Part 1
Introduction
This essay presents a comparative analysis of two important texts covered in class: Ovid's Metamorphoses-Book 10 and Dante's Inferno-Canto 13. In this paper, I have taken a structured approach towards presenting what I think are the most important arguments of these two texts. I have discussed the themes of "Will vs Fate" and the "Inseparability of Body and Soul". This essay also includes other micro-themes, imagery and an analysis of the structure of the text itself. However, the analysis of Book 10 is limited to what is relevant and has been covered in the lectures.
Structure & History
Dante Alghieri is one of the most important literary figures in the history of Italy. His text 'The Divine Comedy' is the story of Dante's travels through hell, purgatory and the heavens with the poet Virgil. In this essay we will focus on the 13th Canto of Inferno which is set in the second ring of the seventh circle of hell. The poem uses a rhyme scheme first introduced by Dante known as 'Terza Rima'. This rhyme scheme uses a stanza composed of three lines. In this stanza the first and the third lines rhyme. An example of this is shown below:
Quivi le brutte Aprie lor nidi fanno,
Che cacciar de le Strofade i Troiani Con tristo annunzio di futuro danno.
Several paintings and works of art were influenced by Dante's vivid depiction of hell and paradise. It goes without saying that this text is of great importance. However, it is paramount to discuss why this text was written. Dante wrote this text on exile. It was an extremely lonely time in his life, and thus he dedicated his time to write this text. His purpose was to analyse the ethical problems of life and how the devotion to Christian faith can help a human prevent an afterlife of eternal damnation. However, this is highly debatable.
What is more interesting is that Dante had read our second text, "Metamorphoses" by Ovid. It is needless to say that Dante was inspired by Ovid's writings and incorporated certain elements to the *Commedia.*The Metamorphoses consists of 15 books, and follows a narrative structure. It is a poem, however there is a flexible structure to the entire text. This is known as "dactylic hexameter".
Ovid was a popular Roman poet and he started to write the metamorphoses in the 2nd AD. Ovid's metamorphoses is a highly complex poem, however it covers all what Ovid thought was before humanity to what was happening in his present. I will go over the mirroring effect of the themes of these two texts in the upcoming sections.
Summary of The Texts
Book 10 of Metamorphoses focuses on Orpheus and his journey through hell to save his love Eurydice. Orpheus, a Demi-God, was a musician and a poet during ancient Greece. The main focus of this text is when Eurydice is killed by the venom of a viper. Orpheus crosses the river Styx, which allows him to enter the underworld. There he begs the Gods Proserpina and Pluto to restore the life of his wife. After they grant his wish and after a failed attempt to bring back Eurydice back to the human world, Orpheus expresses his melancholy through another song. There are a few sub-plots in Book 10, however they are not important for the analysis of this paper.
Canto 13 follows the story of Dante with the poet Virgil in the second ring of the seventh circle of hell. These two travellers enter a forest filled with the damned. The woods are filled with trees who were once men but were condemned to this circle of hell as they committed violence against themselves. The forest is aptly named, 'The Wood of Suicides'. Dante gives a grave description of the horror and the mythological creatures he witnesses in the forest. Dante uses this opportunity to further his belief in Chrsitian faith, the entire purpose of Canto 13 is to build on top of what already has been said about sins and the gifts of God to humanity.
Part 2:
Comparative Analysis Imagery