The Inferno Final Project

“Abandon All Hope,

Ye Who Enter Here”

In the Inferno

section of the Divine Comedy Dante describes the suffering of various sinners in different circles in hell. Dante tries to symbolically link each punishment to the original sin. He places famous historical people, literary figures, and even people from his hometown in what he sees as the appropriate circle.

Imagine this…

Dante is alive today and you are working with him to revise this epic poem to bring it more in line so that today’s students will be able to better understand his intent and the brilliance of his work.

Who else might Dante add to his list of sinners from post-medieval history, pop culture or fiction? How would the sins change in reference to those living in today’s world?

Update the Sins

Incontinence, malice and fraud do not have the same significance or meaning that they did in Dante’s time.

Look carefully at how he ordered the circles. If you want to rearrange or change them, that is acceptable.

Your job is to make this work relevant for today’s

readers.

On your plate, draw the 9 circles of hell. Then divide each circle into three sections as below:

Identify the Circle # and the sin

Identify the

contrapasso –

Give names of famous

sinners who are found here

You might want to color code your circles.

Please note

The people whom you choose to use as examples can be real world celebrities, historical figures or characters from the literary works you have read. Do NOT give names of people whom you know personally at South High.

Just as the contrapasso

was important to Dante, so should it be for you. Think of whom should be administering the punishment and make the punishment fit the crime.

If you can think of any monsters you would like to add to the circles (AND THEY MAKE SENSE) according to the sin, then add them as well. Monsters are an embellishment, not a requirement of the assignment.

During the last class of this grading period…

you will share your plate and tell us what you have done to modernize Dante’s work.Your plate will be graded as follows:

30% - Contrapasso identified & connected to the transgressions of sinners

30% - Examples – Historical/Literary/Real Figures

30% - Arrangement of the Circles

Put your name on the back of the plate.

Point Total – 200 points for the plate

50 points for its presentation

during class.

Use your imagination and have fun! If you add photos, rework the plate idea on Photo Shop or do something else that merits extra credit, you may earn up to 50 points extra credit.