Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Lesson Plan

What is sin, and what role does it play in the first few Cantos?

Students will likely all be familiar with the concept of sin, even if they aren't necessarily able to give a precise definition. The first thing that may come to students' minds when trying to explain sin is that it involves some kind of wrongdoing that directly goes against what is perceived to be God's will. Other students may also mention that according to some versions of Christianity, humans are sinful by nature—and yet, if sin is both morally odious and completely inescapable, this creates quite a dilemma for humankind. Some students may find this an opportune time to introduce the idea that the dark...