Giovanni Boccaccio: Biography, History, Works and Books

One of the authors who are still valid with their works, that is Giovanni Boccaccio Known for his famous play The Decameron. Many other stories have been woven from it. His works were always contextualized in love, even though he had no luck in this area of ​​life. Do not miss this interesting story. I'm sure you'll love it.

Giovanni-Boccaccio-2

Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio's date of birth was June 16, 1313, and he died on December 21, 1375. The discussion about the place of his birth has occurred between the towns of Certaldo and Florence, in Italy . He stood out for being a very famous writer and great humanist of Italian origin. Most of the literary compositions of John Boccaccio They were written in the Latin language.

Among the works the most important works of this writer, is the one entitled Decameron. This work represents an essential book for academic instruction in the field of European literature. The genre that characterizes this literary work is the short novel, or also known as a story.

[su_note]Taking into account that narration is used, framed as its technical resource. Likewise, through said work, the foundation of a fairly large school named Novellieri was enhanced, which imitated his work. [/ Su_note]

The impact of this literary work influenced the world of art, since we can enjoy Giovanni Boccaccio Painting, the works of Sandro Boticelli who captures on his canvases various pictorial works on stories from the Decameron. Among those that have achieved the most recognition we can mention the History of Nastgio degli Onesti. This work shows us the fifth story of the Fourth Day. In other words, it describes how a young man who is not reciprocated by the lady he loves watches as a knight and two mastiffs go after the young lover and to rescue her he gives her heart to the dogs for them to eat.

Biography

According to biography of giovanni boccaccio born in the month of June of the year 1313. His father was the merchant Boccaccio di Chellino. He was an agent for a powerful mercantile-type company belonging to the Bardi.

However, in relation to his mother, he does not have much information with certainty. Even the specific birthplace of Boccaccio is disputed. It is presumed that it could have been in Florence, or perhaps in Certaldo. There are even those who maintain that he could have been in Paris, because his father had moved to this city on many occasions motivated by his work.

Likewise, what is known about his childhood is that he developed in Florence, and that it was his father who was in charge of his upbringing and education. He even continued to live in his paternal house after the year 1319, at the time his father married Margherita dei Mardoli.

Giovanni-Boccaccio-2

During the years from 1325 to 1327, the place of residence of Giovanni Boccaccio biography reveals to us that it was Florence. This as a result of his father sending him to do work in the office belonging to the Bardi located in Naples.

Because Giovanni Boccaccio showed that he did not feel more inclined towards the subject of business, then his father made the decision in the year 1331, to direct him towards the study of Canon Law. This too was a resounding failure.

Among the latests Moravia's compositions Giovanni Bocaccio most important works They can refer to The hunt for Diana, the Filoloco, The Philolastro, The Teseida, The Comedy of the Florentine Nymphs (Ameto), Loving vision, Elegy of Madonna Fiammetta, Ninfale fiesolano, The Decameron, The corbacho, among others.

start in letters

After the failure of his canon law studies, he can now dedicate himself entirely to letters, under the tutelage of prominent scholars of the Neapolitan court, such as Paolo da Perugia and also Andaló di Negro. He then began to frequent the refined atmosphere of the court of Robert of Anjou, who was a personal friend of his father.

Thus, when the years between 1330 and 1331 arrived, the young Giovanni Boccaccio received the notable influence of the Stilnovista poet Cino da Pistoia, who proceeded to teach Law at the University of Naples.

During the morning of March 30, 1331, specifically on Holy Saturday, Giovanni Bocaccio was barely seventeen years old. That day he meets a lady of Neapolitan origin. He fell passionately in love with her.

[su_note] It should be noted that this meeting is described in the work of this author Filocolo. It is important to point out that that woman is immortalized with the name of Fiammetta “llamita”, whom she courted tirelessly through songs and various sonnets. [/ Su_note]

Fiammeta: Maria Aquinas

One of the Bocaccio works is the titled Fiammeta. Possibly Fiammetta was Maria de Aquinas. She was the legitimate daughter of whoever was the king. In addition, this woman who caught the heart of the writer, was the wife of a gentle man belonging to the court. However, we must highlight the fact that no documents have been found that confirm this.

Giovanni-Boccaccio-4

Then Fiammetta, was the key that would open the doors of the court to Giovanni Boccaccio. As well as what is most important, to promote him in his literary career that was incipient at that time. So under this influence, Giovanni Boccaccio proceeded to write his novels as well as his youthful court poems, from where they can be mentioned from Giovanni Boccaccio works such as:

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  • Philocolus
  • Philostratus
  • Theseis
  • amethyst
  • loving vision
  • Elegy of Madonna Fiammetta.
    [/ su_list]
Being precisely the Fiammetta, the one that put an end to the relationship between the two. As well as that said rupture, was the cause of deep pain to Giovanni Boccaccio.

Then, after being in Naples for about thirteen years, in the month of December of the year 1340, it was his turn to return to Florence. This was motivated by the fact that his father had suffered a fairly serious financial setback.

Later between the years of 1346 and 1348, he proceeded to settle in Ravenna, within the court of Ostasio da Polenta, as well as Forli being the guest of Francesco Ordelaffi. So it was there, where he proceeded to meet the noted poets Nereo Morandi and Checco di Melletto, with whom he later maintained contact through correspondence.

Witness of the Plague and death of the father

This is how the year 1348 arrives when he returns to Florence, where he turned out to be a witness to the plague, which is precisely described in the Decameron. Then for the year 1349, he suffers the physical loss of his father.

Being then that Giovanni Boccaccio proceeded definitively, to settle in Florence. In order to take care of what was left of the assets corresponding to his father.

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In the city of the Arno Giovanni Boccaccio became appreciated for his literary culture. Then then the first part of the composition of The Decameron, occurs while he settled in Florence, between the years of 1349 and 1351. Likewise, the success he obtained served him to be appointed to a series of public positions, being proposed by his fellow citizens. Among which can be detailed:

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  • Ambassador to the lords of Romagna – year 1350
  • Chamberlain of the Municipality – year 1351
  • Ambassador of Florence in the papal court of Avignon – year 1354 and 1365. [/su_list]

Then, during the year 1351, he is entrusted with the assignment corresponding to the move to Padua, where the Petrarch had his residence. Whom he had met the year before, in order to invite him to settle as a professor in Florence.

Being the case that, even when Petrarch rejected the proposal in question, a quite sincere friendship was born between the two writers. It would have its extension, until in the year 1374 the death of Petrarch occurred.

Likewise, the quiet life that Giovanni Boccaccio had as a scholar was abruptly interrupted. This was due to the view that the Sienese monk Gioacchino CIani gave him, who exhorted him to abandon literature.

Possible destruction of his works

Like all the arguments considered as profane. Then, such was the impression that this monk caused in Giovanni Boccaccio, that this author even thought of burning his works, from which he was fortunately dissuaded by Petrarch.

When the year 1362 arrives, Giovanni Boccaccio had moved to Naples. Due to an invitation made to him by Florentine friends, since he hoped to find some occupation there, which would give him the opportunity to resume his life in an active and serene way, which in the past he had managed to lead.

More, however, at the time of John I of Anjou, the city of Naples turned out to be quite different from that city that he had known during his youth, which had the benefits of being:

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  • prosperous
  • cultured
  • Serena.[/su_list]

So then Giovanni Boccaccio proceeded to quickly abandon her. And after spending a little time in Venice, in order to offer his greetings to Petrarch during the year 1370, he proceeded to retire to his house located in Certaldo, since this place was in the vicinity of Florence. .

All this with the purpose of living something isolated and in this way being able to dedicate time to religious meditation as well as to study. Being that these activities were only interrupted, by certain very brief trips to Naples during the years of 1370 and 1371.

Then, during the last period of his life, and through the city council of Florence, he was given the commission to carry out a public reading of The Divine Comedy. Which was a work of Dante, a fact that he unfortunately could not finish. Due to the disease which caused his death, on December 21, 1375.

Works by Giovanni Boccaccio

Within Giovanni Boccaccio works, there are many of great poetry and beauty. Therefore, we will find below some of the most important and beautiful. In order to know a little better the work of this famous Italian artist.

Giovanny Bocaccio's main work: Decameron

The Decameron represents the Major work of Giovanni Bocaccio. For the year of 1348, in Florence, when the plague arrived that devastated the inhabitants of the city and which the author witnessed, he was able to be inspired to write this work.

The work is about the meeting of ten young people in the church of Santa Isabel María Novella, of which there were three men and seven women. These boys made the decision to make a retreat to a village, which was far from the city, in order to escape the plague that devastated the city.

His decision was to avoid registering in their minds the horrors that had been left behind. The young men proceeded to engage in storytelling among themselves. So for fourteen days they remained in said villa. However, when Fridays and Saturdays arrived, they did not tell stories.

For ten days stories were told, hence the title of the work. Each of the young people proceeded to perform the performance as if he were a king, and make the decision about the subject on which the stories were going to deal.

This being except for the first and ninth days. In which the stories would be free theme. This is how in total, the amount of 100 stories were made, with an unequal extension between them.

[su_note] As for Giovanni Boccaccio's sources, they are varied, since they arise from the classics that were Greco-Latin until reaching the French fabliaux that are medieval. There is no doubt that this is the work that immortalized Giovanni Bocaccio.[/su_note]

Giovanni Boccaccio

The hunt for Diana by Giovanni Boccaccio

Another works by Giovanni Boccaccio in what is known as “The hunt for Diana” – La caccia di Diana, has the writing date around the year 1334, in the city of Naples. It is therefore a short erotic poem, which is made up of eighteen songs, which can be seen presented in triplets.

As for his argument, it can be summarized as follows: At the moment in which Giovanni Boccaccio enters into the love sorrows he felt, a gentle spirit was sent by the goddess Diana, who summons the most beautiful ladies of Naples, whose names, surnames and even hypocoristics or affectionate names are quoted, to the court “dell'alta idea”.

Being that they were guided by the poet's beloved who was unknown, they manage to reach a valley. It is there that they bathe in a river. And later Diana, the goddess, divides the young women into four squads and the hunt begins.

At the moment that the dams are gathered in a meadow, the ladies are invited by Diana, to make a sacrifice to Jupiter. As well as to consecrate themselves to the cult corresponding to chastity. Then then, the one who was the beloved of Giovanni Boccaccio proceeds to rebel and speaking on behalf of all, she makes the declaration that her inclination was another.

The appearance of Venus

So Diana vanishes into the sky, and Donna Gentile, who is the poet's beloved, makes the utterance of a prayer to Venus. Reason why the goddess makes her appearance, and she proceeds to transform the animals that had been captured.

Within which is also the poet, who was in the form of a deer, in a number of fascinating young people. Being the conclusion of the poem, the image corresponding to the redeeming power of love, which was a constant motif in Boccaccio's work.

Therefore, the intention of this poem is to praise beauty, the most beautiful ladies in the city, which then makes it close to Dante's Vita Nuova.

The Philocolo by Giovanni Boccaccio

In relation to El Filocolo, this is a novel, extensive and also cumbersome, with its superfluous and disorderly ideas that lend themselves to confusion. It is written in prose form, and narrates a legend related to Florio and Biancofiore – Flores and Blancaflor.

Being its origin French, and which also obtained a lot of diffusion during the Middle Ages in different versions. It is possible that the inspiration of Giovanni Boccaccio comes from the Tuscan work called "Il Cantare di Fiorio e Biancifiore", which in turn was based on a poem of origin from the twelfth century.

Also, this work is composed between the years of 1336 and 1338. At the request of the Fiammetta, according to what is referred to in the prologue by Giovanni Boccaccio himself. In relation to its title, it emerges as an invention of the author. Besides a bad Greek that maybe, he would want to make the meaning something like “love fatigue”.

So it is then that in the same we find ourselves, with the narration of the misadventures corresponding to two young people. They are in love and they are Florio, who is the son of King Felice of Spain, and Biancofiore, who was an orphan girl, who ended up being welcomed in court through her mercy.

And which is really about the daughter of some nobles who were Romans. Those who died at the time of her found pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

And they fell in love

Then these two young people proceed to grow up together and end up in love when they reach adolescence. However, the king, in order to prevent them from marrying, proceeds to sell Biancofiore as if she were a slave to some merchants. Which will later cede it to the Admiral of Alexandria.

So Florio, very desperate, proceeds to take the name of Filicolo and dedicates his life to looking for his beloved. However, when he finally catches up with her, he turns out to be discovered and they end up capturing him. To finally be sentenced to death the two young people by orders of the admiral.

More is to be pointed out, that before said execution took place, Florio is recognized by the admiral as being his own nephew. Being that he also discovers, the noble origin that Biacofiore possessed. With which these two lovers were then able to return happily to Italy, and finally concluded their union in marriage.

[su_note] It is noteworthy that the prologue corresponding to this work by Giovanni Boccaccio, after it goes back to the origins of the kingdom of Naples, where a large number of mythological allusions are used, the author also makes the reference, to the way he fell in love with Fiammetta.[/su_note]

Being that he looked at her on a holy Saturday in church, which was in a nunnery. And the way she asked him to write a poem in vulgar, which indicated that it was a novel. Likewise, the Filocolo can be framed, in what is known as the Byzantine novel genre.

The Philostratus by Giovanni Boccaccio

This work by Giovanni Boccaccio is a narrative-type poem. He himself presents an argument that is classic. Which is written in real octaves. As well as its division is established in eight songs. As for the title, it is formed by a word of Greek origin, and another of Latin origin. Its possible translation being that of something like “Knocked Down by Love”.

Then then the argument of the poem is mythological style. Being that he narrates the love that Troilus felt, who was the youngest of Priam's sons, for Cresida, who was the daughter of Calchas. Bearing in mind that this was the soothsayer of Trojan origin, who being prescient regarding the fall of the city, he then went over to the side of the Greeks.

So it is that Troilo carries out the conquest of Crésida, through the help of his friend Pándaro, who was the cousin of the young woman. However, during a subsequent prisoner exchange, they end up sending Cressida back to the Greek camp. Then it is there that the hero of Greek origin named Diomedes proceeds to fall in love with her. Taking into account that in addition, he turns out to be reciprocated by this young woman.

Then Troilo, manages to find out about the betrayal that his beloved had done to him, this being at the moment in which the Trojan Deíphobo proceeds to take to the city, the clothing that he had taken from Diomedes in battle. Taking into account that on it, there was a brooch which belonged to Cresida.

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This is how Troilus, being enraged, ends up throwing himself into the fight by seeking to have a confrontation with Diomedes. However, even though he manages to wreak some havoc among the Greek ranks, he can't find him and ends up being shot down by Achilles.

It is worth mentioning that this story does not come directly from the myth. Rather, it is the Roman de Troie, which was a reworking of French medieval origin, corresponding to the Trojan legend made by Benoît de Sainte-Maure, during the twelfth century.

And that was known by Giovanni Boccaccio in the version made in Italian, by the author Guido delle Colonne. As well as, Boccaccio's poem proceeded to inspire Geoffrey Chaucer, in what was his poem Troilus and Criseyde, containing the same argument.

As for the argument related to the Philostratus, it is possible to read it as a transcription that is in the literary key of his love affair with FIammetta. Being that the poem is set just like the court of Naples.

Similarly, the psychology of the characters turns out to be portrayed with a number of subtle notes. Similarly, there is no agreement on the date on which he proceeded to compose said work. And that according to some it could have been written in the year 1335, while in other opinions the date corresponds to the year 1340.[/su_box]

Theseid

It is noteworthy that according to certain authors the work Teseida, whose full name is Teseida delle nozze di Emilia, which means "Teseida of Emilia's wedding", turns out to be the first epic style poem that was composed in the Italian language.

Being that in it the real octave was used by the author, as in the Filostrato. So it is that Giovanni Boccaccio, makes the narration in this work, of what were the wars that were sustained, between the hero of Greek origin Theseus with the Amazons. As against the city of Thebes. In this case, the poem is divided into twelve songs, imitating Virgil's Aeneid and also Estacio's Thebaid.

Even though the component of this work turns out to be epic, Giovanni Boccaccio does not completely hide the love theme in its development. Thus, the Teseida also narrates the confrontation that occurs between two young men who were from Thebes. And which were Palemón and Arcita.

Being the case that these confrontations were propitiated, for the love of Emilia, she was the sister of the queen of the Amazons. She as well as the wife of Theseus, named Hippolyta.

In the same way, this work also contains an extensive and also convoluted letter addressed to Fiammetta. As well as a structure with the amount of twelve sonnets. They make the corresponding summary, to the twelve songs of which the poem consists.

Giovanni Boccaccio

The Comedy of the Florentine Nymphs (Ameto)

Regarding the work of Giovanni Boccaccio entitled The Comedy of the Florentine Nymphs or "Comedy delle ninfe fiorentine". Which is also known as Ninfale d'Ameto or even simpler as Ameto, from the name of the protagonist. It turned out to be composed perhaps between the years of 1341 and 1342.

This work is a fable which is idyllic - allegorical type, which has been written in prose. Even when some fragments are also interspersed in triplets, which are chained. Thus, this mixture of prose and verse is not new at all. Because it is found in a large number of works from medieval times, such as:

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  • Dante's New Life
  • De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii – Marriage of Mercury and Philology. [/your_list]

The latter being by Marciano Capella. Then again in the outline of the theme that Giovanni Boccaccio makes, the approach of the redeeming power of love is made. Which allows man to cross the barriers of his ignorance towards knowledge and also the corresponding understanding of the mystery of God.

The discovery of the nymphs

The beginning of this work is located with the shepherd Ameto, who is wandering through the forests of Etruria. It is there that he proceeds to discover a group of extremely beautiful nymphs, who are bathing while listening to Lía's song. Ameto, then finding himself fascinated by that beautiful song, ends up in love with Lía.

Then he then proceeds to present himself to the nymphs. It is the case that the nymphs proceed to meet in a pleasant place on the day that is consecrated to Venus. And so, sitting around Ameto, they begin to tell stories about their loves.

Giovanni Boccaccio

So after listening to all the stories from the seven nymphs, it is ordered by the Goddess Venus that he be given a bath which will serve to purify him. And so she gives him permission to know what the nymphs allegorically mean.

Being the case that they are the representation of the virtues, which are seven, three that are theological and four that are cardinal. And in addition he is allowed the meeting of him with Lía, which had the implication of his own transformation from an animal into a man. Having then the possibility of getting to know God.

[su_note]It is noteworthy that even though a quite different setting and theme are shown, in terms of the structure of this work, the main work of Giovanni Boccaccio, which was the Decameron, is already announced.[/su_note]

loving vision

This work entitled Amorosa vision – Amorosa visione, is therefore a poem which is allegorical to the triplets that are chained. Just as it is also composed, such as that of Ameto, around the beginning of the decade corresponding to the year 1340. Time in which this author was already in Florence.

In relation to its division, it is fifty short songs. Likewise, it follows the structure corresponding to the visio in somnis “Vision in dreams”. In it, the narration of how a very beautiful woman turns out to be sent by Cupid to the poet is produced. Proceeding to invite him to abandon "vain delights", in order to seek true happiness.

So the woman proceeds to be the poet's guide to a castle. Since he then refuses to enter through a door which is very narrow, this is the representation of virtue. While if he agreed to enter what was the wide door, which is the symbolism of wealth and worldly enjoyment.

Giovanni Boccaccio

The frescoes in the rooms

Then then, there is the room adorned by two frescoes worthy of Giotto: in this case those found in the first room, will represent the triumphs corresponding to wisdom. It is also surrounded by allegories of the sciences corresponding to:

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  • Trivium – Grammar, dialectics and rhetoric
  • Quadrivium – Geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and music. [/your_list]

Which correspond to the glory of wealth and love. Then in the second room is the representation of the triumph of Fortune. Likewise, a number of different characters from history, as well as biblical and mythological figures are represented in the frescoes. Like very famous writers.

Thus, after contemplating these paintings, the poet leaves for the garden that is located in the castle. Being that in it he will also find other women such as:

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  • The beautiful Lombard
  • And the Sicula Nymph – possibly Fiammetta. [/your_list]

And shortly after the poem is abruptly interrupted. It should be noted that Giovanni Boccaccio's work, the Loving Vision, stands out for having a large number of similarities with the work of The Divine Comedy. Even when it is a very inferior work.

It has also been related by critics to another work that has an allegorical character, which is the Triumphs of Petrarch. Even based on certain authors, the model of this castle turns out to be quite allegorical to the Castelnuovo di Napoli. Which have rooms that were decorated with different frescoes by Giotto, during the time of Roberto de Anjou.

Elegy of Madonna Fiammetta

The work Elegy of Madonna Fiammetta – “Elegia di Madonna Fiammetta”. Its date of composition is between the years 1343 and 1344. Being that it has obtained the qualification of critics as a "psychological novel".

Its structure is produced in prose, where the presentation is made such as that of a written letter that is successful. In it, the protagonist, Fiammetta, tells her story about her youthful love for whoever was Pánfilo.

This being in the city of Naples. Then there is a rupture between the two. Because Pánfilo needs to leave for Florence. So Fiammetta proceeds to feel abandoned by her lover, for which she attempts suicide.

Then, when the end of the play is reached, this protagonist begins to feel hope again, upon hearing that Pánfilo is back in the city. But she makes the bitter discovery that he was just someone else who had the same name. This work is dedicated by the author, to all those women in love.

Even though this work contains a fairly important autobiographical component, which refers to the relationship that the author had with the enigmatic Fiammetta, which really had a quite different development, what is related to its treatment corresponding to amorous passion, has a lot I owe to other literary works such as:

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  • Ovid's heroids
  • Pamphilus de amore – Anonymous
  • De Amore by Andreas Capellanus. [/your_list]

Nymphale Fiesolano

Among the latests Moravia's compositions most important works of Giovanni Boccaccio can refer to the one entitled Ninfale Fiesolano, whose date of writing is between 1344 and 1346. It is an etiological fable, which is intended to give an explanation, about the names corresponding to two rivers located in Tuscany, the which are:

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  • Africo
  • Mensola. [/your_list]

As for its setting, it is pastoral, just like Ameto's work. Likewise, his writing was carried out in octaves, and he narrates a story corresponding to love affairs. Those that arose between Africo who was a shepherd and Mensola who was a nymph. As well as about the birth of Proneus, who was the son of the two of them.

[su_note]According to the work, the hills of Fiesole were inhabited by nymphs, since they were followers of Diana. And they were also hunting. So it turned out that the shepherd named Africo proceeded to fall in love with one of them named Mensola. But it is the case that, when trying to get closer, the nymphs proceed to flee in a panic.[/su_note]

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Then Africo's father, named Girafone, tries to talk him out of his crush. So he tells her the story of Mugnone, who ended up being turned into a river. Because he dared to love a nymph.

However, Africo continues to persevere in his efforts and then receives the help of the goddess Venus. With which he finally manages to unite with his beloved. Now it turns out that Mensola becomes pregnant and shuns Africo's company.

So he, believing that he was being despised by Mensola, proceeds to commit suicide by throwing himself into the river. Which from that moment will bear his name. Diana then makes the discovery of Mensola's birth and proceeds to curse her. This being the cause for her to also decide to commit suicide by throwing herself into the river, which would later bear her name.

Then then the son of both, named Proneus, turns out to be raised by who were the parents of Africo. Being that he became one of the first settlers who inhabited the city of Fiesole. [/ Su_box]

In relation to this work, it manages to have a great influence on those works that promoted the pastoral theme during later centuries, such as:

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  • The Rooms – Stanze by Angelo Poliziano
  • Nencia da Barberino – Lorenzo the Magnificent. [/your_list]

the corbacho

Among the latests Moravia's compositions works by Giovanni Boccaccio  we have the one titled El Corbacho – Corbaccio, it has as writing date the years located between 1354 and 1355. It is therefore a story in which a tenuous and also artificial plot is proposed. Being nothing more than a pretext in order to establish a moral and satirical debate.

This is so, both for its tone and also for its purpose. This work is inscribed within the tradition of misogynistic literature. In relation to the title of the same, reference is perhaps being made to the raven.

Being that it is considered as a symbol that promotes bad omen and also of a passion which is uncontrolled. According to others, it even refers to the Spanish corbacho, which is the vergajo with which the galley slaves were whipped by the committee.

In relation to the work, it has the subtitle of Laberinto de amor – Laberinto d'Amore. Being its first edition made in Florence during the year of 1487.

In relation to the misogynist tone that manifests itself in the Corbacho, it is likely that it is rather the consequence corresponding to the crisis, which Giovanni Boccaccio suffered regarding the Sienese monk.

Similarly, there are a large number of literary-type works within the Western tradition, which have a misogynistic character. Being among them, from Juvenal to Jerónimo de Estridón, just to make the appointment of some.

The composition of this work

Likewise, in relation to the composition, it has its origin in terms of a crush on Boccaccio, which turns out to have little success. After then arriving in his forties, he proceeds to fall in love with a very beautiful widow and writes her letters where he requests her love.

So the woman proceeded to show those letters to her relatives, making fun of Boccaccio. Because she came from a commoner background, and also because of how old he was. So then, the book becomes the shame of the author, who was not only directed against the widow, but also went against the entire female sex.

Likewise, the author proceeds to dream that he finds himself moving through places that turn out to be enchanted, which is indicated as the flattery of love. When he suddenly finds himself located in a jungle which is inexplicable. Which is the labyrinth of love, and which is also called the Venus Pigsty.

It is there where they make atonement for their sins, the miserable ones who find themselves turned into animals. And that they were deceived by the love of a woman. Likewise, the specter corresponding to the deceased husband of the widow makes his appearance, which gives him a detailed account of the innumerable vices and defects of his wife.

And as a penance, then he gives the order to Boccaccio to make the revelation of all that he has seen and heard. Without a doubt, this work turns out to be a great influence on the work that was titled in the same way, and that it was by Alfonso Martínez de Toledo, Archpriest of Talavera.

labyrinth of love

This work titled labyrinth of love giovanni boccaccio deals with the theme of the failed love that the author had towards a widow. The Italian writer falls madly in love with this beautiful woman to whom he sends letters where he expresses her feelings towards her and demands that she reciprocate. The widow shows her correspondence to those closest to her, who make fun of Giovanni Boccaccio because of her social status as a commoner and because of her age. The book is the weapon that the author uses to consume his revenge both with the widow and against the female gender.

Other works

Likewise, Giovanni Boccaccio also happens to be the author of a number of the first biographies corresponding to Dante Alighieri, known as the Trattatello in laude di Dante. As well as, of a paraphrase corresponding to triplets which are chained. This being the same stanza that was used by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

In the same way, we must also mention what his Rima were, which turns out to be a very extensive love songbook and which had its translation into Italian in the decades III and IV corresponding to Tito Livio.

Works in Latin

Within the Latin works of this author, is the Genealogy of the gods of the pagans, which is divided into fifteen books. It is one of the most complete compilations of legends, corresponding to classical mythology. Being that there Boccaccio tries to make the interpretation of an allegorical type - philosophical.

[su_note] This work began before the year 1350. Being that it was constantly corrected until the time of the author's death. It was therefore one of the reference books that was used among writers until the nineteenth century. Being that even two more volumes were added to the Genealogy by the author.[/su_note]

In the same way it also has the authorship of:

From casibus virorum illustrium. Where it is about demonstrating that worldly goods have expiration. And of the arbitrariness of fortune. Told in nine books. Although it was not completed

From claris mulieribus.  It is a series of biographies of illustrious women. Dedicated to the Countess of Altavilla Andrea Acciaiuoli. Used as argumentative by numerous writers.

Similarly, in the same line of Genealogy deorum gentilium, Boccaccio wrote an alphabetical repertoire where the geographical names that are in the classic works corresponding to Latin literature are found.

As well as his authorship, sixteen eclogues in which he follows models such as Virgil and Petrarch. Like him, he is the author of 24 epistles, of which only two of them are preserved in Italian translation.

Influence on Castilian literature

The presence of the influence of this author is found, from the Elegy of Maddonna Fiammetta, which becomes a model for the Spanish sentimental novel corresponding to the fifteenth century.

Likewise, the Archpriest of Talavera composed a work in the first half of the fifteenth century, where he imitates Boccaccio's Corbacho. He even does it with the same name, and also the same anti-feminist tone, which is remarkable in recreating popular language.

In the same way, two obas such as the Comedy of the Florentine Nymphs and the Ninfale fiesolano, are considered as precursors of the pastoral novel, which is a genre that greatly developed in European literature during the XNUMXth century.

[su_note] But without a doubt, Boccaccio's most influential work was the Decameron. Meanwhile, in the library of El Escorial, the oldest of the manuscripts of said work is preserved, which is in Spanish and dates from the middle of the XNUMXth century. Although only half of the original is included and it completely eliminates the story that frames the stories in the work of this author.[/su_note]

[su_box title=”Giovanni Boccaccio: The Decameron” radius=”6″][su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/6cAUyRAU3g0″][/su_box]

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