Shehznan Baqui Western Lit Exam 2- Notes 1) Human nature: o Dante- Inferno o Staying true to your word o Being

loyal to yourself o Incontinence vs. Willful behavior Premeditated sin is greater than I couldnt help myself o Dante addresses the fact that we as people are inclined to sin, but dont have to o People who are malleable vs. unchanging o They are some people placed in hell who are not really dead o _____________ as a place reserved for him/her in hell o This helps explain the fact that people are in the long run unchaning, according to Dante o Chaucer- Canterbury Tales o Displays human nature according to his respective characters in the tales Ex. Parson (represents piety and humility) and pardoner (represents hypocrisy, deceit, and o Human nature is based more on your actions than your social class, status, job, etc. You are the product of your environment o Malleable vs. unchanging People have the power to dictate and influence their lifestyle Parson- leads a pious life, but can easily fall under sin Wife of bath- leads a life of promiscuity, but can also change to a more pious lifestyle o Shakespeare- Hamlet o In Hamlet, we see that people in power are usually corrupt This can lead to a trickling-down effect (Hamlets actions affects his uncle, his mother, his love) o Loyalty to your commitment and relationships Hamlet is obliged to avenge his father Claudius feels its his duty to his family and/or his country o Shows that you as people have to be consciously aware of your actions as they can affect not only yourself, but ultimately those around you Hamlet o Unchanging vs. malleability In Hamlet, human nature seems to be unchanging Claudius throughout doesnt seem to despair for his actions in killing Hamlets father Hamlet has a hard time accepting his constant rejection(s)

o Humans are violently swayed and ruled by their emotions (can see this Chaucer as well) 2) Aesthetic principles: Dante- Inferno o Organization of hell in Inferno is very ordered and literarily beautiful o Organization of the punishments Very defined and structured guideline of what type of people are relegated to want level of hell and what corresponding punishment(s) o Very poetic and refined literary style o Chaucer- Canterbuy Tales o Aesthetically pleasing that human personality can be so varied and different among different classes of people o Beauty in the mundane and ordinary Chaucer has a more casual, informal tone in his stories o Canterbury tales are to a degree influenced by the events of the Black Plague Black plague was a very humbling experiment This can probably be seen why Chaucer chose to go with a more informal, grounded style o Shakespeare- Hamlet o Hamlet: Meditative thinking, inward contemplation o Mortality vs. morality Is it better to live and be morally incompetent or to die and be morally revered Structure relies on formation of actions Hamlet and other characters use judgement and thinking to come at a conclusion Ex. Hamlet and his soliloquies, most notable To Be or Not to Be o Actions dictate the formation of the story o Theatrical performance Very aesthetically pleasing o In Hamlet, we see that people in power are usually corrupt This can lead to a trickling-down effect (Hamlets actions affects his uncle, his mother, his love) 3) Themes 2 Common Themes: Morality and Obligation o Dante- Inferno o Believes that humans are compelled by the need to commit sinful acts Inferno illustrates the fact that human personality is divided between those who act morally and those who act sinfully o Levels of hell portray degree of absence of moral ethics

o Virgil talks about how those who display moral charisma are able to ascend to heaven o Shakespeare- Hamlet o Hamlet: Obligation o Mortality vs. morality Is it better to live and be morally incompetent or to die and be morally revered? o Obligation Hamlet and other characters feel obligated and dutied to carry out their specific agendas Ex. Hamlet feels obliged to carry out King Hamlets wishes and avenge his father Fortinbras feels obligated in the end to provide Hamlet with proper burial rights, even though they are political enemies Calaudius, in his scene of prayer, does not show much remorse for his wrong doings, indicating this is more out of compelled for his role as king rather than a moral duty (which o In Hamlet, we see that people in power are usually corrupt (Also #2) This can lead to a trickling-down effect (Hamlets actions affects his uncle, his mother, his love) Overall, it seems the Shakespeare via Hamlet portrays characters acting out of necessity rather than morality Chaucer- Canterbury Tales Morality: is a very loose and fickle theme turned out by the characters The Millers tale: Allison, in a parallel to the wife of bath, seems to follow her personal desires on whim o Cheating on husband carpenter with student Morality vs. Obligation Morality o Parson- leads a devout, religiously virtuous lifestyle, strays away from sin Obligation o Pardoner Self-admitted sinner/relioious hyporcrite o Wife of bath Cunningly betrotheds men (usually old, rich men) for the sake of gaining affluence Does not feel ashamed, rather she feels she is doing what she must as a woman to lead a comfortable lifestyle (at the time) o Both have their own self interests at heart