Formulas of Repetition in Dante's Commedia: Signposted Journeys Across Textual SpaceMcGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2001 - 205 pages Formulas are usually understood as rhetorical devices that are found in close textual proximity and, because they are intended for emphasis, cannot possibly escape the notice of the reader. The formulas Howard traces in this study are far more difficult to find because they are hidden deep in the structure of the Commedia and at considerable distances from one another. For example, Howard demonstrates that when the reader notes that the formula "ne l'etterno essilio" - in eternal exile - re-occurs in Purgatorio 21 accompanied by the same rhyme words as when it first appears in Inferno 23, it is a sign that these two episodes can be linked for further interpretation, despite the 32 cantos of intervening textual space. In the most general sense it is possible to define two principle ways of approaching the Commedia: one that examines specific episodes or cantos in isolation and one that follows the overt journey of Dante the pilgrim through the three realms of the afterlife. The approach offered in Formulas of Repetition in Dante's Commedia differs from both traditional ways of reading Dante, pursuing an alternate path outside the chronology set out in the Commedia - from the dark wood to the empyrean - and outside the canto order first Inferno, then the Purgatorio, and lastly the Paradiso. |
Contents
Linguistic Configuration as a Clue to the Impossible | 23 |
Decoding the Parallelism of Three Descents into | 41 |
Linguistic Patterns and Internal Structure in Five Cantos | 66 |
Unperceived Links between | 93 |
Virgil and Caiaphas ne letterno essilio | 116 |
Dantes Eyes Fixed and Attentive | 131 |
Common terms and phrases
Adam Adam's altri Amor aspetta basso Beatrice Beatrice's death Brunetto Brunetto Latini Cacciaguida Caiaphas canto Casella Catalano and Loderingo chapter chi tu Christ Ciacco Commedia concilio condemned context contrapasso Convivio courtly courtly love Dante and Virgil Dante the pilgrim Dante's Dante's eyes Dante's journey dark wood degni descended Donna Gentile Earthly Paradise encounter episode eternal exile etterno factional Farinata fascia fedele Femmina Balba fire fissi e attenti fixed and attentive flesh Florence Florentine formula of repetition Ghibelline Guelfs Guido Cavalcanti Guido Guinizzelli Iacopo Rusticucci Iannucci Inferno 16 Inferno 23 l'etterno essilio l'infernale ambascia Lady Philosophy lembo Limbo linguistic configuration lustful Marco Mosca occhi Paradiso 26 passo persona viva piacer poet political politicians primo Purgatorio 31 reader reference repeated rhyme words salvation sappi seed signposted journey Singleton sins Statius Tegghiaio tercets terza rima textual space tosca turned Tuscan Ulysses verse Virgil Virgilio viso Vita Nuova