Epic Ethical Explorations

Worksheet Description

The “Epic Ethical Explorations” worksheet centers around Dante Alighieri’s monumental trilogy – “Inferno,” “Purgatorio,” and “Paradiso.” It prompts students first to summarize the events that unfold across the three epic poems, encapsulating Dante’s allegorical journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Next, it asks learners to consider how the trilogy as a whole serves as an exemplum, or a moral anecdote, within the context of literature. The final task requires students to identify a specific exemplum from each part of the trilogy and articulate the moral or ethical lesson it conveys, reinforcing the connection between storytelling and moral instruction.

This worksheet aims to teach students the integrative process of extracting ethical lessons from classical literature, using Dante’s trilogy as a case study. It encourages them to synthesize complex narratives into concise summaries, a skill that is fundamental in academic discourse. By identifying exempla within the texts, students practice discerning the moral implications embedded in literary works. This exercise not only enhances their literary analysis skills but also deepens their understanding of how literature can reflect and shape moral and ethical discussions.