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Why should you read Dante’s “Divine Comedy”? - Sheila Marie Orfano

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TEDEd Animation

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“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here…” Inscribed above the Gate of Hell, this prophecy sets into motion an epic journey for salvation. Written over 10 years, Dante Alighieri’s three-part narrative poem “Divine Comedy” is both an allegorical imagining of the soul’s journey towards God and a scathing political commentary. Sheila Maria Orfano shares its timeless themes of love, sin and redemption.

What is inscribed above the Gate of Hell?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sheila Marie Orfano
  • Director Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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