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This site is being developed by Mrs. Miller's (H) European Literature classes. =Students have been divided into four groups to develop background knowledge of Dante's //Inferno.//=

Group 1:
===Dante the poet chose the poet Virgil to be Dante the traveler's guide through hell. Who is Virgil? Why did Dante choose Virgil? (What do they have in common? Why would Virgil know about hell?) How might having Virgil as a guide affect Dante the traveler's experience?===
 * Group 1's Answers and Source Citations

Group 2:
===What is the traditional Christian view of hell? Where does that idea of hell come from? How do the sources from which those perspectives come affect what they are? How has the Christian view of hell evolved?===
 * Group 2's Answers and Source Citations

What was happening in late 13th century politics in Florence, Italy? What side was Dante on? What happens to him as a result of his opinion? How did he handle this?

 * Group 3's Answers and Source Citations

Group 4:
===a: What is the vernacular? Why did Dante choose to write in it? His poem is written in a form called terza rima. What does that mean? What is the effect of the use of both of these two things, formality of terza rima and vernacular?=== ===b: Inferno is one-third of a larger piece of literature. What's it called? Why does he call the greater work a comedy if it isn't intended to be funny? What are the other two-thirds about? How are they structured?===

**c: What is an allegory, and what did Dante intend to do with his?**

 * Group 4 -- part A Answers and Source Citations
 * Group 4 -- part B Answers and Source Citations
 * Group 4 -- part C Answers and Source Citaitons