Discuss several (at least three) concepts that you learned from studying the information on the STU Main Library “How To” section. Describe how you will use these concepts in preparing written assignments for this class and other graduate classes.
Then discuss how you plan to use the research presented in your text to answer subsequent module questions in this course.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Concepts learned from studying the information on the STU Main Library “How To” section:
Effective Research Strategies: The “How To” section provides valuable insights on effective research strategies, such as using appropriate keywords, evaluating sources for credibility and relevance, and employing advanced search techniques. These concepts will be instrumental in preparing written assignments for this class and other graduate classes. By utilizing effective research strategies, I can ensure that the information I gather is accurate, reliable, and supports my arguments. This will enhance the quality and depth of my written assignments, making them more persuasive and informative.
Citation and Referencing: Accurate citation and referencing are essential in academic writing to acknowledge the sources of information and ideas used. The “How To” section offers guidance on various citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, along with tips on citing different types of sources (books, articles, websites, etc.). Incorporating proper citation and referencing practices in my written assignments will demonstrate academic integrity and give credit to the authors whose work I have utilized. This will strengthen the credibility of my arguments and avoid plagiarism.
Information Literacy: Information literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from various sources. The “How To” section emphasizes the importance of developing information literacy skills. This includes critically analyzing sources, distinguishing between scholarly and non-scholarly materials, and understanding the ethical use of information. Applying these concepts in my written assignments will ensure that I draw upon reputable sources, engage with scholarly discourse, and present well-supported arguments. Information literacy will be especially crucial when conducting research for graduate-level assignments that require a high level of rigor and academic excellence.
Using research presented in the text to answer subsequent module questions:
To answer subsequent module questions in this course, I plan to utilize the research presented in the text to support my arguments and provide evidence-based responses. The research presented in the text serves as a foundation upon which I can build my understanding of the topic at hand. It helps me grasp key concepts, explore different perspectives, and evaluate empirical evidence.
By incorporating research from the text into my responses, I can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and present well-informed analyses. This allows me to engage critically with the module questions, provide thoughtful insights, and substantiate my answers with credible sources.
Moreover, by using the research presented in the text, I can also contribute to the ongoing academic discourse surrounding the topic. I can analyze the findings, identify gaps or limitations in the existing research, and propose further areas of investigation or alternative viewpoints.
In summary, by employing the concepts learned from the STU Main Library “How To” section in my written assignments and utilizing the research presented in the text to answer subsequent module questions, I can enhance the quality of my work, demonstrate academic integrity, and contribute to the scholarly conversation within this course and other graduate classes.
