Great Books II   Spring 2009
  Reading Questions  
 

February 5

 

Dante

Read one Canto aloud each day.

 

Augustine (XI-XII)
Focus on XXIV-XXIX
  1. Analyze the entire contrapasso of the thieves and serpents in Canto XXIV-V.

  2. Why does Dante use flames for shades in XXVI & XXVII?

  3. Analyze the contrapasso of the sowers of scandal and schism.

  4. Why is lying like leprosy?

  5. Why are the three types of sin "concentric"?

 

 

  1. Why are the issues of time and creation important to Augustin?
  2. Read this poem by T.S. Eliot in preparaton for class.
  3. In his dialogue "Meno", Plato says: "There is no teaching, but only recollection." What would Augustine say about this statement?
  4. What is the relationship between the self and memory?
  5. Augustine describes three selves in chapter XIII. How does each one tie to conversion?