This lesson plan makes use of Mark Musa's translation of Inferno, first published in 1971 by Indiana University Press, Inc.
While the form of this text is somewhat "sanitized" by virtue of being old-world poetry, the teacher should be aware that the topics discussed by the sinners in Dante's Inferno range from suicide, to murder, to rape, to incest, to virtually every conceivable sin in between. The teacher ought to use his or her judgment of the particular classroom and the text to ensure that proper accommodations and warnings are made as necessary. Above all, ensure that the classroom remains a respectful place for productive and non-threatening conversations about the text.
The...
