Reading Notes, Inferno: Part B

 This story is part of the Dante's Inferno unit. Story source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002)

I read the part in Daniel recently about the statue of different materials. I didn't know it spawned a saying about having feet of clay. Meaning weakness. I think Achilles may have been mentioned. Nothing about his heal, however.

So the parts about Muhammed have been taking out. I saw somewhere that a lot of Inferno is social commentary. That's quite bold to write about people you don't like being in hell. There's a videogame based on this story, and there's an animated movie based on the game. They both are disgusting. The story is changed a lot. Dante goes to hell to rescue Beatrice, but it's his wife. She was killed during the crusades that Dante was a part of. I think that's interesting since in the original story Muhammed, the founder of Islam, was in hell. Beatrice in the video game story dies because Dante isn't there to protect. I'm trying to say there's a connection there. I don't know too much about them, but I do know that the crusades don't seem in any way noble. 

I think my idea is to write about a person seeing their own self in hell. Each circle has themselves suffering for their own sin. Or maybe each circle contains a memory of them committing that sin. It could even be inspired by the Harrowing of Hell story where Jesus comes to save them at the end. The person in the story won't actually be dead. It will just be a recognition of their own corrupt nature and how Jesus ultimately saves them from it. 

I think a lot is from the poetry. I'm glad I've read some version of it now. I've been on the precipice of taking a class over the book several times now, but it never works out with my schedule. It still would be interesting to hear from an expert on the subject.

Nine Circles (Source)

Reading Notes: Inferno, Part A

 This story is part of the Dante's Inferno unit. Story source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).

Who's the Greyhound? Even though the first page is very long, I'm reading it as if I'm actually interested. 

I remember reading this book and feeling fearful. I have no fear during this read. Maybe the pictures scared me so? Or maybe I was just more fearful back then. The idea of hell and demons was scarier.

The division of sin. The suffering, at least in this language, doesn't seem as bad as I would think it would be. I'm unsure why certain people are reserved from true suffering. The philosophers and the heroes seem mostly unscathed. The Harrowing of Hell legend is pretty. Laura already told me about, but I didn't read too much of it. I hope Jesus' sacrifice goes back in time, too, but I trust God with everything. Most of all this. I'm thankful I was born after. 

I thought about describing hell. I'm sure it has been done before. Many, many times. I think I've seen some documentaries about Dante before. Was he not in prison? Was he not in anguish at losing Beatrice? She becomes his guide later on, but did she just die, or did she leave him?

No. Beatrice was someone Dante loved from afar. The reason I thought he focused so much on the adulterous lovers was because he was cheated on in some way. I was wrong. However, it seems the lust they had for each other was a focus of Dante's. Was it because he the same love for Beatrice? The Googling I did would tell me differently. The love for Beatrice was beyond sexuality. Like God's love.

Is the Divine Comedy that humans go through so much suffering only to end up in paradise if they live a righteous life? Writing my own version of The Divine Comedy, and what it means to me, is a possible idea. I can't think of anything, though. Why is it always so lofty? 

The Inscription is On the Forehead (Source)

Microfiction: Two Sad Stories

It's Different But the Same

I know what to do. But

I love you.

Inspiration (Source: Unknown)

How I Feel

    I feel sad but the kind that's joyful

    I'd cry seeing Superman fly

    More examples...

    But I don't want to rhyme

    The best kind of poetry doesn't rhyme

    Its expression is its ideas

    Not whether you can dance to it

    I want to dance with you

    You're so far away

    I know when you'll be here

    I know when I won't be

    I don't even doubt

    I don't even wonder

    I'm just sad because I see Superman flying

    Except it's me 

    You're Lois Lane

    I come to save the day 

    No matter how many time you fall

    Jesus save me

Author's Note: The first story is based on a picture I've had saved on my phone for nearly four years now. I was in love at the time. I'm not sure why I knew this picture felt appropriate for the situation when I saved it. It was too early on. Perhaps it spoke to me on a deeper level past my circumstances. Sometimes knowing what to do is worse than not knowing what to do. Sometimes it's the other way around.

I saw someone in this class write out a 100 hundred word story off the top of their head so I did, too. Maybe it's the lack of prolonged sleep, but I have a tinge of sadness over me. No particular reason. I love life, though. Superman flying is a good representation of loving life for me. It also makes me sad.

Reading Notes: Robin Hood, Part A

 The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child (1882-1898)

I thought Robins were red (Source)

Is this finally my opportunity to write in a different way? Poetry in the style of ballads. I also had a idea to incorporate this into my portfolio stories. I have an idea for the next story. Junior as Jesus, will inspire and gain the workers of the simulation company as followers while angering the owners or executives of the company. A lot of strife. Whatever the company's owners motives are, they are the rich in the story. Jesus came for the poor, not the rich. Kinda like the idealized version of Robin Hood. But maybe I can do something with this gangsta Robin, too. 

I didn't know Robin Hood and Little John met each other as enemies. The ballad reminds me of scenes in movies where people approach each other with animosity and then end up respecting the other because they admire their talents. One of the things I remember from my research on Robin Hood was that it didn't make sense for these men to hang out in the forest year round. The temperature during an England winter went negative Fahrenheit. That's dumb that I have to capitalize that word! I was imagining the men sitting in a shack during a snow.

Robin Hood and his Blokes

Kept Inside Because the Snow

Stopped them Cold of Robbing Rich Folks

Made them Rob Each other Instead

Dang, that is terrible. I went ahead and capitalized almost everything because of Fahrenheit. I'm getting a "Hateful Eight" vibe. 

An arrow flew across the room. The arrow narrowly missed a man's face. 

"Sorry, mate. I was removing the frostbite from your nose."

Listening to the videos of the ballads makes it clear that the poetry needs to sound good sung. So if I go that direction, I can try to imagine what it would sound like sung. Because whenever I read what I above, I can only do it to the melody of the Disney song.