Commentary Par XIV 52-57

In marked contrast to Thomas, who only rarely sounds 'poetic' (but see C.Par.XI.19-21), Solomon here is granted one of the few similes allowed a speaker in the poem (we have not encountered a simile since the one involving Iris in [Par XII 10-21]).  This further identifies him with Dante and the world of poetry, eclipsing Thomas at least a little.  This is not to say that Dante does not value Thomas; he values hardly anyone more.  But it is also time for some good-natured revenge on the man who labored to belittle poetry and poets.

There are some 628 verses in the heaven of the Sun, nearly half of them (287) spoken by Thomas, poetry's confirmed enemy.  Further, Dante is silent in all of this heaven, as though to match Thomas by opposition, switching roles with him.  This is the only 'zone' of the entire poem in which the protagonist does not say a single word.