Unit Test

I was pleased with most of the canto presentations. Thank you for your work.

Your essay is due on Monday. We will finish the Inferno and begin to review for Wednesday's unit test. Begin by looking at the previous posts on this site; you'll find what I've stressed in class and will probably ask on the unit test. There will be many questions from the first six cantos. I tend to ask about mythical characters and sinners and the punishments that seem well connected. The cantos to review are 11,12,13,17,19,20,23,24,25,27, 32,33,34. Review your presentation notes and the summary for each canto. Make sure you review the material covered in the beginning of the unit on Dante's life, the use of numbers, the literary concepts from the text, and the theological connections. Even if you missed a canto presentation, or we did not read it in class, I expect that you will take the time to read it yourself and understand the basics. Use the format of the canto organizer as a tool to help you.

Some more thoughts:

Review notes from the beginning of the unit. Look on Student Public for the Dante PowerPoint presentations for fun facts that might appear on tests. Look at definitions for free will, allegory, parody, satire, imagery, King of Time. Review facts such as:

Dante goes to the Inferno to recognize sin
He goes to Purgatorio to renounce sin
This journey is a quest and his 'neukia'
The long list of mythical creatures (Centaurs, Minos, Minotaur, Charon, Styx)
Minos condemns sinner to their circle by wrapping his tail
Why the number 3 is important (Trinity)
That Dis is Lucifer and a parody of the Trinity
Dante starts his journey in the 'Dark Wood of Error'
His journey is an allegory

No voice today

How appropriate - my punishment in the Inferno is to have so much to say to you but to then cough so much I lose my voice.

Start with the SAT schema. You will have 10 minutes to complete the reading and questions.

After, you will have the rest of class to complete the outlines due tomorrow and begin the draft essay due on Friday. These dates are firm and no late work will be accepted.

The outlines will look something like this (which we discussed before)

I. Thesis Statement (I'd also suggest you develop your opening sentence)
II. Topic Sentence
A. Supporting quote - (canto. lines) example - X.23-24 (I'd suggest you write out the quote)
III. Topic sentence
A. Supporting quote
IV. Topic sentence
A. Supporting quote
V. Conclusion

Again, a good outline will also have more detail such as introductions to the quotes and followup sentences. Also, because of the blog format, the outline is not exactly as we discussed. Use the format with which you are most comfortable -just make sure you have the information necessary to complete the draft.

Your outline is easily expanded into your essay.

Welcome back!

Dis and the final ring of the Inferno, Cocytus

We will continue with the Dante Canto PowerPoint presentations. You are responsible for keeping notes since the Unit Test will include information from the student presentations. I will point out the more important sins, sinners, and punishments. I will review the final cantos with you. We finally reach Cocytus this week, the area of the great traitors and Dis.

Now, we have a lot on our plate for the remaining weeks of school. This week you will work on you essays. the outline is due on Thursday, the draft is due for peer review on Friday, and the final draft is due Monday. Please see me if you have questions.

The keys to a strong essay are a strong thesis, strong topic sentences, and supporting you ideas with references and quotes from the text. I will review thesis statements and topic sentences early this week. I know we've done this before, but it is still worth reviewing again.

The Unit test will be on Tuesday. We will review later this week and on Monday.

We start Shakespeare next week - Henry V and her sonnets. I hope you're as excited as I am.

Canto projects

Now it is your turn to teach Dante!
Make sure you read the Canti before and after the canto you are going to teach. Many of the canti merge and mesh into each other. Make sure you follow the rubric, provide all the information and address all the issues. Connect the text to the ideas we discussed . Finally, create a PowerPoint that is clear and effective.

Dante's Inferno

Minos - by Michelangelo

So we begin another descent into the underworld - Dante's nekuia. In this case it the underworld of a Catholic/Christian mind. Dante takes us on a journey of discovery. In the Inferno, Dante takes on a journey to recognize sin. The second step of the journey, Purgatorio, is to renounce sin, and then we are fit for Paradiso. The three books make up Dante's great opus, The Divine Comedy.

Canto I finds Dante lost in the Dark Wood of Error. He see a light on a hilltop and walks toward it only to be blocked by the three beasts of worldliness: leopard, lion and she-wolf. He is saved by the Roman poet, Virgil, who was sent by Dante's great love, Beatrice.

Canto II is the descent to and through the Gate of Hell - ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.

Canto III is where we meet out first group of sinners, The Opportunist, who are so bad they aren't allowed in the Inferno, but are in the Vestibule of Hell. We see our first major sinner, a Pope of all people, Celestine V. Celestine's placement here is an example of irony and satire. Keep in mind the punishment of bees, wasps, maggots, and the wavering banner.

In Canto IV we meet the Virtuous Pagans in Limbo. They are not physically punished but are never to see the light of God, which leaves them hopeless. Homer is here along with many other ancient philosophers and characters.

Homework: Read Canti VI and VII and complete the reading worksheets. Use the Danteworld website for help.

Quiz on reading tomorrow.