Classic works and key concepts of Italian literature, from Dante and Manzoni to Calvino and other great authors, at C2 level.
Dante Alighieri
Italian poet (13th to 14th century), author of the Divine Comedy, a cornerstone of European literature
La Divina Commedia
The Divine Comedy: Dante's allegorical epic about a journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise
Inferno
Inferno (Hell): the first part of the Divine Comedy, in which Dante descends into the depths of Hell
Purgatorio
Purgatory: the second part of the Divine Comedy, in which Dante climbs the mountain of Purgatory
Paradiso
Paradise: the third part of the Divine Comedy, in which Dante reaches Heaven
terza rima
terza rima: an Italian rhyme scheme ABA BCB CDC and so on, typical of Dante
Beatrice
Dante's beloved, who appears in the Divine Comedy; a symbol of love and purity
Virgilio
Virgil: the classical Roman poet who guides Dante in the Comedy; a symbol of human reason and wisdom
Alessandro Manzoni
Italian novelist of the 19th century, author of The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi)
I Promessi Sposi
The Betrothed: Manzoni's classic novel about love, marriage and oppression in 17th-century Lombardy
Renzo Tramaglino
main character of The Betrothed; a young man from the common people
Lucia Mondella
Renzo's fiancée in The Betrothed; a figure of purity and patience
Don Abbondio
the weak priest in The Betrothed; a symbol of cowardice
Italo Calvino
Italian writer of the 20th century, author of Invisible Cities and The Baron in the Trees
Le città invisibili
Invisible Cities: Calvino's work of imaginary cities described by Marco Polo to Kublai Khan
Il Barone rampante
The Baron in the Trees: Calvino's novel about a nobleman who lives in the trees; a metaphor for rebellion
Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò
the hero of The Baron in the Trees; a boy who chooses to live in the trees
Giovanni Boccaccio
14th-century writer and scholar, author of the Decameron
Il Decamerone
The Decameron: a collection of 100 stories told by 10 young people during the plague
Francesco Petrarca
Petrarch: Italian poet of the 14th century, founder of the European love sonnet tradition
Canzoniere
Petrarch's collection of 366 poems describing deep love and longing
ottava rima
ottava rima: an eight-line Italian stanza form, widely used in narrative poetry
sonetto
sonnet: a classic Italian poem of 14 lines
endecasillabo
hendecasyllable: an 11-syllable line, the main verse form of Italian poetry
settenario
a 7-syllable line; a shorter verse form in Italian poetry
Francesco Petrarca
Petrarch: 14th-century Italian poet, considered the father of Renaissance humanism
Girolamo Savonarola
Dominican friar from Florence with wide influence during the Renaissance
Niccolò Machiavelli
Machiavelli: 16th-century political philosopher and writer, author of The Prince
Il Principe
The Prince: Machiavelli's political treatise on how to gain and keep power
realismo
realism: a literary movement focused on accurate depiction of real life
romanticismo
Romanticism: an artistic movement emphasizing emotion, imagination and the individual
neorealismo
neorealism: an Italian movement in film and literature focusing on the lives of ordinary people
verismo
verismo: an Italian literary movement favoring plain, truthful depiction of reality
Giovanni Verga
Italian writer of the 19th century, leading figure of verismo
I Malavoglia
The House by the Medlar Tree: Verga's novel about a Sicilian fishing family struggling to survive
ottocento
the 1800s, the 19th century (in Italian literature and art)
novecento
the 1900s, the 20th century (in Italian literature and art)
futurismo
Futurism: an Italian art movement celebrating speed, technology and aggression
Luigi Pirandello
Italian playwright and novelist of the 20th century; explored identity and reality
Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore
Six Characters in Search of an Author: Pirandello's play about characters looking for an author to tell their story
Umberto Eco
modern Italian scholar and author, writer of The Name of the Rose
Il nome della rosa
The Name of the Rose: Eco's mystery novel set in a medieval monastery