Pan's Labyrinth

“Pan’s Labyrinth” resembles a fairy tale in many ways. Ofelia, or princess Moanna, loved reading fairy tales, which her step-father thought were corrupting her. Everything she imagines is that of a fairy tale. A fairy shows her to the faun where she is said to be a princess, another aspect of fairy tales. She was asked to accomplish three tasks so she is does not have to remain a mortal and die all the other humans. At first when she obeys the faun things go well. For example, when she placed the milk with that infant-like person in it under her mother’s bed, her mother was getting better. When Ofelia ate some grapes after being told not to her mother ending up getting very sick from the baby and dies. This shows an aspect of realism. Again, life is not a fairy tale. Things like war and death are unavoidable. The roles of women during this time period are also shown in this movie. It seems that Captain Vidal was not so proud of where his wife came from and was only worried about getting his baby boy to continue on in his footsteps when he dies. The women are constantly cleaning and taking care of everyone. It is clear that he men are in charge. In the end of the movie, after she, Captain Vidal, and her mother are dead Ofelia ends up with her parents in her fantasy world. The story is happy in that sense. She never stopped imagining and believing, which allowed her to return to her fantasy family.

Run Lola Run

“Run Lola Run” was like a fairy tale/fantasy in the sense that the story repeated three times and in the last time telling the story there was a happy ending. The first two times the story did not have a good outcome. The first time Lola gets shot, the second time Manni gets run over by the ambulance, and the third time, of course, is the happy ending. Manni got the bag of money from the “Cyclops” which is a mythical creature. As Lola is running to get the money to Manni, the people she runs into also get hurt, or receive a good fortune. The third time the story repeated it seemed as if the good people received a good fortune and something unfortunate happened to the people who acted immoral. For example: the bike the boy was riding was actually stolen, so the third time around he was not so lucky. Reality plays a role in this movie by showing that you get what you deserve in life. In reality, there are no second chances, unlike this movie. There is also a play on time. The first two times she arrives to Manni a minute too late. The final time the story was told, Lola was able to get the money and make it to Manni to find out he got the money back from the homeless guy. In the end Manni and Lola had a happy ending.

The Ogre (Day 4)

“Tiffauges, you are a reader of signs- I could see it, and you have proved it to me…Signs are strong Tiffauges- it is they that brought you here…Your vocation has revealed to you phoria, malign inversion and saturation…For these symbols are diabols, and no longer symbolize anything. And saturation with them brings the end of the world” (303). Tiffauges’ participation in bringing the boys to these Napolas is his contribution to the war. He does not realize what he is doing, but really he is helping to bring the “end of the world.” Of course, his intentions were never to bring harm to the boys so he carries Ephraim on his shoulders and tried to be his protection. “Ephraim,” said Tiffauges, “I’ve lost my glasses. I can hardly see. You’ll have to guide me.” The head usually represents Christ, a child and intellect, and here Ephraim could symbolize all three. Ephraim is a young child guiding Tiffauges.

“He had to make a superhuman effort now to overcome the vicious resistance grinding in his belly and breast, but he preserved, knowing al was as it should be. When he turned to look up for the last time at Ephraim, all he saw was a six-pointed star turning slowly against the black sky” (370). I saw this ending of the story as redemptive because we have Tiffauges acting more as a human and less as an ogre, a mythical character. Tiffauges could not make a superhuman effort and get himself out of this one. He protected Ephraim and tried to lead him to safety. Instead, Ephraim ended up guiding him. Since, Ephraim did seem to symbolize Christ and they did end up sinking in the mud, Tiffauges realized this was his fate and how things were supposed to be.

The Ogre (Day 3)

2. Throughout The Ogre there has been several references to animals, for example when Tiffauges nurtured the pigeons. While in Rominten, however, he is instructed to kills the animals. He was given the role of slaughterer and even though he found it cruel “it was charged with meaning and therefore beneficient.” He almost fainted when he killed his first one by killing it with a “pistol shot behind the ear.” This shows the Gilles et Jeanne or Weidmann side of Tiaffauges that he often compares himself to. Instead of caring for animals and acting motherly to them he is killing them without the intent or even desire to eat them afterwards. Although he is given this new role, he is still deeply pained at the sight of the dead horse. On his way back from Goldap he encountered Aurochs, a prehistoric animal that Dr. Lutz Heck tried to crossbreed with bulls to try re-create the original aurochs. “The Master of the Hunt howled with laughter and slapped his thighs” at each new fact that Tiffauges told him about his encounter with the animals. “Then Tiffauges was chaffed about his glasses: perhaps the magnifying lenses had made him mistake some rabbits for giant bulls.” Tiffauges then realized the masters “hatred for men in glasses, who for them embodied intelligence, study speculation. In short, the Jew.” Here he is being referred to as a Jew. Tiffauges is under Hitlers’s control, but he is blind as to what is really going on around him. The aurochs could represent the Jews in a sense because the aurochs were domestic animals that were killed huge numbers that led to their extinction. Similarly, the Jews are being killed in huge numbers, as well.

3. Bluebeard serves as a mirror image for Abel. “For a while the pigeons of Rhine had been first his conquests and then his beloved children, it was really himself he was tending when he devoted himself to his horse. And it was a revelation, this reconciliation with himself, this affection for his own body…” (223). This horse represents Abel. They had to find a horse large enough to carry Abel and this one could carry three of him. This is similar to Abel because he likes to carry children. So when he says that it was himself that he was tending to when he took care of the horse, it is because the horse represents Abel.

The Ogre (Day 2)

Something that I found interesting was when Abel compared himself to Eugene Weidmann. “He’s nearly six foot three and weighs two hundred and forty-five pounds. Exactly like me” (95). Weidmann was a murderer of seven people. Abel brings this back up again on 114, “Every day I read the reports of Eugene Weidmann’s trial. Not only does the sight of all society seeking the destruction of this one man…but it’s as if fate were going out of its way to make him and me alike.” Abel went on to say that Eugene committed all of his sinister crimes with his left hand; just like Abel write his sinister writings with his left hand. The fact that they both write with their left hand represents their superiority of other people, but also foretells the bad heading their way later on. Eugene is the last person to be executed in France. Also, society looks at them both as monsters. What these men do society sees as horrific and wrong. Murder is wrong, but I supposed they both had their personal motives for what they did.

Another aspect of the reading I found interesting was Abel and his camera. “I enjoy being equipped with a huge leather-clad sex whose Cyclopean eye opens like lightening when I command it to look, and closes again inexorably on what it has seen. It is a marvelous organ, seer and remembrancer…” (103). It is interesting that Abel personifies this camera by calling it an organ and also gives it monstrous characteristics. Abel’s sexuality is other and he is viewed more as a monster. He gets pleasure from taking pictures of these children. The camera he uses is what helps him get this pleasure, since he is neither homosexual nor heterosexual.

The Ogre (Day 1)

Question 1: At the beginning of the novel Abel explains how Rachel used to call him an ogre, “a fabulous monster emerging from the mist of time.” He believes there is something mystical about himself, but in order to fit in, he cannot act as a monster. Monsters are usually pointed at and are more “exhibited” he explained. His career of running a Parisian garage could be a way of fitting in with society. Although he is called an ogre he has a completely normal job. The term ogre is used in a “metaphorical sense to disgusting persons who exploit, brutalize or devour their victims” (wikipedia.com). This term could be used then as a metaphor to the nazis.

Question 2: “But the reason I’m sitting down for a second time with my pen in my left hand, in front of this blank sheet of paper-the third page of my “Sinister Writings”- is that I’m standing at a crossroads…” (4-5). Crossroad are where things meet, both physical and abstract. Perhaps, it is Abel himself who is the abstract one. He is called an Orge so he is misunderstood. His “Sinister Writings” allow him to be himself. The way he thinks is also abstract. “I’ve always been shocked at the frivolous way people agonize about what’s going to happen to them after they die and don’t give a damn about what happened to them before they were born. The heretofore is just as important as the hereafter, especially as it probably holds the key to it.” (1). He believes he is from the “mists of times” which represents his “supernatural powers.” The term ogre is often used in fantasies and fairy tales, which would make sense that he has a mystical side. When he writes in his diary he can escape from his garage, his “paltry” or worthless, preoccupations and from himself. He believes everything happens for a reason so the time before birth would of course be just as important as the time after.

100 Years of Solitude (Day 4)

After it rained for five years a flood occurred and wiped away all of the banana plantations and Aureliano Segundo’s animals (which were his fortune). Once the banana plantations were washed away it was as if the massacre never happened, it erased the memories of the past. In the story of Noah’s Ark in the Bible, God sent the flood to get rid of the all the evil and corruption on earth. Here in One Hundred Years of Solitude the flood plays the same role. Macondo was constantly declining until finally incest and modernity corrupted the whole town. The flood symbolized the removal of all the evil and memories of the evil from the past and for a new start.

Ursula shrinking and becoming like a doll serves as a metaphor for the town. She has become so old and senile that she serves no purpose anymore but to tell tales from the past. She was full of wisdom and held the Buendia family together. She always feared that incest would be the end of the family and at the end Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano’s do have a child with a pig-tale. Since Ursula was the strongest character in the novel and worked to keep the family together, she could represent the end of Macondo. After her death it shows that the end of the city is near. With Amaranta and Aureliano’s son being born with a pig-tail it shows the ultimate sign of incest, the thing that Ursula worried about most.

100 Years of Solitude (Day 3)

Ferdnanda is a very religious and prude person. She was raised from a rich family of aristocrats and was bound for great things in her life. She is looked down upon by the Buendia family because she is not from Maconda. Aureliano Segundo married her, but he is unfaithful to her with Petra. He seeks pleasure from her because his wife is so prude and because his animals reproduce everytime they have sex. Fernanda becomes stern and tried to impose things on the Buendia family that they are not accustomed to, such as religion and its view on sex. Yet, they end up having two children together.

The arrival of modern technology had to do with the invention of the railroad. New technology was being brought in. This kind of confused the inhabitants of Macondo in a sense. The people who live there have seen magic before, but not this modern new town of theirs. Their town is very cosmopolitan now, but also confusing and chaotic. This town was supposed to be controlled and orderly, but all the uproar attracts new inhabitants. Remedios is the only one unfazed by the rapid growth of the town. Remedios is too simple and innocent for this new world she is living in.

100 Years of Solitude (Day 2)

Tragedy or death is one theme we can say that is apparent in these chapters, specifically chapter 7. In this chapter we have the mysterious death of Jose Arcadio. It is not evident how he died, but it is nonetheless tragic. Here we also have his wife becoming a hermit. She went on to live life alone in grief. Jose Arcadio Buendia dies next after living along outside tied to a tree for years. The yellow flowers falling from the sky represents his death. In chapter 8 Aureliano Buendia is killed by a soldier. Following his death is Jose Raquel Moncada. Like the repetitive deaths, incest has showed up a couple times. Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula are cousins who eloped and had children together and Aureliano Buendia sleeps naked with his lonely aunt Amaranta. So the theme of tragedy within the family and death is very evident within these chapters.

Another Theme that keeps appearing throughout the novel thus far is solitude. We start off with Jose Arcadio Buendia secluding himself in the laboratory working on experiments and then later on being tied to a tree. In a sense his wife Ursula lives in solitude, as well because her insane husband does not provide much company to her. He remained there alone until his death years later. Rebeca slipped into solitude after the mysterious death of her husband, Jose Arcadio. She keeps herself in her house to dwell on the memories and her husband.

100 Years of Solitude (Day 1)

1. Jose Arcadio Buendia is a very important character in this book because he always seems to be exploring and looking for new knowledge. He wants to progress forward into more modern times, but his wife is there to keep him grounded and realistic. Jose Arcadio Buendia found Macondo and tried to connect it with civilization. In chapter three the entire becomes infected with insomnia and amnesia. They begin to label everything so to help aid their memory. Melquiadas returns one day with an antidote to cure the insomnia. One of the signs read “God exists,” and Jose Arcadio Buendia went on a quest to find a daguerreotype to prove His existence. This right here is a sign that perhaps Jose Arcadio Buendia is insane. It is not until chapter 4, however, that this is evident. His constant research into the unknown causes him to slip into insanity. For this, he is tied to a tree, perhaps the tree of knowledge. Solitude is a way of the town to deal with all of these changes in the government and communism. Jose Arcadio Buendia is a character similar to that we saw in Don Quijote. He continuously wants to experiment and progress foward to create a Utopia town, but this causes his to fall in and out of sanity.

2. A major theme in this story would be realism versus magic. Both are used to portray the the world as Jose Arcadio Buendia and Marquez see it. Reality is different for everyone. Jose Arcadio’s wife sees the world for what it really is, while he wants to create a perfect town heading towards modernity. The Gypsies brought not only technology to Macondo, but also magic. They blurred the line between reality and fantasy for Jose Arcadio Buendia. They offered him connections to technology, to science, and to the world outside of the town. Whether a person chooses to see the world for what it really is, magic and religion seem to always have an impact on their perceptions.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day 2)

1. In “The Tale of One who Traveled to Learn what Shivering Meant” and in “The Golden Good” we have the “3’s” that keep appearing. In fairy tales it is common for things to happen in 3’s. “The Tale of One who Traveled to Learn what Shivering Meant” there were 3 knights, the youth was allowed 3 things to take with him into the castle, which he spent 3 nights in, and it took him 3 instances to learn what shivering was. And at the end there were 3 chests full of gold. The young prince received one chest and was wed to the king’s daughter. In this fairy tale we have the youngest son coming out on top and winning the bride. In “The Golden Goose” there were three brothers who went out to get wood. The third brother, Dummling” only had cake made of ashes and sour beer, yet he shared with the hungry old man. For his kindness, this man rewarded Dummling with a golden goose. Other examples of 3’s in this story are when the 3 daughters of the landlord at the inn tried plucking a feather from this goose. And a third time the number 3 appeared in this story was when Dummling had to demand his bride from the kind 3 times. There was also a moral to this story that those who are good-natured and caring will prosper in life. Dummling, the youngest brother, was the only who gave food and drink to this old man. In return, this old man helped Dummling get his bride.

2. In “Rapunzel” and “The True Bride” they began as many fairy tales do with “once upon a time.” These stories were about beautiful young girls who were being controlled by an evil witch and a step-mother. “Roland” is very similar to “The True Bride” because Roland and the “true bride” are both forgotten by then their princes until they sing, like Roland does, or kiss her prince, like the true bride. When Roland sings her prince remembers that she is his true bride and in “True Bride,” once she kisses her prince on his cheek he recognizes her, too. In both fairy tales these awful hags caused the maidens to be separated from their princes, but in the end the princes cannot forget their true brides and they end up living happily ever after.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day 1)

1. These stories have become so internationalized because of the way they were written and the affect they have on children. Fairy tales often start off with “Once upon a time” and end with a happy ending. By beginning the fairy tale in such a way in engages the child’s mind and allows him to use his imagination. Although, the Grimm’s fairy tales were much more violent and graphic than the Disney versions, they portrayed a positive message and moral. There are also heroes and heroines in many of these stories. The main characters have to overcome many difficult obstacles before they can achieve success. The only person that has an unfortunate ending is the villain or bad guy. For example, in “The Frog Prince” the King’s daughter was trapped under the command of the ugly frog and she and her father had to do what he requested. In the end she got fed up and threw him against the wall and he turned into a handsome prince. And in “Little Red Riding Hood” the little girl and grandmother were eaten whole by the wolf, but later let out of the wolf’s stomach by someone passing by. Her stomach was sliced open and Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother jumped out alive and the wolf collapsed dead. The storylines, organization and morals to these stories are made them so popular and wide spread.


2. In fairy tales it is usually the female’s part to play the “damsel in distress” role. Like in “Briar Rose,” “The Frog Prince” and “Snow White” the female characters usually depend on the male to come and rescue them or be there to sweep them off of their feet. After Briar Rose came out of her sleep one hundred years later a prince entered the castle and the two wed and lived happily ever after. In “Snow White” she was rescued from the old Queen by a prince who took her away with him. In many of these fairy tales the women are usually swept away by prince charming. However, in “Roland” this idea of women being chased and desired by the men is kind of subverted. The maiden was forgotten by Roland, but she continued to stay true to him. She went after him this time and assembled with all the other maidens on the wedding day. He recognized her voice and the two were able to get married and live happily together. These stories often point to the male or often times, prince, as being the hero. This is not necessarily true in all of the stories. The heroes in each story had a battle to overcome in order to have this fairy tale ending. All of these stories taught a moral and ended happily.

Don Quixote Chapters 46-52

1. It does appear that Don Quixote has been “un-quixoticized.” In chapter 50 Don Quixote says, “I shall not enlarge any further on this subject, because from what I have said it is clear that nay passage from any history of a knight errant is bound to delight and amaze anyone who reads it. Only believe me and, as I said before, read these books, and you will soon see how they banish any melancholy you might be feeling, and improve your disposition, if it is a bad one.” Don Quixote goes on to say that by reading these books on chivalry he has only become a better person who. He has become “courageous, polite, generous, well-bred, magnanimous, courteous, bold, gentle, patient, and long-suffering in the face of turmoil, imprisonment, and enchantment.” Even though, people criticize Don Quixote for reading these books, pretending to live a life as a knight really isn’t a bad thing. He has become a better person because of it and has the intention to help anyone who needs it.

2. The first quote goes along with the theme of the story of Don Quixote not being able to distinguish fiction from reality. The only difference is that Don Quixote enjoys his fantasy life. He feels he has become a better person. The theme of people seeing his imagination as madness also keeps appearing in the closing chapters on the first part of the book. The priest always seems to have mixed feelings towards Don Quixote. He thinks he is mad, yet he listens to him and even refuses to burn all of the chivalric books. The priest says to the canon in chapter 48, “The subject you’ve broached, sir, has awoken my old loathing for these fashionable plays, which is as great as my loathing for books of chivalry, because whereas drama, should…be a mirror of human life, an exemplar of customs and an image of truth…these modern plays are just mirrors of absurdity.” The canon even said that he stopped writing books of chivalry because “the men who like reading such books and who are learned and intelligent, and also to others who are ignorant and only concerned with pleasure…have expressed their approval…I’m aware that there are more fools than wise men in the world and, although the praise of the wise few is more important than the mockery of the foolish many.” So the canon and priest are complimenting Don Quixote here and basically saying that there should be more people like him in the world. He is not the foolish one, it is everyone else that is being blind and foolish.

Don Quixote Chapters 36-45

In Chapter 37 it says, “Don Quixote was developing his arguments in such an orderly and lucid way that for the time being none of those listening to him could believe that he was a madman.” This part of the story is very important because for the first time Don Quixote is not seen as crazy. He realized that people see him as mad so he refrained from telling Dorotea that he slayed a giant. While talking with her, however, she told him that she was a princess. This made Don Quixote appear sane, but he became mad at Sancho for lying to him. In his speech he compares the hardships of scholars with those of “man of arms,” or militia men or warriors. He is aware that people do not believe him and think he is mad so he keeps his “madness” under control.

Zoraida is different from other females in the text in the since she is a Moor not bound by the same rules. She still does not have the freedom as far as being controlled by male figures, but she practices many religions. She appears to be a Muslim, but she acts like a Christian and wants to be baptized as one. She does not speak throughout her part in the story which could represent the lack of power she has being a female. Religion could be one aspect that she could actually control of her life. She actually makes the move to escape from her father by having the captive actually coming and taking her. The men in the story make themselves mad over the women. Religion back then and now is often looked at as an important aspect of considering a partner. Certain religions cannot marry outside of theirs. Perhaps if Zoraida did not want to become a Christian things would have been different for her.

Don Quixote Chapters 28-35

One quote that goes along with Don Quixote’s madness is in Chapter 30 when
Cardenio says to Dorotea, “But isn’t it extraordinary how this unfortunate hidalgo believes all these lies and fictions, just because they imitate the style and manner of the nonsense in his books” (279). But the priest makes a point when he says, “So as long as you don’t get him started on his chivalry, nobody would say that he wasn’t a man of excellent understanding.” These quotes are significant because everyone keeps calling Don Quixote mad (like Cardenio and Dorotea), but the priest tried to look past that. He admits that when it comes to chivalry Don Quixote does act like a little crazy, but he knows he is an intelligent man outside of his imaginative, chivalrous persona. Maybe the priest is able to see the better qualities in Don Quixote. Perhaps, Don Quixote understands things too well, in such a way where no one else can understand him.

In Chapter 32, the priest says, “now you can find your own way among their lies and their truths, and much good may they do you, and God grant that you don’t end up lame in the same leg that your guest Don Quixote halts on” (293). The priest talks about the book the Great Captain and how it must be a true story because it narrates the captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba. It is funny that the priest says that Don Quixote is “ignorant to as to read them as if they were true histories” because the truth is not many books are true. Sometimes the truth gets lost in translation. Fiction fuels the mind and is necessary for survival.

Don Quixote Chapters 19-27

One scene that really seemed important was in Chapter 20, “I do not deny,” replied Don Quixote, “that what has happened to us is worth laughing at; but it is not worth telling, because not all people are intelligent enough to see things in the right perspective” (164). It is ironic that Don Quixote would say this because it seems he is on to something when he says that people are not intelligent enough to see things in the right perspective. This goes along with the theme that Don Quixote may not be able to distinguish fact from fiction, but maybe the way he sees the world is the right view. Maybe there is some truth behind what he says and he is actually the intelligent one. Don Quixote’s perceived madness could actually be revolutionary.

Another important scene was in Chapter 25, “At least, Sancho, I want you, because it is essential – what I mean to say is that I want you to see me naked, performing a dozen or two dozen mad deeds, which will only take me half an hour, so that having seen them with your own eyes you can safely swear to any others…” (218). Here Don Quixote has “gone mad” because of his love for Dulcinea. He is imitating Cardenio and how was pushed into madness. Don Quixote admits that he has gone mad, but it was not until now that he has realized this. He has been separated from her for so long that he questions her fidelity, pushing him over the edge. Again, Sancho knows her to be a peasant, but Don Quixote says she is a princess and what the knight says always goes.

Don Quijote Chapters 10-18

In chapter XV, Don Quijote and Sancho lose in a battle against a group of men from Yanguas, after Rocinante wanders off into the group of mares and tried to mate with them. While Sancho was lying on the ground he told Don Quijote that, “I’d like a couple swigs of that Fairy Brass’s drink, if you’ve got some handy. Maybe it’s good for broken bones as well as for sore wounds” (117). This statement by Sancho goes along with the notion that the world needs fiction to survive. Sancho is the one who usually sees the truth and tells Don Quijote what is actully there as opposed to what he is perceiving. Don Quijote believes that it was all his fault that they landed in that bad fortune, “I should not have drawn my sword against men who were not knights, as I am; and so I believe that, as a penalty for having broken the laws of chivalry, the god of battles has allowed me to be punished in this way.” Don Quijote’s halluciantions of living in a chivalrous world are shown here. He believes that he must follow the ethics of a knight or else bad things will come his way.

In chapter XVIII, Sancho calls Don Quijote for the things he is imagining, “Come back, come back, Don Quijote sir, I swear to God they’re sheep you’re charging! Com back! By the bones of my poor old father! What madness is this? Look, there aren’t any giants or knights…What ae you doing?” (142). In this scene Sancho tell Don Quijote that he is acting mad, but Don Quijote continiues to charge. He has two teeth knocked out by the sheperds. Sancho tells him that, “You’d have done better as a preacher, than as a knight errant.” Don Quijote puts his faith back in God at this point since he is “engaged in his service.” Even when Sancho tries to tell the truth to Don Quijote he still fails to see it and continues to pursue his adventures as a “knight” from one of his books.

Don Quixote Chapters 1-9

For this post, I'd like you to pick two scenes in which you see Don Quixote as a radical character within the novel thus far. What do you find radical about Don Quixote? Why? What do you think the text states about him as a character?


Thus far in the novel there are several instances that show Don Quixote to be a radical character. He reads far too many books on chivalry and now fails to see the world as it really is. An example of Don Quixote being radical is during his first fight in chapter 3. He notices in this chapter that he has not been properly dubbed a knight and since he was staying at the inn he requests that the innkeeper dubs him as one. The innkeeper notices that Don Quixote has gone mad so he honors his request, but first tries to cheat him for his money. Don Quixote does not carry any so he is commanded to start carrying some in the future. He was also told to keep his arms outside. Don Quixote’s first fight is ignited when guests from the inn remove his armor from the well to fetch water for their animals. He knocked one guest unconscious and smashed the skull of another. This extreme or radical act occurred because of Don Quixote’s failure to distinguish reality from the hallucinations of chivalrous situations.

Another example of Don Quixote acting very radically was in chapter 4 when a farmer was lashing a young boy. This farmer appeared to be a knight to Don Quixote, even though the boy tried to explain to him that “he isn’t a knight at all, and he’s never been admitted into any order of chivalry – he’s just Juan Haldudo, the rich farmer from Quintanar” (Cervantes, 43). Don Quixote has this illusion that Juan is indeed a knight and accepts his oath that he will not continue to whip this young servant child. Of course, Juan continues to whip the child. Don Quixote knows the importance of promises and oaths in knighthood, but unfortunately his hallucinations made him see something that was not really the truth, thus causing the boy even more pain. Don Quixote’s failure to see reality really just causes more harm for people than good.

Dante's Inferno (Canti 28-34)

There were several themes throughout this allegory, one of them being that you will receive the same punishment (or reward) after you die based on how you lived life on earth. The deeper Dante and Virgil went into hell, the worse the punishments became. In Canto XXXII, lines 1-6, “If I had rhymes both rough and stridulous, as were appropriate to the dismal hole down upon which thrust all the other rocks, I would press out the juice of my conception more fully; but because I have them not, not without fear I bring myself to speak,” Dante speaks about how horrifying it is to be that deep in hell that he cannot even find the words to describe it. It was becoming harder and harder to express the harshness of this dreadful place. At this point of the journey Dante and Virgil are in this first circle of the ninth ring of hell where the traitors lie frozen in ice. Traitors are the worst offenders to God, thus receiving the worst eternal conditions and punishment. The worse a person lives their life on earth, the more dreadful their afterlife will be. It is ironic that the very pit of hell is ice, not fire like everyone imagines. The ice symbolizes the hardening of hearts, perhaps. Fraud is the ultimate betrayal of life and love, so the ice represents the hardened hearts.

The last lines in Canto XXXIV really sum up the story and show how Dante’s life changed for the better, “The Guide and I into that hidden road now entered, to return to the bright world; and without care of having any rest, We mounted up, he first and I second…Some of those beauteous things which Heaven doth bear; thence we came forth to rebehold the stars” lines 133-139. Dante survived his long, eye-opening journey through hell and is now going to climb away from sin on earth. He is looking towards the stars, towards God and Beatrice. Love is the only thing that can get him there.

Dante's Inferno Canti 21-27

We have a reference (Canto 21, vv. 110-112) to the fact that Dante is following in Christ's path when he had his own descent into hell. What do you make of the fact that Dante puts himself here in the place where Christ once walked? (Don't forget that this journey takes place over Easter weekend, with the descent into Hell occurring on Good Friday). What can we tease out from all this?

In Canto 21, 110-114, “Pursue your way along upon this rock; near is another crag that yields a path. Yesterday, five hours later than this hour, one thousand and two hundred sixty-six years were complete, that here the way was broken,” it talks about how there was an earthquake in hell at the time of Jesus’ death and clues the reader to the time that Dante’s journey is occurring. The fact that Dante puts himself in the place where Jesus once walked may suggest that he equates himself to Jesus. Christ descended into hell on Good Friday before he was resurrected on Easter Sunday. Dante’s pilgrimage is following the same timeline. This can foreshadow the fact that Dante will rise from his journey on Easter Sunday, as well. This is supposed to be a learning experience for Dante. In the beginning he is very sympathetic towards all of these souls, but as he continues on it is clear that the sinners created their own destiny. The grafter from Navarre appeared in Canto XXII, “I in the Kingdom of Navarre was born; My mother placed me servant to a lord” (48-49). Here Navarre still will not accept his fate and it is clear he is the same person he was on earth. Dante is supposed to be growing and learning from this experience and must learn that he is in control of his own fate. It is not too late to change. Navarre decided to stay the same person and though he manages to deceive the demons to avoid his punishment from them, he cannot avoid the worst punishment of them all, eternity in hell. Good always overcomes evil. Dante wants to continue without the demons, “Pray let us go,” I said, “without an escort, If thou knowest how, since for myself I ask none” (XXI, 28-29). The demons were there to protect Dante, even though he was afraid them. Temptation will always be there. The real test comes down to who can overcome it. Jesus overcame evil and Dante can, too if he continues to follow in Jesus’ path.

Dante's Inferno Canti 14-20

The description of the Old Man of Crete in Canto 14. How do you "read" this Old Man? You might use the note on pp. 555 - 7 of the Durling edition as a source of inspiration.

There are a few ways to interpret the Old Man in Canto 14. “His head is fashioned of refined gold, and of pure silver are the arms and breast; Then he is brass as far down as the fork. From that point downward all is chosen iron” (14, 106-109). The first interpretation comes from the Book of Daniel in the Bible. There were four beasts mentioned in this book. The lion had a golden head, the bear had arms of silver, the leopard had a “belly and thighs of brass,” and the four headed beast had iron legs, all like this Old Man. These four metals represent the fours ages in history: the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The golden head could stand for Babylon, the “holy city.” The legs of iron on the beast in Daniel and on the Old Man signify the Roman Empire, which was strong. Just like Babylon and the Roman Empire were strong, they both crumbled at one point, just like this Old Man is doing.
Although, it seems as if there is no hope with mankind declining, but the statue “…looks at Rome as if it were his mirror” (14, 105). Rome is in the west so there is hope for change and to be rebuilt just like Rome and Babylon.

Dante's Inferno (Day 2)

A quote that seemed to stand out was, “A little after that I saw such havoc/ Made of him by the people of the mire, That still I praise and thank my God for it. They were all shouting, “At Philippo Argenti!” And that exasperate spirit Florentine…We left him there, and more of him I tell not” (VIII, 58-64). During this scene is the first time we do not see any pity coming from Dante, which was a reoccurring characteristic that came from him. The little that is known of Argenti is that Dante has hatred towards him because of some disagreement they had while on the streets in Florence. They were also from two different families and parties, which may explain their bitterness towards each other, as well. But still this is the first time Dante willingly watches someone tortured without any pity towards them.

A second quote that was significant was in Canto XI, verses 80-84, “Hast thou no recollection of those words/ With which thine Ethics thoroughly discusses/ The dispositions three, that Heaven abides not, - Incontinence, and Malice, and insane Bestiality? And how Incontinence Less God offendeth, and less blame attracts.” This importance of this quotation here is that it talks about the necessity and reason for the divisions of hell. Incontinence is what offends God the least, so the punishment is least severe. Dante was confused why some sinners were receiving harsher punishments, but the quote here explains why people are in the division of hell that they are. The theme that appears here is that how we act on earth affects where we go in the afterlife. We will have to endure the same treatment that we gave to our neighbors on earth.

Dante's Inferno Canti 1-6

1. Canto 1: How does Dante 'set up' the journey here? What themes / ideas does he bring forth to accomplish this? What kind of journey is this? What is the pilgrim's state of mind at this time? Why?

Dante’s journey is set up when his life loses direction and he gets lost in a dark forest. Dante says that he “cannot well repeat how I entered, so full was I of slumber at the moment in which I had abandoned the way” (1. 10-12). He the “planet’s rays” shining above the mountain and attempted to climb to it, but is stopped by three beasts. The Virgil appears to help guide him to heaven, but first having to go through hell to get there. While passing through the first three circles of hell he recognized some famous people. He learned what sent them to hell in the first place and the type of suffering they must endure. The different levels of hell signify the severity of one’s sins. Dante continues to become overwhelmed with pity and faints after going through the first and second circle of hell, but he will soon realize that a person’s sins corresponds with the punishment they receive. After the Last Judgment, however, all of creation will be perfected.
2. In the other canti that you read for this day, choose one canto which particularly strikes / interests you. What reading / interpretation of this canto can you bring to the discussion on Tuesday?

Canto IV seemed to be most interesting for the fact that the people were in Limbo because they were born before Christianity or they were never baptized, not because they did not lead virtuous lives. People may get the opportunity to leave Limbo like Noah and Moses did, but only upon Christ’s wish can they do so. It was ironic to see all of these influential and successful people there such as Homer, Horace, Aristotle, and Plato to name a few. These people all made a huge impact on earth through either poetry or philosophy, but they could not make it to heaven in the after life.

The Story of the Grail (Day Two)

3. The scene with the hermit on Good Friday – How do you read this scene? Why is the day significant?You can: (1) speak about the “build up” to this scene – the group of penitent soldiers and women – what do they signify? Why is Perceval so affected by them? How might this scene mirror what we have in the opening scene of the romance?(2) Perceval’s repentance. What does he learn here (beyond the obvious)? How do you read the fact that the hermit happens to be his maternal uncle?


At this point of the story Perceval was said to be the most “valiant knight,” since he forced Clamadeu to beg for mercy against his will. After his victory he lost his memory of God. “Five times in April and May had passed; five whole years had gone by since he worshipped God or His cross in church or minister. Thus had he lived the five years” (414). During this time he did not look for chivalric deeds, but in adventures that he would easily succeed in. “Within the five years he had sent as prisoners fifty thousand esteemed knights to King Arthur’s court. Thus he had passed the five years and never remembered God.” The number five keeps appearing during this scene, most likely to represent grace. Although he did not remember God during these five years, the grace of God never left his side. Even though he did not care for his mother, she never forgot him. She prayed for God to remain by his side, which could be a major factor why God remained there. It was on this Good Friday that God made his entrance back into Perceval’s life. The group of five knights and ten ladies were walking barefoot in woolen rags “as penance for their sins, they were themselves proceeding on foot for the salvation of their souls.” One of the men told Perceval that “this is the day all those with faith in Him should do penance.” Perceval wept over what he just learned and wanted to go speak with the hermit.
Perceval fell to his knees and wept for forgiveness. He realized he had done nothing but ill things during these five years and did not do anything to make amends for it either. Perceval gave his name and the hermit responded by, “Brother, misfortune has befallen you for a sin of which you are ignorant. This is the grief that you caused your mother when you left her. She fell to the ground unconscious as the end of the bridge outside the gate, and died of that grief.” He told Perceval that he would not have survived that long if it was not for her prayers to God to watch over her son.
The hermit being his maternal uncle shows that he was so blind to his family and those that mattered most. In that grail was the Host, which is not a lot, but sufficient for a person to live off. God is the most important thing in life and is all a person really needs. If Perceval honored his mother, he would be more open to God and prevented all of the misfortunes that happened throughout the story.

The Story of the Grail

2. Analyze the episode between Perceval and his mother. What is her reaction? What information does she try to impart to her son? Why do you think he reacts the way he does? Discuss his departure – how should he have behaved?

The episode between Perceval and his mother occurs after Perceval saw the knights riding through the forest. His mother tells him that she believes he has seen “the angels people complain of, and who kill all they meet” (344). Perceval does believe this at first because he saw the most “beautiful creatures” riding through that desolate forest and she was the one who told him that Angels and God were the most beautiful creatures. He told her that they called themselves knights to which made her instantly faint.
His mother tried to protect him from the world of chivalry his entire life. She tried to tell her son that he “would have been a knight, darling son, had it pleased the Lord God that your father and your other relatives trained you.” His mother descended from a family of the finest knights, but even the finest fall and she did not want the same happening to her son. Perceval’s father, who so highly honored, was wounded between the legs during battle and his body crippled. Shortly after his two brothers were dubbed knights they were killed in armed combat on their way home. His mother lived a bitter life after these tragedies. She told Perceval “you were all my comfort and all my good because I was bereft of my entire family” (345). Perceval barely digested anything his mother had told him and sought out to seek the king who makes knights.
It seems Perceval reacts the way he does because he wanted to carry on the family legacy. He too wanted to be honored as a brave knight. He wanted to prove to himself that he can make the journey alone and alive. If he survived the journey he could return to his mother as an honorable knight and hopefully repress her of all those negative and bad memories of how the lives of the three most important men in her life were taken. His mother knew the journey was possible with God by his side, which He seemed to be. When Perceval set off he took three javelins with him, which the number three often represents the holy Trinity in Literature, so it is safe to say God was with him.
Perceval should have stayed behind to save his mother from additional worry and heartache. Instead, he set off on his journey even after seeing his mother collapsed behind him. Perceval did want to become a respected knight and follow in his brave father and brother’s footsteps, but first priority was his mother and it was not very honorable to leave her alone and sick like that.