I noticed after reading my blog posts that I find it difficult to pick out the central idea of each canto and being able to write about it without mentioning other specifics. I like to focus on two ideas rather than one big idea. I also have trouble picking a title for my posts because it’s not something that I normally do for other writings (which is odd to think about because pieces of writing should always include titles). I realized in my writings that I also like to analyze quotes but that’s because I’ve been taught to do this in high school and I feel it always works for me because I understand/ can interpret the text better after analyzing ideas, quotes, characters and so forth. One thing I would like to add/ improve on is including pieces of art/imagery in my posts because I have not done this in my posts, and many students do this, but I don’t. I think visuals will also help me understand the plot and central idea of each canto. I would also like to start commenting on other student’s blog post because I feel it’s an effective way of learning because it’s a type of dialogue that is occurring between two students but through writing (it’s a response and reflect type of learning). After re-reading my posts one recurrent thing I do is incorporate the plot, transitioning to what is happening in the canto transiting to quotes and analyzing the quotes but I feel this has been working for me and will continue to do this. I believe my ideas are clear and thoroughly explained which is important for both reader (other students) and writer (myself). I try to make my ideas as clear as possible compared to other students because when I read something too difficult and complex to understand it makes it harder for me to understand what the writer’s point of view is. I believe writing as simple and as clear as possible is rather difficult than easy but sometimes writing in a simpler way is better. Therefore, I try to make my sentences as clear and concise so that the idea I have in my mind transcribed into my blog posts is not only clear for the students in the class but as well as others reading my post who are not in the classroom with us. Another recurrent theme is that I like to compare and contrast cantos and tie previous cantos to the newly written cantos but doing this allows me to remember the content in a better way because as we keep reading more, I slowly forget bits and pieces, and everything is important.

One part I would like to comment on is from my post blog post six. I wrote “Dante is dependent upon his master not only for physical help, but also for spiritual guidance and moral support. Similar to previous cantos, Dante gains reassurance from Virgil because Virgil’s actions and words can make Dante feel serene because Dante feels the same security in Virgil as when he first met him. Instantaneously when Virgil’s anger vanishes so does Dante’s anxiety. Once Virgil gains his composure, he reveals he is capable of measuring an amount of control over his emotions. This contrasts with the way in which most of the sinners in Hell are prey to their emotions and physical desires such as anger, lust, greed, and so forth. Although Virgil is in one circle of Hell, he is only there because he is not a Christian; he is a pagan. Virgil, however, uses his willpower to master his emotions. Throughout the poem, the ability to master emotions is seen to be a uniquely human characteristic that identifies with human ability.” The reason I like this analysis is because I tied together what we learned in canto 1 about Virgil and how he is a pagan to currently what is happening in canto 24; gathering pieces from previous cantos I was able to relate it to the new content as well as including Dante’s emotion(s), because after all it’s HIS journey.

One thing I would like to clarify/edit is my ideas in blog post four. I write “Dante is growing over the course of his journey, learning from Virgil. Furthermore, Jacopo wants Dante to seek immortality through fame and wants Dante to live on in fame when he dies. Dante however doesn’t want this for himself but instead he seeks to reach a truer form of immortality which is salvation in heaven…” I want to clarify how Dante the pilgrim is growing over the course of his journey. However, Dante (himself, the writer) wants to reach a truer form of immortality which is salvation in Heaven. I believe as Dante the writer continues to write about Dante the pilgrim and the pilgrims journey, the more Dante (the writer) is learning  about himself and his morals through his ‘character’ form – writing helps one express ideas/ reflect on their own well-being and I think Dante (the writer) is doing this through Dante (the pilgrim).

Another part I would like to comment on/reflect on is when I write “Ciacco feels by having his name mentioned will allow himself to alleviate his agony. The important line in this canto written by Dante states, “And my guide said to me: “He’ll rise no more until the blast of the angelic trumpet upon the coming of the hostile Judge.” The reason this line is significant is because Virgil is referring to the last judgement; in which Christ comes down to earth to judge all human souls in which he decides who goes to purgatory (saved souls) and those who go to Hell (the damned souls). However, because the last judgement still hasn’t arrived Ciacco is punished for his gluttony because of his imprudent gratification of drinking and eating excessively, however, the contrapasso is the opposite of this.” I think this part is clearly explained because I was able to speak about thecharacter, reflect on the character by adding a quote from the text, showing the reader my interpretation directly using the text, hence adding clarification. I then explain why the line is significant and WHY the character is punished and why the specific lines chosen are important and relatable to the character. Therefore, for my next blog posts I would like to continue to write like this where my ideas are clearly written and evidently pulled from The Divine Comedy.

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