Question

Use the following excerpt from Boccaccio's The Decameron to answer the following question:

In the year of our Lord 1348, there happened at Florence, the finest city in all Italy a most terrible plague; which, whether owing to the influence of the planets, or that it was sent from God as a just punishment for our sins, had broken out some years before in the Levant (Middle East) and, after passing from place to place, and making incredible havoc all the way, had now reached the west

[The plague] occasioned various fears and devices amongst those who survived, all tending to the same uncharitable and cruel end; which was, to avoid the sick and everything that had been near them, expecting by that means to save themselves. Some [held] it best to live temperately and to avoid excesses of all kindsandthey shut themselves up from the rest of the worldOthers maintained free living to be a better preservative and would balk no passion or appetite they wished to gratify, drinking and reveling incessantly from tavern to tavernyet strenuously avoiding, with all this brutal indulgence, to come near the infected.- Public Domain

How does Boccaccio let you know that he recognized that the plague spread widely from one location to another? (5 points)

a. He states that it was caused by rats.
b. He states that it caused reckless behavior.
c. He states that it spread from the Middle East.
d. He states that people did not avoid the sick.

6. Use the following excerpt from Boccaccio's The Decameron to answer the following question:

In the year of our Lord 1348, there happened at Florence, the finest city in all Italy a most terrible plague; which, whether owing to the influence of the planets, or that it was sent from God as a just punishment for our sins, had broken out some years before in the Levant (Middle East) and, after passing from place to place, and making incredible havoc all the way, had now reached the west…

[The plague] occasioned various fears and devices amongst those who survived, all tending to the same uncharitable and cruel end; which was, to avoid the sick and everything that had been near them, expecting by that means to save themselves. Some [held] it best to live temperately and to avoid excesses of all kinds…and…they shut themselves up from the rest of the world…Others maintained free living to be a better preservative and would balk no passion or appetite they wished to gratify, drinking and reveling incessantly from tavern to tavern…yet strenuously avoiding, with all this brutal indulgence, to come near the infected.- Public Domain

Based on the passage, how would Boccaccio likely feel about the actions of the flagellants, who warned Christians to repent? (5 points)

a. He would find their actions sinful because they accused God.
b. He would find their actions appropriate because the Church was corrupt.
c. He would find their actions appropriate because he believed human sin may have caused the plague.
d. He would find their actions inappropriate because he was certain the planets caused the plague.

Answer 1

The answers are a and d

Answer 2

1. c. He states that it spread from the Middle East.

Boccaccio states that the plague "had broken out some years before in the Levant (Middle East) and, after passing from place to place, and making incredible havoc all the way, had now reached the west." This shows that he is aware of the plague's origin and of the way it followed to get to the west. However, there is no indication that he knows by what mechanism it travelled.

2. c. He would find their actions appropriate because he believed human sin may have caused the plague.

Boccaccio does not actually state that he believes the plague was caused by human sin. However, he does think that is a possible explanation (another one would be the influence of the planets). Therefore, it is likely he would have judged the flagellants as prudent and appropriate.