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Dante the Fanboy//Haylee Lynd

     


 The biggest question I had while reading Dante's Inferno was "Why Virgil?" Why does this one poet get to represent human reason and lead Dante through Hell? Then, I realized...Virgil has already led someone through Hell, Aeneas. Now, this is metaphorical. Virgil does not literally lead Aeneas through Hell as he does in Dante's Inferno. Rather, he write Aeneas' journey through the underworld in The Aeneid. By writing Virgil into his story, Dante in a way gives credit to his inspiration. 

     The similarities between the two works is, obviously, that they are both written as Epic journeys. Also, both are led by a guide. Aeneas is led by the Sybil, a priestess, of Apollo's temple, while Dante is led by Virgil. In addition, they both contain many sections within them designated to certain types of individuals and sinners. Virgil's version of the Underworld includes a place just inside the gate for the dead souls who have not received proper burial and are, thus, refused passage across the river by Charon; the Fields of Mourning, for those who died from love; a fortress in which the most terrible sinners receive punishment; and the Blessed Groves, where the good wander about in peace and comfort. Dante's version of the Underworld has nine circles, and similar to Virgils's version, punishments get worse as one descends the circles. 


P.S. I commented on Lily's and Madalyn's blog posts.

Comments

  1. Emma Kate PattersonMarch 16, 2021 at 8:56 AM

    I like how you related the current book we are reading to another book you have already read. I think it is cool how the two tie in together and I think we can learn so much more when we can relate one book to another book.

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  2. Logan TurnerMarch 16, 2021 at 9:40 AM

    I never really thought to make the connection between the Aeneid and Dante's choice of Virgil as the guide. Now that I think of it, it does make sense. Like you said, Virgil metaphorically guides Aeneas through the Underworld, and literally guides Dante in Inferno. It really makes you wonder how Virgil would have interpreted Dante's version of Hell.

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