Alexander Schmid Podcast

In this lecture, we consider (a) the themes, shape, speakers, of Dante's fourth sphere of heaven, The Sun; (b) we consider the shared perspectives of St. Thomas Aquinas on St. Francis of Assisi (10, 11, 13), and the perspective of St. Bonaventure on St. Dominic; (c) we conclude by considering in which way King Solomon, the fifth light on Aquinas' circle, could be perfect like Adam and Christ.

In this lecture, we observe: (a) the reunion of Telemachos and Odysseus and their plot to destroy the suitors; (b) we meet Melanthios, the ungracious goatherd, and observe how some in Ithaka have turned from Odysseus and from what is right; (c) and we conclude with an examination of Argos, the old hunting dog of Odysseus, as a symbol for what Ithaka has become in Odysseus' absence.

In this lecture we consider, (a) Dante's argument for why god became man; and then we move into (b) Venus, and meet Charles Martel, Cunizza da Romano, Folco de Marseilles, and Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho; (c) we conclude with a brief consideration of the relationship between the stars, one's providential destiny, and one's choices on earth. 

In this lecture, we (a) begin the third and final part of Homer's "Odyssey" (Part 1: Bks 1-4; Part 2: Bks 5-13; Part 3: Bks 14-24) (b) observe the hospitality of Eumaios and parallels between him and Odysseus, (c) and see Telemachos meet Eumaios in front of his long-lost, and disguised, father, Odysseus.

In this lecture, we consider (a) the second sphere of Paradise: Mercury and make several connections between the number six (6th century emperor, 6th cantos in each canticle, 6th book of Virgil's "Aeneid"); (b) we observe the speech of Justinian and the mythological and factual history of Rome from Aeneas to the Caesars to Charlemagne and downward to contemporary Guelphs and Ghibellines; and (c) we conclude by having an emperor consider the humble individual: Romeo de Villenueve.

In this lecture we observe: (a) Odysseus' encounter with the Sirens, Skylla and Charybdis, and the Cattle of the Sun on Thrinakia; (b) Poseidon turning the Phaiakian ship to stone (and Odysseus being deposited in Ithaka); (c) and Odysseus being reunited with Athene (conspicuously at home), and plotting the destruction of the suitors.

In this review session on Dante's "Purgatorio," cantos 1-28 are reviewed: from Dante's entrance to Purgatory to his third and final dream before his ascent into Terrestrial Paradise. If a review on Terrestrial Paradise is desired, revisit Lecture 27 (Purgatorio Lecture 10) from this year.

Students, please note that the audio covers slides 1-89; the final slides (90-120) are covered by Lecture 27 from this year.

In this lecture, the entire narrative of Homer's "Iliad" is rapidly reviewed. The review includes major events, characters, and themes.

In this lecture, we conclude our trip into Homer's underworld: (a) we meet Agamemnon, Achilleus, and Aias the Greater again, (b) see the arch-sinners Tityos, Tantalos, and Sisyphos, and (c) learn about the strange condition of Herakles, both shade and god.

In this lecture, we introduce Dante’s “Paradiso”. Specifically, we consider (a) Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the universe and its relation to Paradise; (b) we consider Ovidian elements in Dante’s “Paradiso” as well as whether (1) Dante is fully in Paradise, (2) his mind is in Paradise, or (3) Paradise is within him, and (c) we meet Piccarda Donati and Empress Constance in The Sphere of the Moon and consider six profound questions.