Topic Research: Dante's Inferno

After reading through different parts of Dante's Inferno I feel like I've developed a better understanding of the different possible roads I could take in making my own story. While I've got some ideas, I haven't quite ironed out the details. Hopefully after reading this I can get some helpful comments on what the next best step may be!

1. One of the first ideas that came to mind was to tell the story of Dante traversing through Hell's circles from the point of view of Lucifer. In the original story we don't see an interaction between Dante and Lucifer really. Most of Dante's experience of Hell is passive, but what if we changed it to an active experience? Perhaps Dante only thinks he's touring Hell when in reality he belongs there and Lucifer tries to actively keep him from escaping.

2. My next story line idea requires Dante to take an active role. The plot for this would be something along the lines of Dante searching for someone in particular to save from Hell while he encounters other people he knew in his lifetime along the way. Dante has to battle through different circles of Hell to save a friend after he wakes up one day in one of the circles of Hell. I'm not sure if this rendition would include the presence of Virgil, his guide in the original story, or if he would discover his way through his interactions with the people he meets.

3. This third idea is still a little shaky. In this rendition I have Dante traveling through Hell and gaining knowledge about each circle from Virgil who guides him. As they walk through Virgil tells of the legend of how a worthy soul would one day come to shepherd righteous souls, that happened to become lost in Hell, to a gateway that they could pass through that would bring them to Heaven. By the end of Dante's journey through Hell he would come to realize that Virgil was preparing him to take on this task, and he becomes the shepherd for the good souls as Virgil rises up to Heaven. I feel like this story may need some more appearances of divine power to hint at the righteousness within Dante's own soul. Or maybe throughout his tour he overcomes some inner evil and develops a more righteous soul that allows him to take this position in Hell but because of his sin he is not allowed into Heaven for a certain period of time.

A depiction of the different circles of Hell. An engraving by J. Wierix found on wikimedia.

Bibliography

Dante's Inferno from the  Dante Unit in the Un-Textbook

 

Thoughts on Feedback Strategies

In general, I think learning about and understanding that there are different forms of feedback strategies plays a crucial role in determining one's effectiveness as a critic or consultant. I believe it's important to understand that there are pros and cons to using negative feedback and positive feedback. Similarly to how some individuals respond better to different kinds of feedback, I'm learning that some individuals are better at providing a specific kind of feedback compared to other variations and a lot of that has to do with the personality and mindset of the individual as well as their level of experience in giving critique. With this in mind I think back to when people suggested me to go to several different outlets for an opinion on any work I did. Not everyone noticed the same details were they able to explain their concerns or praise in the same manner. But by listening to each different point of view, and then summarizing them on my own, I was able to build a a model of feedback in my mind that allowed me to make improvements to my work that encompassed the general themes that the critics had touched on.
Now, I feel pretty comfortable receiving criticism of all kinds at this point in my life. I think a lot of that conditioning has come from growing up with a background in competitive athletics. However, I feel like a lot of times I struggle with being able to provide quality feedback and that is why I picked the following articles to look over because they appeared as though they may help me out with that.

The best listening involves active participation. Found on pixabay.

Giving Creative Feedback - A Guide for Those Who Aren't Creative by Deborah Maue

• This article looked perfect to me since I feel like my creative side doesn't particularly excel. In this article Maue describes 8 steps one should take to provide effective criticism to someone writing a creative piece or drawing creative art. There were two steps that really stood out to me. One step said that it was important to put aside my initial reaction to whatever form of artistry I was looking at. You do this to try to remove any personal bias you have towards the artist or the style of work that you are critiquing that way your feedback will be more constructive. The other point that I liked discussed how it was important to evaluate the piece of art based on its purpose. What that means is that it is important to make sure that whatever objective the art is trying to accomplish, you as a critic should focus part of your feedback on whether or not that objective was completed.

What Great Listeners Actually Do by Jack Senger and Joseph Folkman

• I used to think that I was a great listener but after growing up some and having the opportunities to be in the presence of some who truly were great listeners, I've decided that I'm just great at hearing and a mediocre listener. This article had a lot of great insights but there were a couple things that stood out to me more than the rest. One bit of information mentioned that being a good listener involves more activity than most people believe. It discussed how people who were talking greatly appreciated receiving thought-provoking questions from their listeners. This showed that not only were they hearing what they said, but they comprehended the information and applied to some situation as well. Another piece of information that stuck out to me talked about the people in the study they conducted actually liked receiving suggestions from their audience. I used to think that people mostly preferred their audience to wait until the very end of their presentation to offer a suggestion or to be silent and soak up information. But when I think back to times I've presented I remember feeling more accomplished when someone spoke up and offered a solution to a problem because that made me feel like the information I provided was useful to someone and that I explained it in a way people could understand.

Week 3 Story: Gehenna's Vineyard

**Click here for the Updated Portfolio version!**

Close-up photo of the vines of Gehenna's most successful, sole, vineyard. Found on Max Pixel.

Hello everyone and thank you so much for getting here early! I know you all were dying to get in hah! Excuse my puns I don't get much of a chance to practice down here in my little slice of paradise but really, all of you did die to get here and for that I am eternally thankful! Ah yes, before we begin this pilot tour of the Gehenna Winery tucked away into my fiery version of the Garden of Eden I should probably introduce myself. I am known by many names -- Mephistopheles, Prince of Darkness, King of Hell...but you can call me Lucifer like my Dad, and I am pleased to say I will be leading you on our tour of the winery this blistering hot evening! I'm more of a walk and talk kind of guy so lets jump on in, follow me!

So I guess as we head towards the vine fields I should talk about the origin of this here establishment! Now the original inspiration came from my encounter with my first partner, Adam, at the beginning of time but my vision for this place never came to fruition until my meeting with my late partner Noah. Shortly after the destructive flood waters receded, courtesy of Dad, I was able to join in a partnership with Noah on Earth and we created the first vineyard from which he enjoyed the same fruit as Adam did in the garden! Despite being a hardy old geezer Noah couldn't quite handle his liquor if you know what I mean and may have potentially, possibly, gotten in trouble for his drunkenness but I can assure you that I was long gone by that time for I knew I had to begin a vineyard like that one right here at my own home to share with...well, not you obviously but you know, someone better. And that's how it all started my friend. That's how our very own Gehenna, or Hell if you prefer, got the inspiration for its first vineyard.

*Demon materializes next to Lucifer and a hushed conversation ensues*

*Ahem* Well folks my kingly duties call me elsewhere at the present moment but do not fear as the tour will continue! While I'm sad I wasn't able to finish it with you, I'll have Prince Asmodeus complete the tour in my absence. While he's not as witty, handsome, or comical as me I'm sure he will do the job nicely. I'm sure I'll be seeing you all....around.

*Lucifer grins, snaps his fingers, and disappears*

Author's Note

This story receives its inspiration from the stories from the Noah Unit from the biblical selection of story options. In an account of the story of Noah and the Ark the author mentions that God sent the flood waters through a place called Gehenna, also known as Hell, in order to scald sinners as well as drown them. At the end of the flood, shortly after Noah and his family exit the ark, the author mentions that Noah plans a vineyard with a disguised Satan and drinks of the wine and becomes drunken. This story takes Lucifer's point of view regarding the business of creating a vineyard. It is meant to be somewhat of a comedy as this story makes light of a serious situation in which Noah found himself after unwittingly partnering up with Satan.

Bibliography

The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg

Noah and the Ark - The Curse of Drunkenness from the Noah Unit based on Louis Ginzberg's novel

Reading Notes: Noah and the Ark (Part B)

Here is the continuation of Part B of the story of Noah and the Ark. This latter half of the reading goes into more detail regarding the timeline of the flood and reaction of Noah and the sinners. It also provides information as to how Noah was able to understand how to build the ark and which animals to allow on board.

Plot

• There is a book that exists, "the Holy Book" or the Torah, which contains all celestial and earthly knowledge
• Adam received the book initially but an angel gave it to Noah so he could understand how to build the ark
• Adam and Eve cut up and eat the son of Samael to stop him from crying but it doesn't work
• Adam receives the Torah from God to defend himself against Samael and remove the curse that they received from eating his son
• Only the animals that lay down at the entrance of the boat were allowed to enter
• The animals that stood standing defended the ark against sinners when the flood began to rise
• The flood waters first passed through Gehenna (Hell) and became extremely hot so that they would burn the sinners as well as drown them
• At the time of the flood Noah did not have enough faith to perform miracles, he was simply better than the rest of man around him
• Noah doesn't enter the ark til flood waters reached his knees
• A giant, Og, and a unicorn, Reem, followed along behind the boat during the storm but are not mentioned after the initial boarding of the ark
• The flood lasted a year but the rain lasted for 40 days and nights which referred to how long it took for a baby to be born from someone from the sinful generation.
• Cain died during the flood, which finally avenged the death of Abel
• The raven was an unclean animal that was allowed on the boat and did not fulfill Noah's wishes when he sent him in search of land. He did not return to the ark
• A week later Noah sent a dove which returned to him with part of an Olive branch
• Noah becomes enticed by Satan to start a vineyard
• We learn that the fall of man occurred from Adam eating of the forbidden fruit, which was a grape, and became drunk

Depiction of the Forbidden Fruit with the snake (Satan). Found on flickr.

Bibliography

Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) found in the Noah Unit

Reading Notes: Noah and the Ark (Part A)

For this week I decided to walk the Biblical path and take a look into the story of Noah and the Ark. This story appears to be written from the Jewish point of view but I have grown familiar of it from the Catholic point of view as I attended Catholic schools growing up. I decided to take note of some interesting pieces of information that I found that may have differed from other depictions of the story of Noah. 

Azazel, one of the leaders of the fallen angels, refuses to bow to the Adam, the first man God created. Found on wikipedia.

Plot

• While reading in order, the time jumps back and forth between the present and the past occasionally
• Begins with an introduction to Noah and his parents but goes straight into how Noah was to prepare for the flood and then details the events of the flood
• After the events of the flood are discussed, the author then goes on to explain what prompted the flood and why God felt it was necessary
• A lot of time was spent explaining lineage, which I felt was unnecessary for the most part
• The author talks of the story of the Tower of Babel and explains how God had to spread out the people of the earth and change their languages after the flood
• There was more detail regarding the fall of the angels and their role in bringing about the flood in this rendition of the story of Noah and the Ark
• Quite a bit of time after discussing the events of the flood, the author informs us that the depravity of mankind stems from the corruption from the fallen angels that were living among them
• The angels couldn't resist the beauty of human women and fell for them, bringing into the existence beings they called giants or nephilim
• The giants appeared to have killed many people, and the blood of their victims cried out to God for justice and therefore God considered bringing about the flood

Scenery/Symbolism

• The type of wood needed to build the ark was specified as Gopher wood
• The exact dimensions of the ark were specified as well as the exact height of the flood waters
• The exact number of days that the flood was to persist was specified (40 days and 40 nights)
• The dove that Noah sends out in search of land brings back an Olive leaf
• Once Noah was born, everything had somewhat returned to the way things were when God created Adam
• meaning that man once again had dominion over God's creation because of Noah

Bibliography

Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) found in the Noah Unit