Guest Blogger - Michael B.

Tone, The Inferno, Canterbury Tales, Grendel, Allusions. What a mix of stuff. Well seeing as the Inferno/Canterbury Tales/Grendel test recently happened might as well talk about one of those. I would discuss some of the intricacies of tone, or maybe syntax and diction, maybe even roll them all into a wonderful English topic of style. However, that would most likely result in everyone reading this to fall asleep, stop reading, or shoot themselves (which would be a sin). To get on with some actual thought, I will just go off the topic of shooting yourself, otherwise known as suicide, or the sin that will land you in the second ring of the seventh circle of hell. I personally find this ring to be very interesting, it would seem logical that the sins go from one extreme to another, in other words from what affects the least number of people to the greatest. Considering there are three rings, using the logic of extremes, which I probably made up and have no idea if it really exists or not, the first ring should really be against one’s self. This sin is confined to one person; it could be within one’s own home for example. Then, increasing the number of people affected, the second ring would be against one’s neighbor. This sin could conceivably affect many people, whether from only one house or many, nonetheless it would not be confined to yourself, which would require a greater punishment. Finally, the third ring would be against god. Again, a higher number ring, indicating a greater punishment for committing the same sin (violence, because I don’t believe I have actually mentioned what sin this is) and affecting more people. One could commit an act seen as violence towards god and this could affect all of the followers of that one religion. For example, if I said (and I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, it is merely an example, as are the other two examples, please no one start hating me please J) all Mormons are stupid, I’m guessing the majority of Mormons would not be very happy with me. Another example would be if I said the Pope should die and the Vatican City be burned to the ground, Roman Catholics would have a serious problem with that statement. A final example of an act against god and how it could affect many, many people, if I were to say that all Christians are wrong and there truly is no god, and you are all believing in a made-up fictitious lie, I would probably have about a third of the people in the world hating me (http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm). Again, these are examples to illustrate my point, not what my actual feelings or beliefs are. Well I am now well beyond that 300-400 word goal, currently I am at 482 as of the word at the end of this sentence. So, I will end this post and get back to writing my essay, but that was just a little thought I had about The Inferno with respect to the seventh ring.