Dante's Short Report

Short Report on Dante

As he journeys with Virgil through hell, Dante (the character or “pilgrim”) encounters many sinners, many of whom he engages in conversation. The sinners, despite their suffering, generally want to share their stories: some hope, and even beg, that Dante will relay those stories to his earthly readers. Often the sinners not only recount their versions of what led them to the situation they are now in: they also are eager to defend themselves and rationalize their actions in life. An added, interesting dimension to these exchanges Dante has with the sinners is that many of the sinners are people who were prominent in Dante’s world, either in the century or so preceding the composition of the Commedia or even in Dante’s own lifetime. (There is even at least one very bad sinner whose soul is in Dante’s hell while his body is still alive and going about its business on earth!—see the end of Canto 33)

For this short report, imagine yourself in a situation like Dante’s, in which you are suddenly given the chance to tour hell and encounter “sinners” of the recent past, including your lifetime. It is up to you to decide who might be or might have been a sinner you encounter in the hell you visit. Here’s a tip: many who have tried this assignment go for the (to some, at least) easy targets: I’ve read encounters with Ted Bundy, Osama Bin Laden, Charles Manson, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, O. J. Simpson, Bill and/or Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and any of the Kardashians, among many others (including me). You might want to avoid those, however, because your encounter might be more interesting if you choose to interview someone perhaps less obviously “infamous,” someone about whom we might not have preconceptions, someone you know well. Remember also that Dante reserved places in hell not for those who merely sinned but rather for those who remained unrepentant throughout their lives. Your imaginary encounter should take about two to three double-spaced pages.

Before you start or complete this assignment, make sure you’ve read carefully the Class Notes for April 28. These will help you understand what typically happens in an encounter between Dante and a sinner.

Focus your paper on one or two particular, striking encounters with particular sinners, much as Dante does in each canto. At a minimum, you should describe the setting of the encounter fully, describe the punishment of the sinner and then present the conversation you would have with him or her. Be as creative and probing as you can, keeping in mind that there may be sinners and types of sin you might encounter of which Dante could not have dreamed. What I will be looking for mainly in your writing will be thoughtfulness, thoroughness and clear indication that you know what Dante’s encounters with sinners are like because you’ve read a number of cantos from the Inferno.