Dante's Inferno

As he navigates Hell with Virgil, Dante sees the punishments of the souls held there, including the punishments of famous dead figures from history and mythology such as Pope Nicholas III, Caiaphas, Mohammad, and Ulysses. What is the overall role of punishment and sin in Inferno and how do the punishments of the souls in Hell exemplify the concept of contrapasso, that is, the idea that one’s punishment should suit their sin?

Teaching Suggestion: Sin and the Contrapasso is one of the main themes of Dante’s Inferno. You may want to discuss the concept of sin within a Medieval Catholic context with the class, contrasting Dante’s concept of sin with more modern approaches. Make sure to also highlight the concept of contrapasso, or “counter-suffering,” an idea that informs the punishments devised by Dante in his poem that is explained most clearly by Bertrand de Born in Canto 28.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English-language learners or students who would benefit from assistance with abstract thinking, it might be useful to set frames or context for students to answer this question in a classroom discussion. For example, students might benefit from thinking about sin and punishment on a more concrete level: What are some examples of sins? Who are the sinners punished in Dante’s Inferno? What are some examples of punishments in the poem? Alternatively, students could approach the discussion by categorizing teacher-selected sins and punishments from the poem and explaining how these examples illustrate the concept of contrapasso.