Canto XXVI

By Abbi Carlson and Ainsley Klug

8th circle, 8th pouch.Fraudulent counselors.

“Men of Gift who abused their Genius” (de Vere)

Literal Meaning Dante praises Florence (sort of) Reach 8th Pouch of 8th circle

Fraudulent counselors Sinners float around in Flames (Inferno)

Virgil speaks with Ulysses(Odysseus) and Diomedes

Trojan Horse scheme Persuaded Achilles to come to war (deVere) Stole statue of Pallas Athena Convinced men to journey into Atlantic (Canto)

Ulysses tells story, from end of “Odyssey” to Death

– Imagined by Dante, no basis in Homer

Allegorical Interpretation

Punishment for evil counselors: float in fire Worked deceptively= Hidden from sight in flames Lead and sinned with tongues=tongues of fire Burning in flames=guilty conscience

Ulysses similar to Dante Both leaders, very clever, thirst for knowledge Both come within sight of Purgatory, but can't

reach it “complex projections of the various aspects of

Dante's self” (Inferno)

Moral Interpretation Ironic speech about Florence

Mentioned many times in hell, five thieves (de Vere)

Prophesies battles with neighbor cities Political criticism for home town (Inferno)

Ulysses: seen differently in Dante's time

– Myth: Romans descended from Aeneas, Trojan survivor (Canto)• Virgil's Aeneid

– Dante never read Homer, medieval versions of Troy not as heroic

Anagogical Interpretation

• Movement of Flaming sinners- compared to Elijah's Chariot

– Elijah, respected pure prophet

– Sinners chose the opposite path than Elijah

• Two pronged flame. Ulysses and Diomedes

– Compared to pyre of Eteocles and Polyneices

– Connected in fraudulent actions,

– Divided flame represents idea that men of evil will always have a falling out (de Vere)

Poetic Interpretation• Metaphor- Floating flames like fireflies over a

Farmer's field

– Vivid with familiar imager?

– Tone down horror of scene?

– Uncomfortable juxtaposition of peaceful landscape and torture scene? (Canto)

• Connections to earlier Journey

– Mountain of Purgatory mentioned by Ulysses

– Praise Florence, irony of many previous mentions

• Number Eight: Business, success—Fraud