On first glance, Count Ugolino's speech appears to be quite secular. He even appeals to the earth, not God, to save him and his sons.

In fact, Dante has woven an incredible tapestry of New Testament references together to make this monologue.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we look over Ugolino's speech as both a parody and an affirmation of Jesus' teaching.

Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[00:59] What's about to happen in this podcast episode and a little bit about how the New Testament took shape.

[04:56] Ugolino and Jesus' parable of the sower.

[10:41] Ugolino and the irony of loving his neighbor.

[15:09] Ugolino and the torn veil.

[17:51] Ugolino's story as a parody of the eucharist.

[20:25] Ugolino and the annunciation.

[21:34] Ugolino and Jesus' parable of the persistent neighbor.

[23:42] More on the parody of the eucharist in Ugolino's monologue.

[25:24] Ugolino turns down the sacrifice (sacrament?).

[26:16] Ugolino's secular plea in the middle of so many references to Jesus.

[26:48] Gaddo's last words are an echo of Jesus' last words.

[27:58] Ugolino's last line in the interpretive history of COMEDY.

[30:25] One more reference: dogs and crumbs off the master's table.

[33:29] Is Ugolino's fate what's gnawing the church?

[35:12] The concentration of New Testament references anticipates our approach to Purgatory.