The Inferno tells the narrative of a man- Dante, who descends to hell and is guided through it by a spiritual companion- the poet Virgil. Throughout the text, we are confronted with images of sin and punishment for those who commit them, their bodies subject to a variety of tortures- tactile, visual, visceral and more. Respond to either one of the two prompts that follow, using quotes and textual evidence to support your response.
a) How do the bodies depicted in the text, showcase the sins that they are associated with? Does the punishment suit the crime? How is the body deconstructed and remade on the basis of the tortures experienced by the sinners? What do these injuries to the soul and the flesh, tell us about how sin is located in the actions of the human in the world of the living?
b) How does the text construct the literary world of The Inferno using the bodies of those who dwell or walk through it? How does Dante’s presence as a living human, shape or remake our understanding of the hellish landscape? Is there a significant difference between the world experienced by Dante and that experienced by a spirit such as Virgil?
Here is the link for the book: https://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/Dante-s-Infer…
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