Compose your Journal 3 answering the following prompt:
For most of us, our pets are practically family; I know mine are. Even if we don’t necessarily feel that deeply about them, they are, undoubtedly, a part of our lives. Pets can be a blessing and a curse. They lick us when we are sad, and, sometimes, they even cry with us. They jump all over us when we are happy, and they are always happy to see us! On the downside, they eat your stuff (my deaf one ate my brand new, $1800 couch), they destroy your yards (I was a pioneer in drought tolerant yards when the dogs turned my side yard to a dirt patch), and, typically, to add insult to injury, after they have destroyed something, they are sick and require a vet visit! Of course, the saddest part is that we are destined to outlive them, ugh!
What is the point?
Describe for me your favorite pet story. Tell me what type of animal, its name, and what happened. However, the story cannot end in the pet’s death! If you make me cry, I am giving you a 0 for this journal entry!
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
Journal Entry 3: The Adventures of Max, My Mischievous Beagle
When I think about the joyful chaos that pets bring into our lives, my mind immediately jumps to Max, my lively beagle. Max isn’t just a pet; he’s a bundle of energy wrapped in fur, always eager to explore and experience the world around him. From the moment I brought him home, he quickly established himself as the beloved mischief-maker of the household.
One sunny Saturday afternoon, I decided to take Max to the park for a little adventure. With his floppy ears flapping in the breeze and his tail wagging uncontrollably, he was practically vibrating with excitement. As we arrived, Max darted off to greet every person and dog he encountered. His enthusiasm was infectious; even onlookers couldn’t help but smile at his antics.
After a few rounds of fetch and a spectacular display of agility as he navigated through the maze of trees, Max suddenly stopped in his tracks. His nose quivered, and his eyes widened with curiosity. It turned out that he had discovered an abandoned frisbee half-buried in the grass. In true beagle fashion, he didn’t just pick it up; he bounced back and forth, tail wagging like a propeller, inviting me to join in on the fun.
But here’s where the adventure took an unexpected turn. As we played with the frisbee, a group of kids nearby began to cheer for their own dog who was performing tricks. Max, ever the show-off, decided he wanted to join the performance. He sprinted over to them and promptly performed his “best trick” — sitting down dramatically with the frisbee in his mouth and rolling over to show off his belly.
The kids erupted in laughter and applause, and I couldn’t help but join in. Max basked in the attention as if he were a superstar. In that moment, I realized how much joy pets can bring not just to their owners but to everyone around them. His playful spirit created an impromptu gathering of dog lovers who shared stories about their own pets, transforming an ordinary day into a delightful community experience.
As we wrapped up our day at the park, I looked at Max, who was now panting happily with his tongue lolling out. He had made new friends, engaged in a spontaneous performance, and brought smiles to countless faces. As we headed home, I felt grateful for the laughter and love that Max had shared with everyone that day.
To this day, Max continues to be a source of joy and occasional chaos in my life. He may chew on my favorite shoes or dig up plants in the garden, but those moments are overshadowed by his unwavering loyalty and the happiness he spreads. Pets like Max remind us that life is meant to be enjoyed — messiness and all!
