Canto XXVI By: Ian Vitalis & Anna Hoekstra

Literal Interpretation Circle VIII, Bowge viii Dante blessed by fate, must take care not to abuse intellectual gifts flame = sinner But…Ulysses & Diomede share flame (same sin) Ulysses discusses last voyage at request of Virgil Ulysses sailed beyond western edge of Mediterranean Great storm sank ship

Allegorical Interpretation Counselors of FraudCounselors of Fraud Men who counseled others to practice fraudMen who counseled others to practice fraud Did not deceive those whom they counseledDid not deceive those whom they counseled Robbed men of their integrityRobbed men of their integrity Thievish FireThievish Fire Torments the counselors of fraudTorments the counselors of fraud Tortured by the tongue of fire because they sinned with their tongueTortured by the tongue of fire because they sinned with their tongue

Moral interpretation Enticing others to practice fraud is a great sin than practicing it yourself Ex. Thieves that stole material goods are in Circle 8, Bowge vii Counselors of Fraud

Anagogical interpretation Greek Mythology Pillars of Hercules - looked upon as the limit of the habitable globe Ulysses and Diomede are in that particular part of hell because of their trickery with the Trojan horse (teaching men how to deceive) Catholicism “Such as the chariot of Elijah showed when he the bears avenged beheld it rise” (line 34) Elijah defended the warship of Yahweh Mountain of the Earthly Paradise which, after Christ’s Harrowing of Hell, becomes Mount Purgatory (line 133)

Poetic interpretation Plea to Virgil to ensure that he does not end up in circlePlea to Virgil to ensure that he does not end up in circle “’O Master…I pray, and re-pray….Deny me not to tarry a moment here until the horned flame come’” (64)“’O Master…I pray, and re-pray….Deny me not to tarry a moment here until the horned flame come’” (64) Ulysses & DiomedeUlysses & Diomede saw these men as heroes, not sinnerssaw these men as heroes, not sinners Believes now he won’t be good enoughBelieves now he won’t be good enough Intrigue with sinnersIntrigue with sinners “To admire, I craned so tip-toe from the bridge”“To admire, I craned so tip-toe from the bridge”