ENGL 2200 (014)

Montaigne's essay, "Of Cannibals," explores the cultural differences between European societies and the native Brazilians from his perspective. He advocates for a more tolerant and open-minded approach to understanding other cultures, emphasizing the relativity of customs and practices. Montaigne's upbringing in a diverse environment, exposed to various religions and ethnicities, likely influenced his receptive attitude towards the Brazilian natives. In contrast to the prevailing European at...

Christine de Pizan's The Path of Long Study is a dream vision narrative from the early 1400s where the protagonist, Christine, embarks on a spiritual and intellectual journey guided by the Sibyl. The story begins with Christine in a state of despair due to the loss of her husband and seeking solace through philosophical readings, particularly Boethius' On Consolation. In a dream, Sibyl appears and takes Christine on a celestial journey, guiding her through various symbolic places representing ...

In Marguerite de Navarre's Heptameron, the frame narrative revolves around ten individuals stranded at a mountain resort after a flood. Each day, they tell stories to pass the time, and these stories reflect the complexities of relationships, religious themes, and moral perspectives. The protagonist, Oisille, embodies religious wisdom and seeks stability and reverence in life. The stories explore themes of love, fidelity, and the changing roles of women in marriage, challenging traditional norm...

In Erasmus' Paraclesis, he advocates for the accessibility of scriptures to ordinary people, emphasizing the importance of making religious texts available to the unlearned readers. He criticizes the inadequacy of the old Latin version, the Vulgate, and champions the study of languages, literature, and history (studia humanitatis) as vital for young people to understand religion and philosophy. Erasmus promotes the idea that scriptures should be integrated into everyday life for everyone, inclu...

In Boccaccio's The Decameron, a group of individuals in Florence grapple with the devastating impact of the Black Death in 1348. The characters, under the guidance of Pompinea, face the horrors of the plague in different ways. Pompinea advocates leaving the city for survival, highlighting the chaos and death that surround them. Meanwhile, Elissa suggests escaping to country estates, and Filomena emphasizes the importance of men leading the group. To cope with the despair, they decide to tell st...

Dante's Inferno Notes document the trip that Virgil, Beatrice, and Dante took through the underworld, to reach a conclusion of what the afterlife looks like.