Italian literature
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:Generale Riforma dell' Universo.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Incipit from "[[Generale Riforma dell' Universo]]", from the 77th ''Advertisements from Parnassus'']] | ||
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| - | Important early 20th century writers include [[Italo Svevo]], the author of ''La coscienza di Zeno'' (1923); [[Luigi Pirandello]] (winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature), who explored the shifting nature of reality in his prose fiction and such plays as ''Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore'' (''[[Six Characters in Search of an Author]]'', 1921) ; and the novelists [[Giovanni Verga]] (an exponent of ''verismo'' or [[Naturalism (literature)|Naturalism]]) and [[Cesare Pavese]]. Poetry was represented by the [[Crepuscolari]] and the [[Futurism|Futurists]]; the foremost member of the latter group was [[Filippo Marinetti]]. Leading [[Modernism|Modernist]] poets from later in the century include [[Salvatore Quasimodo]] (winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Literature), [[Giuseppe Ungaretti]], [[Umberto Saba]] and [[Eugenio Montale]] (winner of the 1975 [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]), described by critics as "hermeticists". [[Dino Buzzati]] wrote fantastic and allegorical fiction which has been compared to [[Franz Kafka|Kafka]] and [[Samuel Beckett|Beckett]]. [[Italo Calvino]] also ventured into fantasy in the trilogy ''I nostri antenati'' (''[[Our Ancestors]]'', 1952-1959) and [[post-modernism]] in the novel ''Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore...'' (''[[If on a Winter's Night a Traveler|If on a Winter's Night a Traveller]]'', 1979). [[Primo Levi]] documented his experiences in [[Auschwitz]] in ''Se questo è un uomo'' (''[[If This Is a Man]]'') and other books. [[Giuseppe di Lampedusa]] wrote only one novel, ''[[Il Gattopardo]]'' (''The Leopard'', 1958), but it is one of the most famous in Italian literature; it deals with the life of a [[Sicily|Sicilian]] nobleman in the 19th century. Other novelists include [[Alberto Moravia]] (e.g. ''[[The Conformist|Il conformista]]'', 1951); [[Carlo Emilio Gadda]], author of the experimental ''Quer pasticciaccio brutto de via Merulana'' (1957); [[Natalia Ginzburg]]; and the Sicilian [[Leonardo Sciascia]]. [[Umberto Saba]] won fame for his collection of poems ''Il canzoniere''. [[Pier Paolo Pasolini]] was a controversial poet and novelist. More recently, [[Umberto Eco]] became internationally successful with his novel ''Il nome della rosa'' (''[[The Name of the Rose]]'', 1980). | + | Canon: [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]], [[Pietro Aretino]] [[Giovanni Boccaccio]], [[Giordano Bruno]], [[Dino Buzzati]], [[Giacomo Casanova|Casanova]], [[Traiano Boccalini]], [[Italo Calvino]], [[Umberto Eco]], [[Ernesto Gastaldi]], [[Milo Manara]], [[Alberto Moravia]], [[Luigi Pirandello]], [[Pitigrilli]], [[Poggio Bracciolini]], [[Isabella Santacroce]] |
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| + | "There can be no doubt that the pastoral of [[Longus]] had a considerable influence on the style and incidents of the subsequent Greek romances, particularly those of [[Eustathius]] and [[Theodorus Prodromus]]; but its effects on modern pastorals, particularly those which appeared in Italy during the sixteenth century, is a subject of more difficulty. [[Huet]] is of opinion, that it was not only the model of the ''[[Astrea]]'' of D'Urfe, and the Diana of [[Montemayor]], but gave rise to the Italian dramatic pastoral. This opinion is combated by [[Villoison]], on the grounds that the first edition of Longus was not published till 1598, and that [[Tasso]] died in the year 1595. It is true that the first Greek edition of Longus was not published till 1598, but there was a French translation by [[Amyot]], which appeared in 1559, and one in Latin verse by [[Gambara]] in 1569, either of which might have been seen by Tasso. But although this argument brought forward by Villoison be of little avail, he is probably right in the general notion he has adopted, that ''[[Daphnis and Chloe]]'' was not the origin of the pastoral drama. ''The Sacrificio'' of [[Agostino Beccari]], which was the earliest specimen of this style of composition, and was acted at Ferrara in 1554, was written previous to the appearance of any edition or version of Longus. Nor is there any similarity in the story or incidents of the [[Aminta]] to those in ''Daphnis and Chloe'', which should lead us to imagine, that the Greek romance had been imitated by Tasso."--''[[History of Fiction]]'' (1814) by Dunlop | ||
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| + | [[Image:Poggio.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Imaginary portrait of [[Poggio Bracciolini]]]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Giordano Bruno, woodcut from Articuli centum et sexaginta adversus huius tempestatis mathematicos atque philosophos.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Woodcut from 'Articuli centum et sexaginta adversus huius tempestatis mathematicos atque philosophos' by Giordano Bruno]]]] | ||
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| + | '''Italian literature''' is written in the [[Italian language]], particularly within [[Italy]]. | ||
| - | '''Italian literature''' is written in the [[Italian language]], particularly within [[Italy]]. It may also refer to literature written by [[Italian people|Italians]] or in Italy in other languages spoken in Italy, often languages that are closely related to modern Italian. An early example of Italian literature is the tradition of vernacular [[lyric poetry]] performed in [[Occitan]], which reached Italy by the end of the 12th century. In 1230, the [[Sicilian School]] is notable for being the first style in standard Italian. Dante, one of the greatest of Italian poets, is notable for his ''[[The Divine Comedy|Divina Commedia]]''. [[Petrarch]] did classical research and wrote lyric poetry. Renaissance humanism developed during the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. Humanists sought to create a citizenry able to speak and write with eloquence and clarity. Early humanists, such as [[Petrarch]], were great collectors of antique manuscripts. [[Lorenzo de Medici]] shows the influence of Florence on the Renaissance. [[Leonardo da Vinci]] wrote a treatise on painting. The development of the drama in the 15th century was very great. The fundamental characteristic of the era following Renaissance is that it perfected the Italian character of its language. Machiavelli and Guicciardini were the chief originators of the science of history. [[Pietro Bembo]] was an influential figure in the development of the [[Italian language]] and an influence on the 16th-century revival of interest in the works of [[Petrarch]]. | + | An early example of Italian literature is the tradition of vernacular [[lyric poetry]] performed in [[Occitan language|Occitan]], which reached Italy by the end of the 12th century. In 1230, the [[Sicilian School]] became notable for being the first style in standard Italian. [[Dante Alighieri]], one of the greatest of Italian poets, is notable for being the author of ''[[Divine Comedy|La Divina Commedia]]'' (''The Divine Comedy'', c. 1308–1320). [[Renaissance humanism]] developed during the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries; Italian humanists sought to create a citizenry able to speak and write with eloquence and clarity. Early Italian humanists, such as the lyric poet [[Francesco Petrarca]] and the [[Neoplatonism|Neoplatonist]] [[philosopher]] [[Marsilio Ficino]], were erudite [[Classics|Classical scholars]] and great collectors of antique manuscripts. The Italian nobleman, statesman, and mecenate [[Lorenzo de Medici]] is regarded as the standard bearer of the influence of [[Florence]] on the Renaissance in the [[Italian states]]. The Italian polymath, scientist, and artist [[Leonardo da Vinci]] wrote a treatise on painting. The development of the [[drama]] in the 15th century was very great. In the 16th century, the fundamental characteristic of the era following the end of the Renaissance is that it perfected the Italian character of its language. [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] and [[Francesco Guicciardini]] were the chief originators of the science of history. [[Pietro Bembo]] was an influential figure in the development of the [[Italian language]] and an influence on the 16th-century revival of interest in the works of Petrarca. |
| - | In 1690 the [[Academy of Arcadia]] was instituted with the goal of "restoring" literature by imitating the simplicity of the ancient shepherds with [[sonnet]]s, [[madrigal (music)|madrigals]], ''[[canzonette]]'' and [[blank verse]]. In the 17th century, some strong and independent thinkers, such as [[Bernardino Telesio]], [[Lucilio Vanini]], Bruno and Campanella turned philosophical inquiry into fresh channels, and opened the way for the scientific conquests of [[Galileo Galilei]], who is notable both for his scientific discoveries and his writing. In the 18th century, the political condition of Italy began to improve, and philosophers throughout Europe in the period known as [[The Enlightenment]]. [[Apostolo Zeno]] and [[Metastasio]] are two of the notable figures of the age. [[Carlo Goldoni]], a Venetian, created the comedy of character. The leading figure of the literary revival of the 18th century was [[Giuseppe Parini]]. | + | In 1690, the [[Academy of Arcadia]] was instituted with the goal of "restoring" literature by imitating the simplicity of the ancient shepherds with [[sonnet]]s, [[Madrigal (music)|madrigals]], ''[[canzonette]]'', and [[blank verse]]s. In the 17th century, some strong and independent Italian [[Freethought|free-thinkers]], such as [[Bernardino Telesio]], [[Lucilio Vanini|Giulio Cesare Vanini]], [[Giordano Bruno]], and [[Tommaso Campanella]] turned philosophical and esoteric inquiry into fresh channels, and opened the way for the scientific conquests of the Italian astronomer [[Galileo Galilei]], who is notable both for his scientific discoveries and his writings. In the 18th century, the political condition of the Italian states began to improve, and philosophers disseminated their writings and ideas throughout [[Europe]] during the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. [[Apostolo Zeno]] and [[Metastasio]] are two of the notable figures of the age. [[Carlo Goldoni]], a Venetian playwright and librettist, created the comedy of character. The leading figure of the 18th-century Italian literary revival was [[Giuseppe Parini]]. |
| - | The ideas behind the [[French Revolution]] of 1789 gave a special direction to Italian literature in the second half of the 18th century. Love of liberty and desire for equality created a literature aimed at national object. Patriotism and classicism were the two principles that inspired the literature that began with [[Vittorio Alfieri]]. Other patriots included [[Vincenzo Monti]] and [[Ugo Foscolo]]. The romantic school had as its organ the ''Conciliatore'' established in 1818 at Milan. The main instigator of the reform was Manzoni. The great poet of the age was [[Giacomo Leopardi]]. History returned to its spirit of learned research. The literary movement that preceded and was contemporary with the political revolution of 1848 may be said to be represented by four writers - [[Giuseppe Giusti]], [[Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi]], [[Vincenzo Gioberti]] and [[Cesare Balbo]]. After the ''Risorgimento,'' political literature becomes less important. The first part of this period is characterized by two divergent trends of literature that both opposed Romanticism, the ''[[Scapigliatura]]'' and ''[[Verismo (literature)|Verismo]]''. Important early 20th century writers include [[Italo Svevo]] and [[Luigi Pirandello]] (winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature). [[Italian neorealism|Neorealism]] was developed by [[Alberto Moravia]]. [[Umberto Eco]] became internationally successful with the Medieval detective story ''Il nome della rosa'' (''[[The Name of the Rose]]'', 1980). | + | The philosophical, political, and socially progressive ideas behind the [[French Revolution]] of 1789 gave a special direction to Italian literature in the second half of the 18th century, inaugurated with the publication of the juridical-philosophical treatise ''[[On Crimes and Punishments|Dei delitti e delle pene]]'' (''On Crimes and Punishments'', 1764) by the Italian criminologist and jurist [[Cesare Beccaria]]. Love of liberty and desire for equality created a literature aimed at national object. Patriotism and classicism were the two principles that inspired the literature that began with the Italian dramatist and poet [[Vittorio Alfieri]]. Other patriots included the lyric poets [[Vincenzo Monti]] and [[Ugo Foscolo]]. The [[Romanticism|Romantic movement]] had as its organ the ''Conciliatore'', established in 1818 at Milan. The main instigator of the reform was the Italian poet and novelist [[Alessandro Manzoni]], notable for being the author of the historical novel ''[[The Betrothed (Manzoni novel)|I promessi sposi]]'' (''The Betrothed'', 1827–1842). The great Italian poet of the age was [[Giacomo Leopardi]]. History returned to its spirit of learned research. The literary movement that preceded and was contemporary with the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states|political revolutions of 1848]] may be said to be represented by four writers: [[Giuseppe Giusti]], [[Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi]], [[Vincenzo Gioberti]], and [[Cesare Balbo]]. After the ''[[Risorgimento]]'', political literature became less important. The first part of this period is characterized by two divergent trends of literature that both opposed Romanticism: the ''[[Scapigliatura]]'' and ''[[Verismo (literature)|Verismo]]'', with the most prominent figure of the latter being the Sicilian writer [[Giovanni Verga]], author of ''[[I Malavoglia]]'' (''The House by the Medlar-Tree'', 1881). |
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| - | ==Bibliography== | + | |
| - | ===Further reading=== | + | |
| - | Important German works, besides Gaspary, are those of Wilse and Percopo (illustrated; Leipzig, 1899), and of [[Tommaso Casini]] (in Grober's Grundr. der rom. Phil., Strasbourg, 1896-1899). | + | |
| - | English students are referred to [[John Addington Symonds]]'s ''[[Renaissance in Italy]]'' (especially, but not exclusively, vols. iv. and v.; new ed., London, 1902), and to [[Richard Garnett]]'s ''History of Italian Literature'' (London, 1898). | + | Important early 20th-century Italian writers include [[Giovanni Pascoli]], [[Italo Svevo]], [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]], [[Umberto Saba]], [[Giuseppe Ungaretti]], [[Eugenio Montale]], and [[Luigi Pirandello]] (winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature). [[Italian neorealism|Neorealism]] was developed by [[Alberto Moravia]]. [[Pier Paolo Pasolini]] became notable for being one of the most controversial authors in the history of Italy. [[Umberto Eco]] became internationally successful with the Medieval detective story ''[[The Name of the Rose|Il nome della rosa]]'' (''The Name of the Rose'', 1980). The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Italian language authors six times (as of 2019) with winners including [[Giosuè Carducci]], [[Grazia Deledda]], [[Luigi Pirandello]], [[Salvatore Quasimodo]], [[Eugenio Montale]], and [[Dario Fo]]. |
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| *[[20th century Italian literature]] | *[[20th century Italian literature]] | ||
| *[[Romanzo d'appendìce]] | *[[Romanzo d'appendìce]] | ||
| - | *[[Pitigrilli]] | + | *[[Italian culture]] |
| - | *[[Isabella Santacroce]] | + | |
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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Canon: Gabriele D'Annunzio, Pietro Aretino Giovanni Boccaccio, Giordano Bruno, Dino Buzzati, Casanova, Traiano Boccalini, Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Ernesto Gastaldi, Milo Manara, Alberto Moravia, Luigi Pirandello, Pitigrilli, Poggio Bracciolini, Isabella Santacroce "There can be no doubt that the pastoral of Longus had a considerable influence on the style and incidents of the subsequent Greek romances, particularly those of Eustathius and Theodorus Prodromus; but its effects on modern pastorals, particularly those which appeared in Italy during the sixteenth century, is a subject of more difficulty. Huet is of opinion, that it was not only the model of the Astrea of D'Urfe, and the Diana of Montemayor, but gave rise to the Italian dramatic pastoral. This opinion is combated by Villoison, on the grounds that the first edition of Longus was not published till 1598, and that Tasso died in the year 1595. It is true that the first Greek edition of Longus was not published till 1598, but there was a French translation by Amyot, which appeared in 1559, and one in Latin verse by Gambara in 1569, either of which might have been seen by Tasso. But although this argument brought forward by Villoison be of little avail, he is probably right in the general notion he has adopted, that Daphnis and Chloe was not the origin of the pastoral drama. The Sacrificio of Agostino Beccari, which was the earliest specimen of this style of composition, and was acted at Ferrara in 1554, was written previous to the appearance of any edition or version of Longus. Nor is there any similarity in the story or incidents of the Aminta to those in Daphnis and Chloe, which should lead us to imagine, that the Greek romance had been imitated by Tasso."--History of Fiction (1814) by Dunlop |
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Italian literature is written in the Italian language, particularly within Italy.
An early example of Italian literature is the tradition of vernacular lyric poetry performed in Occitan, which reached Italy by the end of the 12th century. In 1230, the Sicilian School became notable for being the first style in standard Italian. Dante Alighieri, one of the greatest of Italian poets, is notable for being the author of La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy, c. 1308–1320). Renaissance humanism developed during the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries; Italian humanists sought to create a citizenry able to speak and write with eloquence and clarity. Early Italian humanists, such as the lyric poet Francesco Petrarca and the Neoplatonist philosopher Marsilio Ficino, were erudite Classical scholars and great collectors of antique manuscripts. The Italian nobleman, statesman, and mecenate Lorenzo de Medici is regarded as the standard bearer of the influence of Florence on the Renaissance in the Italian states. The Italian polymath, scientist, and artist Leonardo da Vinci wrote a treatise on painting. The development of the drama in the 15th century was very great. In the 16th century, the fundamental characteristic of the era following the end of the Renaissance is that it perfected the Italian character of its language. Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini were the chief originators of the science of history. Pietro Bembo was an influential figure in the development of the Italian language and an influence on the 16th-century revival of interest in the works of Petrarca.
In 1690, the Academy of Arcadia was instituted with the goal of "restoring" literature by imitating the simplicity of the ancient shepherds with sonnets, madrigals, canzonette, and blank verses. In the 17th century, some strong and independent Italian free-thinkers, such as Bernardino Telesio, Giulio Cesare Vanini, Giordano Bruno, and Tommaso Campanella turned philosophical and esoteric inquiry into fresh channels, and opened the way for the scientific conquests of the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, who is notable both for his scientific discoveries and his writings. In the 18th century, the political condition of the Italian states began to improve, and philosophers disseminated their writings and ideas throughout Europe during the Age of Enlightenment. Apostolo Zeno and Metastasio are two of the notable figures of the age. Carlo Goldoni, a Venetian playwright and librettist, created the comedy of character. The leading figure of the 18th-century Italian literary revival was Giuseppe Parini.
The philosophical, political, and socially progressive ideas behind the French Revolution of 1789 gave a special direction to Italian literature in the second half of the 18th century, inaugurated with the publication of the juridical-philosophical treatise Dei delitti e delle pene (On Crimes and Punishments, 1764) by the Italian criminologist and jurist Cesare Beccaria. Love of liberty and desire for equality created a literature aimed at national object. Patriotism and classicism were the two principles that inspired the literature that began with the Italian dramatist and poet Vittorio Alfieri. Other patriots included the lyric poets Vincenzo Monti and Ugo Foscolo. The Romantic movement had as its organ the Conciliatore, established in 1818 at Milan. The main instigator of the reform was the Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, notable for being the author of the historical novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed, 1827–1842). The great Italian poet of the age was Giacomo Leopardi. History returned to its spirit of learned research. The literary movement that preceded and was contemporary with the political revolutions of 1848 may be said to be represented by four writers: Giuseppe Giusti, Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi, Vincenzo Gioberti, and Cesare Balbo. After the Risorgimento, political literature became less important. The first part of this period is characterized by two divergent trends of literature that both opposed Romanticism: the Scapigliatura and Verismo, with the most prominent figure of the latter being the Sicilian writer Giovanni Verga, author of I Malavoglia (The House by the Medlar-Tree, 1881).
Important early 20th-century Italian writers include Giovanni Pascoli, Italo Svevo, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Umberto Saba, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Eugenio Montale, and Luigi Pirandello (winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature). Neorealism was developed by Alberto Moravia. Pier Paolo Pasolini became notable for being one of the most controversial authors in the history of Italy. Umberto Eco became internationally successful with the Medieval detective story Il nome della rosa (The Name of the Rose, 1980). The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Italian language authors six times (as of 2019) with winners including Giosuè Carducci, Grazia Deledda, Luigi Pirandello, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio Montale, and Dario Fo.
See also
