Canto 15 and Canto 16

1. Canto 15 and Canto 16 Mrs. Luckey

2. Summary Canto 15 • Circle 7, Round 3 • The Violent Against Nature • Roving band of Sodomites • (still burning sand and “raining” fire) • Ser Brunetto Latino stops him • One of Dante’s dearly loved friend and writer • Brunetto prophesies Dante’s suffering, gives an account of the souls that move with him

3. Known as the most dramatic and moving dialogues between Dante and an admired “teacher” of his • Poets are walking on the banks to avoid the heat • Spirits come running along the bank and squint to see who is walking along. One of the spirits spots Dante and grasps for him. • Dante recognizes him and lowers his hand to the sinner.

4. Dante offers to sit and talk with the man, Brunetto, but he refuses because if he stops running, increased punishment awaits. • Brunetto tells him “If you follow your star, you cannot fail to reach a glorious port” and “See that you cleanse yourself from their ways.” (meaning the Florentines) • Dante replies: “If my prayers had been granted, you would still be among the living.”

5. Dante asks who else is with Brunetto. • He responds: clergy and scholars of great fame. • Such as Dante’s former bishop “Servant of servants” • Priscian • Francisco d’Accorso

7. The Violent Against Nature • In Dante’s opinion, anyone defying the man and woman relationships and sexual relations differing from those to create human life. • Sodomites: reference to Biblical passage of the people of Sodom

8. Ser Brunetto Latino • Florentine Guelph • “master” of Dante’s, in reference to spiritual indebtedness • Dante holds much respect for him; only equal to Farinata • Dante is surprised to find him here (? Odd because he wrote him here…)

9. Canto 16 • Circle 7: Round 3 • The Violent Against Nature • The Violent Against Art

10. Summary • Poets arrive hearing the waterfall plunges over the Great Cliff of Circle 8 • 3 Florentine’s approach Dante, seeing his clothes: Jacopo Rusticucci, Guido Guerra, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi (3 people who Dante admired for their policies and personalities) • Sinners ask for news of Florence and Dante laments of the decline. • The three return to their band and the Poets continue over the Falls. At Virgil’s command, Dante removes a cord and drops it over the edge. This seemingly signals a distorted shape to come swimming up through the air.

11. The three running men… • The three men continue running in circles as they talk to Dante to avoid further punishment. • All three are eminent Guelphs of the generation before Dante. • Jacopo is in fact, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi’s companion. They are the ones inquired about by Ciacco, who refers to them as “among the blackest souls” in Hell. • The three thank him for the news of Florence and beg him to speak of them to others if he returns.

12. The Cord • Virgil requires Dante to take it off. • Virgil throws it into the central well. • A creature comes swimming up. • Symbolism is uncertain, however, could respond to the cord tied around a Franciscan friar’s waist

13. Remarks on this circle… • Dante is VERY courteous and respectful to those located here. • Critics question why? Did Dante familiarize himself with these men? Did he himself believe that he could possibly end up here? • As a wifeless exile, Dante also aligns himself with out outsiders of his society (at the time) such as Jews and Muslims