IT23 “Francesca da Rimini” (Divine Comedy, Inferno canto V)

The Divine Comedy of Dante, Inferno canto V was chosen with the aim of analysing and reflecting about the role played  by women at the time. Dante's Inferno was presented to the students, with special emphasis on the story of Paolo and Francesca. In the Middle Age, the time of the poet, the woman was the target of intense misogyny. Considered an inferior being by nature she suffered repression and discrimination. Submissive and obedient was what was expected of the woman. Considered property of the father and/or husband, the woman's main function was to serve and reproduce. In Dante’s time, people would assume that the man would take control of the situation, but Dante gives her something to say, making Francesca more powerful than Paolo. This can be seen as a warning of what would happen if the role of women in society changed and were allowed too much freedom or power. The students had to reflect upon this feminine character and about love.

The students made a poster representing Dante's Inferno and in pairs built several power points with excerpts and images from Dante’s Inferno referring to Francesca and Paolo. The concept of Love was the basis for a moment of creative writing in which students produced their own poems. The work done was presented to parents, teachers and other students at the final party. At the end students suggested that the role Dante gave to women in Inferno could be a warning of what would happen if the role of women in society changed and were allowed too much freedom or power.