In at least 500 words, consider why form matters in fiction and poetry. Use one or two poems of “The Hill We Climb” Amanda Gorman, Joan Retallack AID/I/SAPPERANCE (1998) and “The Beautician” Thom Gunn and one or two short stories of: “Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” (1842), Edwidge Danticat’s “One Thing” (2020), and Tommy Orange’s “The Team” (2020 as examples–and make sure you quote directly from those poems and stories.
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
Title: The Significance of Form in Fiction and Poetry
Introduction: Form, in both fiction and poetry, plays a crucial role in shaping the meaning, impact, and aesthetic appeal of literary works. This essay will explore why form matters in fiction and poetry, using examples from selected poems and short stories. By analyzing Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb,” Joan Retallack’s “AID/I/SAPPERANCE,” Thom Gunn’s “The Beautician,” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” Edwidge Danticat’s “One Thing,” and Tommy Orange’s “The Team,” we will examine how form enhances the themes, emotions, and overall experience of these literary pieces.
The Importance of Form in Poetry:
Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”: In her poem, Gorman utilizes various poetic devices, such as repetition, rhythm, and meter, to create a powerful and impactful performance during the 2021 presidential inauguration. The following lines exemplify the significance of form:
“When day comes we ask ourselves, Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”
Here, the repetition of the phrase “we ask ourselves” emphasizes the collective introspection and search for hope. The form of this poem, with its rhythmic cadence and carefully crafted stanzas, adds to its memorability and emotional resonance.
Joan Retallack’s “AID/I/SAPPERANCE”: Retallack’s poem explores the complexities of language and meaning, employing fragmented syntax and unconventional line breaks. This enhances the reader’s engagement with the poem and reflects its themes of fragmentation and uncertainty:
“eyes that see incongruities determine that which is wrong”
The form of disjointed lines mimics the fragmented nature of perception and challenges traditional linguistic structures.
Thom Gunn’s “The Beautician”: Gunn’s poem utilizes a strict sonnet structure, adhering to the fourteen-line format with a volta or turn in the final couplet. This form allows for a structured exploration of conflicting emotions and themes:
“Such wild surmises bring no real relief: It is her art to teach us not to grieve.”
The sonnet structure provides a sense of closure and resolution, contrasting the turmoil explored throughout the poem.
The Significance of Form in Fiction:
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”: Poe’s short story exhibits careful attention to structure and pacing. Notably, the story is divided into seven colored rooms, each representing a different stage of life. This deliberate structure adds a layer of symbolism:
“The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material”
The physical division of the rooms mirrors the progression from life to death, enhancing the story’s thematic depth.
Edwidge Danticat’s “One Thing”: Danticat’s short story is composed as a series of vignettes, each exploring a different character’s perspective on grief and loss. This fragmented form allows for multiple voices and narratives to intertwine:
“One thing I learned is that when someone you love dies, you don’t lose them all at once. You lose them in pieces over time.”
The episodic structure mirrors the fragmented experiences of grief, providing a nuanced exploration of loss.
Tommy Orange’s “The Team”: Orange’s short story employs a non-linear narrative structure, jumping between different characters’ perspectives and timelines. This form allows for a multi-dimensional portrayal of Native American identity:
“The drumming starts up again — louder this time — and there’s no mistaking it. It’s coming from inside me.”
The fragmented structure reflects the characters’ struggles with identity and cultural heritage, adding complexity and depth to their stories.
Conclusion: Form is a vital element in both fiction and poetry as it enhances the literary experience by complementing themes, evoking emotions, and providing aesthetic appeal. Through analyzing examples from Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb,” Joan Retallack’s “AID/I/SAPPERANCE,” Thom Gunn’s “The Beautician,” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” Edwidge Danticat’s “One Thing,” and Tommy Orange’s “The Team,” we have seen how form can shape meaning, engage readers, and convey complex ideas. By paying attention to form, writers can create works that are not only intellectually stimulating but also aesthetically pleasing and emotionally resonant.
