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