hBjcDQfnMguRXVnjTNgM Mark Scarbrough's WALKING WITH DANTE: The Demonic Struggle For Guido's Embittered Soul In Inferno, Canto XXVII, Lines 112 - 136 - Walking With Dante

Episode 168

The Demonic Struggle For Guido's Embittered Soul: Inferno, Canto XXVII, Lines 112 - 136

Published on: 26th June, 2022

Down in the eighth of the evil pouches (the malebolge) that make up the giant circle of fraud in INFERNO, Guido da Montefeltro has told the (self-justifying) tale of his life. And now comes the struggle at his death, a fight between Saint Francis and a black Cherub from hell.

Join me, Mark Scarbough, as we slow-walk through INFERNO, finishing up Guido's incredible monologue about his life and death. This passage has a few problems in it, not the least of which is the off-handed way Dante (or is it Guido?) mention the great Saint Francis.

Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:23] My English translation of INFERNO, Canto XXVII, lines 112 - 136. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment about this episode, please see the page on my website, walkingwithdante.com.

[03:34] The quick shift from Guido's life to his death.

[04:38] Two small problems at the front of this passage: a black Cherub and the name of the sin for this evil pouch.

[06:19] What is fraudulent counsel?

[08:03] The problem of the off-handed reference to Saint Francis.

[11:28] Conversion demands a "before" and an "after"--that is, a linear story, which Guido's is not.

[13:07] The demonic/Scholastic joke in the passage.

[13:45] One last link between Dante the pilgrim and Guido da Montefeltro.

[15:17] The journey to Minos (and maybe some meta-literary joking around, too).

[16:55] Biting yourself in rage: repetition as one of Dante's key literary devices.

[18:07] Guido's final words--and his humanity.

[21:04] Guido's eternal mutterings.

[22:37] A final textual difficulty to round out Inferno, Canto XXVII.

[25:35] A final reading of Guido's entire monologue: Inferno, Canto XXVII, lines 58 - 136.

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About the Podcast

Walking With Dante
A passage-by-passage stroll through Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY with Mark Scarbrough
Ever wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy? Come along with us! We're not lost in the scholarly weeds. (Mostly.) We're strolling through the greatest work (to date) of Western literature. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I take on this masterpiece passage by passage. I'll give you my rough English translation, show you some of the interpretive knots in the lines, let you in on the 700 years of commentary, and connect Dante's work to our modern world. The pilgrim comes awake in a dark wood, then walks across the known universe. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday.
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Mark Scarbrough

Former lit professor, current cookbook writer, creator of two podcasts, writer of thirty-five (and counting) cookbooks, author of one memoir (coming soon!), married to a chef (my cookbook co-writer, Bruce Weinstein), and with him, the owner of two collies, all in a very rural spot in New England. My life's full and I'm up for more challenges!