that taking this class was the first I was hearing of Dante’s Divine Comedy, I have had no prior knowledge to the Inferno. It has been quite confusing for me and difficult to translate the symbolism and the metaphors depicted by the Author Dante, and the Characters, Dante and Virgil as they travel through the rings into the underworld.

The blogs that I have posted I believe reflect on this confusion that I have experienced and I think that the reflection posts forced me to re-read my own words and try to figure out why I was so confused. In my first blog post, I had more of an understanding of what was happening within the first few cantos. It was simply Dante and Virgil begining their journey into hell, trying to decide if Dante was awake or alive (or dead?) Which I now think that he might either be dreaming or actually already.

I think the ongoing theme of symbolism surrounding sin in the cantos is what sticks out to me most. The constant mention of sin and the different circles that they fall in could be on purpose by Dante which I am thinking could put the worst sins to the least severe in order. I think I will explore that as I re-read the Cantos leading up to the midterm and final papers.

Finally, to further my understanding of the cantos, like one of my classmates had done I think it would be a good practice to imagine my own truths and beliefs as a different image to relate more and have a more exciting experience reading and dissecting this work of poetry. .

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