The Inferno Commentary

Abigail Larson-Barker
Ms. Peifer
English 10 Accelerated
Due: 23 January 2012

Lustful Sinners

“-Of love in us thou hast so desire, I will do even as he who weeps and speaks. One day we reading were for our delight of Launcelot, how Love did him enthrall. Alone we were and without any fear. Full many a time our eyes together drew that reading, and drove the color from our faces; but one point only kissed,  this man, who ne’er from me shall be divided, kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating. Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein.’ And all the while one spirit uttered this, the other one did weep so, that, for pity, I swooned away as if I had been ding, and fell, even as a dead body falls.” (The Inferno, Dante Alighieri, Canto V lines 125-142).

This passage, found in Dante’s The Inferno, is significant due to the reinforcement of the Second Circle’s theme of Lust, as well as showing the humanity of the character Dante. The Second Circle found within the nine versions of Hell, is introduced for its punishment towards lustful sinners. This passage located in the fifth canto consists of literary devices: connotation, alliteration and imagery to strengthen the theme of lust, as well as; similes to bring more description to the main character Dante.
Within the first line of this passage, connotation is used by adding an emotional overtone to the definition of love, where the text states “Of love in us thou hast so great desire” (125). This is used effectively in the text by creating an even more overwhelming emotion to the theme of Lust. The connotation is said in the diction by one of the sinners themselves, when as they state that love is of ‘so great desire’, the text strictly shows and illuminates how strong these sinners feel for the need of lust and love. As connotation creates strong emotions, alliteration brings rhythm.
        The sinner continues to speak as she tells her story of lust but as she brings this emotion, the author does not neglect the rhythm that may also be used to reinforce this overall theme of lust in this particular circle. By using alliteration the diction creates rhythm by stating, “Alone we were and without any fear” (129). By using this alliteration, the sinner is not only speaking of how love and lust conquers all fears, but also the author creates a strong sense of rhythm within the text at the same time. As the text states ‘we were and without any fear’ it is almost as a melody of words is spoken, to only reinforce the strong sense of sinners and theme is held within this Second Circle of Lust. Now however, as the author has expressed emotion and rhythm, the sense of imagery is left to create an overwhelming idea of this Circle of Lust.
        As the passage nears the end of its canto, imagery is introduced to the diction as a key piece to enforcing the theme of the Second Circle of Lust. The sinner states, “When as we read of the much longed-for smile being by such a noble lover kissed, this man, who ne’er from me shall be divided, kissed me upon the mouth all palpitation” (133-136). The imagery stated brings a sense of symbolic lust into view as the sinner had stated ‘Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitation’, explaining how a kiss could create the strongest of heart beats. This imagery adds to already strong impact left by the author within the text, to enforce how such strong literary devices can enforce a strong sense of place and emotion. Apart from the previous literary devices mentioned, similes also had a large impact within the fifth canto.
        The very last line of this canto contained similes that brought a sense of value to the main character Dante. After the sinner had spoken the words of a lustful story, diction that concluded in narration of Dante stated, “The other did weep so, that, for pity, I swooned away as if I had been dying, and fell, even as a dead body falls” (140-142). This quotation not only expressed the strong emotion left from the story of lust that the sinner had spoken, but it also expresses the humanity and values found within Dante’s own heart. When Dante states ‘and fell, even as a dead body falls’ , it is a simile used symbolically to show how such lustful stories of love can bring pain to a man as strong as death. This in itself is a value of Dante learned in this passage.
        This passage shows and enforces the whole idea of Lust and love, bringing not only a strong theme of the Second Circle but also characteristics of Dante himself. By showing the desire, the ambition, the palpation and the dangers of the heart within this fifth canto, is merely one example of how Dante, brings The Inferno to life.  

Beowulf Commentary: "God-Cursed Brute"

Abigail Larson-Barker
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB
19 December 2011

God-Cursed Brute

“So, after nightfall, Grendel set out/ for the lofty house, to see how the Ring-Danes/ were settling into it after their drink,/ and there he came upon them, a company of the best/ asleep from their feasting , insensible to pain/ and human sorrow. Suddenly then/ the God-cursed brute was creating havoc:/ greed and grim, he grabbed thirty men/ from their resting places and rushed them to his lair,/ flushed up and inflamed from the raid,/ blundering back with the butchered corpses./ Then as dawn brightened and the day broke/ Grendel’s powers of destruction were plain:/ their wassail was over, they wept to heaven/ and mourned under morning. Their mighty prince,/ the storied leader, sat stricken and helpless,/ humiliated by the loss of his guard,/ bewildered and stunned, staring aghast/ at the demon’s trail, in deep distress” (Beowulf, 115-130).

Between the lines 115-130, found in the story of Beowulf, this passage is significant because of the imagery and sensory detailed introduction it gives to the most horrific character Grendel. Not only does the passage bring personality to the dark and “grim”(Beowulf, 122) character, but the author of Beowulf, also explains Grendel’s “powers of destruction”(127) and how that power brings death among the people. This death that Grendel creates, introduces the strong element of Evil. This evil is contrasted by the Good of the warrior Beowulf himself, or in this particular passage, compared to the good prince of that land. This specific passage brings a strong emotional aspect of sorrow, pain, and pure darkness.

Grendel’s character is one to be feared when merely imagined, and in Beowulf the unknown author created  a characterization of Grendel by using several literary devices such as, alliteration, symbolic diction, imagery and tone. Alliteration was used almost every four lines, creating a rhythm of dark emotion. Just after the break of dawn, as Grendel had murdered, the people were spoken to have “wept to the heavens and mourned under morning”(128-129). This alliteration not only enforced great sorrow within the text, but also created an enchanting yet eerie rhythm, by cooing the words “mourned under morning”, bringing darkness to the brightest time of day as an example of the destruction Grendel has brought.

One of the stronger literary devices used at the end of this passage was symbolic diction. At the end of the quotation, as the good prince is distressed because of what Grendel has done, Beowulf describes these actions as the “demon’s trail”(133). This symbolism brings definition to not only the emotion of the prince and his people, but also definition of Grendel’s personality by dramatic rendition. Grendel himself did not create a literal trail in which someone could follow, but less literally created a path of destruction. This destruction brought horror and fear among the people, leaving the prince in sorrow. These actions of Grendel explain his more inner self, because he is of pure evil, “insensible to pain and human sorrow”(119-120).

Imagery was the next literary device, powerful in bringing the image of Grendel and his horrid actions to life.  As Grendel brings havoc among the people, he does not hesitate brutality, as the texts states, “he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair, flushed up and inflamed from the raid, blundering back with the butchered corpses”(122-125). Describing for the sense of vision, the diction brings this imagery to life as you can see the brutally “butchered corpses” and the anger bestowed on Grendel's “flushed up and inflamed” features. This imagery empowers the danger and darkness of Grendel, as well as his fearful emotions that follow.

Tone was to be found in and along with the other literary devices, it created the fear that is to be interpreted along with the characterization of Grendel. As Grendel first sets out on his journey, the passage introduces Grendel, “The God-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim” (121-122).  The words “God-cursed brute” right away bring a distressing and Gothic sound to the mere idea of Grendel. However, before the introduction of the paragraph concludes, the diction also exclaims that Grendel is not only greedy but also of a “grim” essence creating a haunting tone that cannot be ignored.

This passage is full of powerful descriptive diction, transforming the horrific character of the monstrous Grendel off the page and into detailed imagination. Though evil, Grendel is apart of the heroic Beowulf, he is the evil that contrasts and completes the good. Within this text, enriched alliteration that created a rhythm of darkness as well as powerful disturbing imagery created and characterize this evil, to the point of almost overwhelming emotion of; sorrow, pain, and darkness. Through many literary devices, this passage is apart from many others in the story of Beowulf, for it brings life to the demonic character of Grendel.

Antigone Essay : "Tragic Heroine"

Tragic Heroine

Antigone is a heroine that sacrifices her simplistic world for one much more dangerous and looked down upon in the name of her beloved brother’s spirit. Antigone is charged guilty for the crimes she committed against the law put down by the king, however she is innocent and her heart pure.

Antigone mentions several times that she is only doing her following actions for the loyalty that she has for her brother Polyneices. Antigone states with strong confidence, “I’ll do my duty to my brother—and yours as well, if you’re not prepared to. I won’t be caught betraying him”(Sophocles,64-66). When Antigone refers to ‘duty’ she is saying that as a sister to a brother, through loyalty and love, it is the least she can do to bring him happiness in the afterlife, even if it does conclude in her own horrid death.

Antigone is a tragic heroine because, even though all she has done is for the will of her brother, she is seen dead hanged by her own hands. Earlier Antigone had spoke with no hesitation, "So be what you want. I’ll still bury him. It would be fine to die while doing that" (88-89). In this quotation, Antigone accepts the fact that she may have to even face the horrors of death to complete the honorable deed of burying her dearest brother and coincidentally Antigone's world concludes in just that... The messenger describes her death as, “In the furthest corner of the tomb we saw Antigone hanging by the neck, held up in a noose—fine woven linen”(1358-1360). The detailed description brings a memorable yet graphic ending to Antigone’s long and courageous journey.

Antigone is innocent for her heart of purity and her actions only done for her beloved brother, even if the charges against her are named guilty. Antigone is strong, loyal, confident, and willing to sacrifice her own life for the happiness of another, therefore she is a heroine in her own time… A courageous and purely innocent woman to be look up to as a respectable example of how a sister should care for and love a brother. 

First Draft of Biography

Happiness after Horror

Twenty one years after her birth on December 8^th 1963, Virginia Thompson took her first steps in her forever changing and new world. Graduating from High School, her story begins as she steps into the world of college and independence, where lessons begin to be learned. Unfortunately, her first steps soon turned into stumbles as a downward spiral of obstacles challenged her to face the true world, and find happiness buried beneath its rigid surface.

Within the first year of college, Virginia met a handsome and very persuading man whom convinced her she had found true romance, and true bliss. This resulted in her first born, Craig. Craig was a beautiful baby boy, and even through the beginning chaos of freshmen studies, he was the most spectacular and most precious baby she had ever held- and with this, motherhood began. Though a determined student throughout high school, her grades began to drop and she attended less and less of her classes as she stayed at home to watch her child. Her previous dreams that held visions of a successful career and simplistic life began to disappear frantically as each sleepless night passed her by. Within the next five or six years, not only had she stopped going to college, but soon gave birth to two more children; Cole, who was born in 1990 and Courtney born the following year after.

            By this time, Virginia had moved into her first house, unemployed, and became a full time a stay at home mom with three newborns. Her nights were long, and the love her children, being the only thing keeping her on her feet at the end of a dreadful week. The father of her children, still around and still holding her under his convincing words of so called love, purposed to her to live their lives together. With an innocent and naive heart, she said yes with out much thought, unaware of her commitment also, to his hidden drug addiction.
            By 1984, the couple was married, and already moved into their second home. Virginia’s heart, however, was filled with much confusion.  Coming out of college, she had been aware of him casually smoking marijuana, fore it was common among their age group and it was to be expected. However, as they grew older, Virginia realized the idea of addiction forming within her husband. He became distant, very easily anxious, and began to hide his usage of pot as they began to live miserable and separate lives. Her worries began to slowly grow into anger, as his addiction pulled the family apart. Constant fighting fled through the walls of the house causing tension through the innocence of the children, and an ongoing growth of a beautiful family turning into a damaged household. The children grew cautious and confused, and she felt trapped in a world of lies and guilt.

Her angered tears overtime turned her into a person of saddened visions, built up anger, and a woman filled of only disappointment. However, still young and still full with life, Virginia believed full heartily she could change her husband, make him a better father and less of an addict.

            However, Virginia was alone in this belief. Her mother, full of discomfort toward her husband, would constantly comment, and question, “When are you going to get rid of that Asshole?”  Rage filled within every word. Not only had her husband began to come between their immediate family, but now began to out reach to her other loved ones as well. Her friends, also, would subtlety point out his problems that were not compatible with raising a family, just as commonly. Her world began to spin to the point where she was not aware of what was right or wrong, and the only hope she held on to was for the aspiring love for her children.
            So, this did not stop her strongest of efforts to confront her husband and convince him to change, therefore she told him of her concerns, her worries, and her stress. Yet, as others had predicted this led to only more conflict and loathing.  She began to force him to get help and counseling, her voice becoming more of a stranger as she screamed at him through each painstaking night, until he would finally give in and stop his horrid addiction... However, this neglect of his addiction would only last a few years, until the process of this ugly event would repeat itself over and over. He would gradually begin to smoke behind her back, each and every time he would have claimed to stop, he would care hesitantly towards his children, and over and over again continue to disappoint as a worthy husband and father. This was, wistfully, the only life she knew.
            It wasn’t until 2005, as her first born son was away in Iraq, did life, or even a higher power, send her an event to waken her from her hypnotic repetition of a life. One evening, a skip in the record player of her repetitive night, sent a chaotic crisis event into her world. Unexpectedly, on July forth, as the fireworks of rainbow showers exploded above, her husband began to cringe in pain from not one, but two menacing heart attaches, in which created a living nightmare on an evening of celebration.
            Months later, he lay in a hospital bed with even more health deficiencies concluding from his usage of marijuana. As she stood watching him in inevitable pain, helpless to his addiction, Virginia came to her first clear thought in many years… This was not the life, she wanted to be living. She was angry with this life, or rather, the life she gave up and continued to sacrifice for this man. He would always need her to care for him and his addiction; yet he is supposed to care for their children, and care for her with love, in which he did neither.  
            In 2006, as she turned forty, she knew that she could not fool herself anymore, and needed to make a change. It was that year; the downward spiral came to its long awaited end.  Her first movement towards resurfacing herself began when she filed for a divorce. The divorce had been a struggle to fight for her happiness, and dread over her children, however it concluded in a world worth fighting for. The children, of course were conflicted, yet they were old enough to see the truth hidden in the lie beneath the very thin surface of their life. So, they stood along side their mother as she fought against this world for what she knew she and her children deserved.

Soon after, she went back to college, and began a new adventure into the life she in the end, truly had wished to live many years before. As she took up a new job, and gathered up the money to support her remaining children in school, she fought through the hardships of being a single mother in a failing economy. Her sometimes multiple jobs and school kept her busy during the day, and her mid to early aged teenagers at home kept her on her feet till the darkest times of the night. This once wistful life she had led before became almost intoxicating with excitement and new challenges each day that she faced with ambition.

            After fighting the divorce and war of realization of a horrid life, she overcame the denial and the once fear of embarrassment to start anew. This achievement brought strength to her fragile bones. As she took up school, she began to get the education she had always dreamed of and the confidence towards the world around her that she always needed. Resulting in her becoming more social and trusting of the people around her, creating a more humble and stable being with an environment of loving friends to support her on her utmost sorrowful days.
            By surrounding herself in an expanding community of college and new  aspiring students such as herself, they began to teach her to be more open towards acquaintances and “see people through rose colored pedals” , thus filling her bitter grown heart with its long awaited reunion with purity and kindness.  She began to see the anew, and ever so slowly, a smile once again grew to find comfort upon her face.
            In 2010, she graduated from college a new person, with all new hopes and dreams she never thought she could have been possible to strive towards before. Virginia also had began dating again, and in the mix found another man in search of any sign of true and pure romantic love still left in this world of deception. Together they found innocence, hope, and real love, something both had longed for, for many years and the more time spent together, the more they began to see that the world is not of deception but rather of challenges each one of us must fight through, to find the true bliss at the end of the each long and nearly forbidden trek that awaits each individual.

Virginia’s life went on, and she learned to not base any decision on what you may fear, but go forward. That one must pay for guidance, and know, that it is possible find happiness after the most dreadful of horrors.

About Me

My name is Abigail and I go to Central Senior High School. My life isn't much more than ordinary, yet at the same time I try to make my life into something more than what it is. I try to create an adventure out of what I am given, so I can live my life and be grateful for what I have. Also, I try very strongly to be optimistic and I will always love my family of friends I am surrounded by, no matter what ever else changes as my life will go on. As for hobbies, I love to read, to get lost in the stories and worlds of the authors, and  have always been a fan of creativity and art.
My friends help me get through most of my life standing on my feet, and I couldn't be more happy. I love my family, my brother, and I smile at the fact that we are hypocritical to the stereotypes of rival siblings. Through the wars that I am fighting  at home, my brother is always by my side, and my friends there for me when I need them.
I hope to one day see and travel the world and go on a adventure that will not only bring a firey spirit to my life but also effect the people I meet along the way. Though over said, and dreamed by countless individuals, I want to change the world - even if it is only a little bit. I don't need to be a super star, nor do I need to have all the materialistic riches in the world... in the end, I truely just want to live and fulfill a happy life worth remembering.