Contrapasso Analysis
In my contrapasso assignment, I have created my own version of hell where musical sinners are punished. In this version of hell, there are 12 circles to represent the 12 keys in the musical circle of fourths. Each circle contains individuals who are bad at music for a specific reason such as bad rhythm, or bad pitch. Although these are not necessarily, horrible sins, being bad at music can cause others to become annoyed or even subjected to pain as a result.
This “canto” picks up at the tail end of my journey, where my guide/teacher “Doc” who is Dr. Shewan, and I have journeyed through the previous 11 circles and ended up in the final circle of musical hell. Unlike the previous 11 circles who punished individuals who were bad musicians, this …show more content…
an antlered creature...“Moose,” -- This “antlered creature” is, of course, Mr. Moose. He is both a tormentor for the sinners who are bad at music and a guardian for the island of riches. I felt it was fitting to have Mr. Moose guard the riches on the island because of his high standard in real life when it comes to music. In the past, he has criticized pop music for its over-simplification. 9. height of 88 men -- This is both musical and number symbolism. The number 88 is significant in music because there are 88 keys on a standard piano.
13-14. The instrument I describe Mr. Moose playing is Apollo’s lyre which was crafted by Hermes from tortoise shell and reeds. The messenger god Hermes attempted to steal 50 cattle from Apollo and when Hermes was caught, offered Apollo his legendary lyre. This allusion is symbolic because the moose had been blessed with a mythical object to uphold high standards of music.
21. My heart beating louder than the living ground beneath me. -- This line references not only the fear and anxiety my character was feeling at that moment, but also points out the hell feels like its living. Being the center/ bottom of hell, the circular shape of the area makes it almost seem like a drum, so the earth beneath my character’s feet beat along like a bass drum. This also ties the idea that the bass drum drives the tempo of a song, like how the heart drives
This “canto” picks up at the tail end of my journey, where my guide/teacher “Doc” who is Dr. Shewan, and I have journeyed through the previous 11 circles and ended up in the final circle of musical hell. Unlike the previous 11 circles who punished individuals who were bad musicians, this …show more content…
an antlered creature...“Moose,” -- This “antlered creature” is, of course, Mr. Moose. He is both a tormentor for the sinners who are bad at music and a guardian for the island of riches. I felt it was fitting to have Mr. Moose guard the riches on the island because of his high standard in real life when it comes to music. In the past, he has criticized pop music for its over-simplification. 9. height of 88 men -- This is both musical and number symbolism. The number 88 is significant in music because there are 88 keys on a standard piano.
13-14. The instrument I describe Mr. Moose playing is Apollo’s lyre which was crafted by Hermes from tortoise shell and reeds. The messenger god Hermes attempted to steal 50 cattle from Apollo and when Hermes was caught, offered Apollo his legendary lyre. This allusion is symbolic because the moose had been blessed with a mythical object to uphold high standards of music.
21. My heart beating louder than the living ground beneath me. -- This line references not only the fear and anxiety my character was feeling at that moment, but also points out the hell feels like its living. Being the center/ bottom of hell, the circular shape of the area makes it almost seem like a drum, so the earth beneath my character’s feet beat along like a bass drum. This also ties the idea that the bass drum drives the tempo of a song, like how the heart drives