Dante’s Sensory Journey

Worksheet Description

The worksheet uses a passage from Dante’s “Inferno” to explore synesthesia within classic literature. Students are presented with lines from the epic poem and asked to pinpoint the use of synesthesia, identifying which senses are conventionally associated with the described actions or objects and which are unexpectedly invoked. They are also asked to write about the effect of synesthesia on the reader’s experience of the text. The exercise encourages students to delve into the text critically and to consider how sensory descriptions can be manipulated for literary effect.

The purpose of this worksheet is to enhance students’ literary analysis skills, particularly their ability to identify and understand synesthesia as a literary device. It teaches them to recognize how synesthesia can enrich a text, providing depth and a heightened sensory experience. By analyzing a classic work, students learn how historical contexts can influence literary techniques. Additionally, the worksheet prompts students to think about the impact such sensory combinations have on their interpretation and emotional response to the reading material.