CIV midterm 1

Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy

Key Themes & Concepts

1. Fortune’s Wheel – Symbolizes the unpredictability of fate.

2. Providence vs. Fate – Providence is divine foreknowledge; fate is its unfolding in time.

3. The Highest Good – True happiness comes from within, not external goods.

4. The Problem of Evil – Why do bad things happen to good people?

5. True vs. False Happiness – Wealth, power, and fame are illusions of happiness.

Characters & Figures

6. Boethius – The protagonist, unjustly imprisoned, seeking wisdom.

7. Lady Philosophy – A personification of wisdom, guiding Boethius.

8. Fortune (Dame Fortune) – Represents the randomness of worldly success.

9. God – The ultimate source of goodness and order.

Philosophical Arguments

10. Divine Foreknowledge & Free Will – How can humans have free will if God knows everything?

11. Evil as a Lack of Good – Evil is not a force but the absence of goodness.

12. The Impermanence of Earthly Goods – External success is fleeting.

13. Justice in the Universe – The wicked are actually powerless.

Important Passages & Ideas

14. "Nothing is miserable unless you think it so."

15. "The mind that is free from vice is free from fate."

16. The Stoic Influence – Control over one's inner state.

17. Platonic Influence – The world of forms vs. material reality.

Notker Balbulus’ Deeds of Emperor Charles the Great (Book 1.1–19, 25–34; 2.2–9):

Key Figures

1. Charlemagne (Charles the Great) – The central figure, king of the Franks and later emperor.

2. Notker Balbulus – The monk of Saint Gall who wrote Deeds of Emperor Charles the Great.

3. Pope Leo III – Supported by Charlemagne, reinforcing the connection between the Frankish kingdom and the Church.

4. Saxons – A pagan group frequently at war with Charlemagne.

5. Lombards – A group in Italy conquered by Charlemagne.

6. Alcuin of York – A scholar who helped Charlemagne promote learning.

Themes & Concepts

7. Divine Kingship – Charlemagne as God’s chosen ruler.

8. Military Conquests – Wars against the Saxons, Lombards, and Avars.

9. Christianization of the Saxons – Forced conversions to Christianity.

10. Monastic Life – The importance of monasteries in preserving knowledge.

11. Royal Generosity – Charlemagne’s support of the Church and scholars.

12. Education & Carolingian Renaissance – Charlemagne’s efforts to promote learning.

13. Miracle Stories – Supernatural events reinforcing Charlemagne’s divine favor.

14. Courtly Behavior – Expectations for nobles in Charlemagne’s court.

Key Events & Stories

15. Building of Aachen Palace – Charlemagne’s royal residence.

16. War Against the Avars – Destruction of the Avar ring fortress.

17. The Story of the Bridges – Charlemagne’s concern for infrastructure.

18. The Talking Elephant – A legendary gift from the Caliph of Baghdad.

19. The Story of the Two Saracens – An example of Charlemagne’s justice.

20. The Noble but Foolish Bishop – A lesson in humility and wisdom.

21. The Saxon Massacre at Verden – Charlemagne’s harsh punishment for rebellion.

St. Anselm of Canterbury, Why God Became Man (Cur Deus Homo):

Key Figures

1. St. Anselm of Canterbury – The author, a medieval theologian and philosopher.

2. Boso – Anselm’s student and dialogue partner in the text.

3. Pope Urban II – Addressed in the commendation and preface.

Theological Concepts

4. Satisfaction Theory of Atonement – Anselm’s argument that Christ’s death was necessary to satisfy divine justice.

5. Divine Justice – God’s moral order requires satisfaction for sin.

6. Sin as an Infinite Offense – Sin dishonors God infinitely, requiring an infinite payment.

7. Necessity of the Incarnation – Only God could provide sufficient satisfaction, so God became man.

8. God’s Honor – Sin violates God’s honor, and restoration is necessary.

9. The Role of Free Will – Humans sinned freely and must freely be restored.

10. Human Incapacity – Humans cannot repay their debt to God on their own.

Key Arguments & Chapters

11. (Book 1, Ch. 1) – The necessity of faith seeking understanding.

12. (Book 1, Ch. 11-13) – Why only God can provide satisfaction for sin.

13. (Book 1, Ch. 19-20) – Why God’s plan is just and reasonable.

14. (Book 1, Ch. 24-25) – Addressing objections to Christ’s necessity.

15. (Book 2, Ch. 1) – The necessity of God becoming man.

16. (Book 2, Ch. 4-7) – Why Christ’s death was voluntary and meritorious.

17. (Book 2, Ch. 18-20) – The benefits of salvation and Christ’s role as mediator.

Dante's Inferno (Cantos 9–13, 18–20, 26–28, 31–34):

Key Figures

1. Dante – The protagonist and traveler through Hell.

2. Virgil – Dante’s guide, symbolizing reason.

3. Minos – The judge of the dead, who assigns sinners their place in Hell.

4. The Furies & Medusa (Canto 9) – Guardians of the City of Dis, representing ultimate evil.

5. Pier della Vigna (Canto 13) – A suicide trapped in the Wood of the Suicides.

6. Brunetto Latini (Canto 15) – Dante’s former mentor, condemned for sodomy.

7. Pope Nicholas III (Canto 19) – A corrupt pope guilty of simony.

8. Ulysses & Diomedes (Canto 26) – Punished for fraudulent counsel, including the Trojan Horse.

9. Guido da Montefeltro (Canto 27) – A fraudulent adviser tricked by Pope Boniface VIII.

10. Bertran de Born (Canto 28) – A sower of discord, carrying his severed head.

11. Count Ugolino (Canto 33) – Condemned for treachery, eternally gnawing on the skull of Archbishop Ruggieri.

12. Lucifer (Canto 34) – The frozen, three-faced ruler of Hell, chewing on Judas, Brutus, and Cassius.

Key Locations & Circles of Hell

13. City of Dis (Canto 9) – The fortified city in lower Hell.

14. Circle 6 (Canto 10) – Heretics, trapped in fiery tombs.

15. Circle 7 (Canto 12-13) – The Violent:

• Violent against others (boiling in Phlegethon, a river of blood).

• Violent against self (suicides transformed into trees).

16. Malebolge (Cantos 18-28) – The 8th Circle, Fraud:

• Bolgia 3 (Canto 19) – Simoniacs, upside down in holes with flames on their feet.

• Bolgia 8 (Canto 26-27) – Fraudulent counselors, encased in flames.

• Bolgia 9 (Canto 28) – Sowers of discord, torn apart repeatedly.

17. Circle 9 (Cantos 31-34) – Treachery:

• Cocytus – A frozen lake where traitors are trapped in ice.

• Judecca (Canto 34) – The lowest level, where Lucifer and the worst traitors are.

Key Themes & Concepts

18. Contrapasso – The idea that punishments fit the sins committed.

19. Divine Justice – The fairness of God’s punishment in Hell.

20. Fraud vs. Violence – Fraud is considered worse than violence in Dante’s Hell.

21. The Role of Free Will – Sinners are in Hell by their own choices.

22. The Journey’s Symbolism – Dante’s descent represents a soul recognizing and rejecting sin.

23. Dante’s Purgatorio (Cantos 1–3, 9–12, 17–19, 28–33):

Key Figures

1. Dante – The protagonist, continuing his journey toward salvation.

2. Virgil – Dante’s guide, representing human reason.

3. Cato (Canto 1) – The guardian of Purgatory, symbolizing moral freedom.

4. Casella (Canto 2) – A singer who tries to embrace Dante but is reminded to move forward.

5. Manfred (Canto 3) – A late-repentant soul, showing God’s mercy.

6. The Angel at the Gate (Canto 9) – Carves the seven “P”s on Dante’s forehead, symbolizing the seven deadly sins.

7. Omberto Aldobrandeschi (Canto 11) – A proud noble reflecting on his downfall.

8. Oderisi da Gubbio (Canto 11) – A once-famous artist, humbled in Purgatory.

9. Sapia (Canto 13) – Represents envy, regretting her joy at others' misfortunes.

10. Marco Lombardo (Canto 16) – Discusses free will and the corruption of the world.

11. The Siren (Canto 19) – An allegory of deceptive earthly pleasures.

12. Matelda (Canto 28) – A mysterious woman in the Earthly Paradise, representing original innocence.

13. Beatrice (Canto 30-33) – Dante’s beloved, symbolizing divine wisdom and theology.

Key Locations & Concepts

14. Ante-Purgatory (Cantos 1-3) – Where souls who delayed repentance must wait.

15. The Angelic Gatekeeper (Canto 9) – Controls entry into Purgatory proper.

16. The Seven Terraces of Purgatory – Each one purging a deadly sin.

17. The Terrace of Pride (Canto 10-12) – The first terrace, where the prideful carry heavy stones.

18. The Terrace of Sloth (Canto 18) – The lazy must run to counteract their past inaction.

19. The Earthly Paradise (Cantos 28-33) – The Garden of Eden, where Dante is purified before ascending to Heaven.

20. The River Lethe (Canto 31) – Erases the memory of past sins.

21. The River Eunoe (Canto 33) – Strengthens the memory of good deeds.

Key Themes & Symbols

22. Moral Growth & Free Will – Souls must actively purify themselves.

23. Contrapasso (Purgatorial Style) – Sinners are purified by experiencing the opposite of their sin.

24. The Role of Grace – Divine help is necessary for salvation.

25. The Importance of Humility (Canto 11) – A central virtue in Purgatory.

26. The Corrupting Nature of Envy (Canto 13) – Souls with eyes sewn shut symbolize envy’s blindness.

27. The Power of Love (Canto 17-18) – Love, when misdirected, leads to sin.

28. The Siren as a False Temptation (Canto 19) – Earthly desires can seem beautiful but are ultimately corrupt.

29. The Symbolism of Beatrice (Canto 30-33) – Represents divine wisdom leading Dante to salvation.

Key Figures

1. Dante – The protagonist, ascending through the celestial spheres.

2. Beatrice – Dante’s guide in Heaven, symbolizing divine wisdom.

3. Piccarda Donati (Canto 3) – A nun in the Sphere of the Moon, representing those who broke their vows.

4. Emperor Justinian (Canto 6) – In the Sphere of Mercury, discussing divine justice and Rome’s legacy.

5. Adam (Canto 26) – The first man, appearing in the Sphere of the Fixed Stars, discussing language and original sin.

6. Saint Bernard (Canto 31-33) – Dante’s final guide, leading him to the vision of God.

7. The Virgin Mary (Canto 33) – The highest intercessor in Heaven, helping Dante see God.

Key Locations & Concepts

8. The Sphere of the Moon (Cantos 1-3) – Souls who broke their religious vows due to external force.

9. The Sphere of Mercury (Canto 6) – Souls who sought honor and earthly glory.

10. The Sphere of the Fixed Stars (Canto 26) – Where Adam and other great souls reside.

11. The Empyrean (Cantos 30-33) – The highest Heaven, where God is directly experienced.

12. The Celestial Rose (Canto 31-32) – A mystical vision of the saved souls arranged in Heaven.

13. The Beatific Vision (Canto 33) – Dante’s final vision of God, beyond human description.

Key Themes & Symbols

14. Divine Light – Symbolizing truth, wisdom, and God’s presence.

15. Hierarchy of Heaven – Souls reside in different spheres based on their level of divine love.

16. Free Will & Divine Justice – Souls are where they chose to be in accordance with God’s will.

17. The Imperfection of Human Language (Canto 26) – Adam explains that language evolves and cannot fully capture divine truths.

18. Rome’s Divine Mission (Canto 6) – Justinian justifies the role of the Roman Empire in God’s plan.

19. Faith & Mysticism (Canto 30-33) – Dante moves beyond intellect into pure faith.

20. The Trinity (Canto 33) – Dante’s final vision, seeing three circles representing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.