Project Ideas for Dante

by John Beall

In History you are working on group research projects about some aspect of Medieval history relevant to Dante and his Inferno. Your major project for English in the final weeks of the year will involve applying what you are learning through your group's research for the History project.

There are at least two options for how to pursue and complete your History and English project:

1. Apply your history research in order to offer a close reading of at least two different scenes in Dante's Inferno

Examples:

• a. Your history project involves research into the nature of warfare in 13th century Italy. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XII and XXVIII, both of which focus on the consequences of war.
• b. Your history project involves research into the policies and practices followed by Popes Boniface and Clement. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XIX and XXVI, where Dante depicts his response to the role of Boniface and Clement in politics and the church.
• c. Your history project involves research into the role of Islamic culture in medieval Europe. Your English project involves a close reading of canto IX, where the influence of Islamic architecture is evident, and canto XXVIII, where Dante represents Mohammed and Ali, two leaders of Islam.
• d. Your history project involves research into the artistic representation of devils and Satan in the middle ages. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XXII, XXIV, and XXXIV, where monstrous torturers and Satan are depicted. (See Mr. Beall if interested in this topic for suggestions.)
• e. Your history project involves research into the conflict between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos VI, X, and XV, where Dante encounters figures who allude to that conflict.
• f. Your history project involves research into the importance of Vergil as a poet in the Middle Ages. (See Dr. Russell for suggestions.) Your English project involves a close reading of virtually any two cantos in the Inferno.
• g. Your history project involves research into the penal code or criminal justice system in thirteenth century Florence. Your English project involves a close reading of virtually any two cantos in the Inferno. For instance, you might focus on the penal code for the punishment of thieves and discuss Dante's depiction of their punishment in cantos XXIV and XXV.
• h. Your history project involves research into the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XI and another canto.
• i. Your history project involves research into the court of Frederick II in Sicily. Your English project involves a close reading of canto X, where Frederick II is mentioned briefly, and canto XIII, where a poet in Frederick's court speaks about his experience there.
• j. Your history project involves research into the Franciscan movement, following the leadership of Francis of Assisi. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XIX and XXVI.
• k. Your history project involves research into the nature of fortune telling, alchemy, and magic in the Middle Ages. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XX and XXIX.
• l. Your history project involves research into the nature of money and commerce in the Middle Ages. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos VII and XXX, where international finance and counterfeiting are mentioned.
• m. Your history project involves research into Dante's love poetry as a part of the flowering of lyric poetry in 13th century Italy. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos V, X, and XV.
• n. Your history project involves research into sports in the Middle Ages. Your English project involves a close reading of cantos XV and XVI, where Dante alludes to racing and wrestling.
• o. Your history project involves research into the relationship between Dante and Boccaccio. Your English project involves an analysis of Boccaccio's commentary on cantos V and VI of the Inferno, or an analysis of how Boccaccio's stories depicts human misconduct differently than any two cantos in the Inferno.

2. Use the research for your History project as the springboard for a work of fiction or a philosophical essay

• a) After having read stories by Boccaccio, write one story in the style of Boccaccio and one story in the style of Dante.
• b) After having read a treatise by Thomas Aquinas, write an essay in which you discuss whether Dante deserves to be punished in his own Hell.
• c) After having read accounts about the relationship between church and state in medieval Italy, write an essay about an issue of church-state relationship in America, such as the issue of prayer in the schools.
• d) After having completed research about a particular type of person or sinner in Dante's poem, write a story in which you portray a modern equivalent of that character in a modern hell.