![]() When Dante engages with myths throughout his Inferno, he’s also leaning into this tradition of animals as allegories. These animals uphold similar values that society still strives to instill in children. ![]() ![]() A prideful bird is caught by the cunning fox’s mouth a quick-tempered hare is bested by a patient tortoise. Through allegories, virtues are imbued by wise owls and gentle sheep, while vices manifest through crafty foxes and deceitful wolves. Western cultures’ most well-known fables come from Aesop, who served as a key link in a long line of oral tradition. By invoking beasts, storytellers hoped their stories would be both memorable and instructive. They served as helpful storytelling aids, simplifying complex stories for the illiterate masses. Beasts are woven throughout medieval manuscripts and appear across the stonework of medieval cathedrals. Imbued with human-like qualities and ambitions, animals purvey age-old lessons. Mythical figures have been a hallmark of epic tales since time immemorial. The Function of the Mythical Figures in Dante’s Inferno The Minotaur on the Shattered Cliff, Gustave Doré,19th century, via Wikimedia Commons
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |