The vernacular
As we have seen the first examples of Italian prose in the vernacular (the vernacular, the exempla, the treatises of rhetoric) were formed from the outset two addresses: a decidedly narrative, pointing to the story, recovering the ancient model of the parable and the more modern fabliau French, the other rhetorical moralizing that it lends itself very well to the disclosure educational, or religious and philosophical education. In fact, the two strands were developed independently and had evolved differently, because the former is soon channeled into short stories, which exploded with Boccaccio, was destined for great success as a result, as well as throughout the fourteenth century the second, while branching out into various streams, such as prose oratory, legal, historiographical and philosophical, in the fourteenth century found its most effective expression in religious tracts, aimed at preaching, in the letters (especially of some famous writers like Petrarch) and chronicles, to be considered the most authoritative and artistic example of medieval historiography.model Dante
E 'remarkable that the language on the large model that influenced the prose of the fourteenth century was Dante, who was a poet and a prose writer (or at least not as good as a prose writer was sublime poet). The phenomenon can be easily explained, however, if one remembers that it was the poetry of Dante to create the authentic plant of the Italian language and was then Dante writers to provide the platform for the style of prose, and poetry, in addition to the lyric tradition already consolidated in the school of poetry (from the Sicilian 'dolce stil novo'), would be especially Petrarch to establish the linguistic and stylistic forms for future lyric poets, so we can say that while the language of Italian prose descends from Dante, that of poetry (especially lyric poetry) is descended from Petrarch. The religious treatises
Giordano da Pisa (1260-1311) composed sermons that fully reflect the style of the Dominican and have a goal essentially informative. The author was a Dominican of great culture and, in the early fourteenth century, he taught in Florence, S. Maria Novella, in his writing often uses the example and try to adapt to the times and the new mentality of the bourgeoisie, especially attentive to the facts and specific references that would document any theoretical discourse.
Even Passavanti was a Dominican Jacopo (1300-1357), born in Florence and picked up his sermons in the mirror of true repentance , after having actually performed in the 1354 Lenten season, and its characteristic is the use of systematic exempla, which are nothing but stories, which are necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness suggestions that he intended to give, or to support the negativity of some actions. Much more is to be noted this peculiarity of the story in a book of sermons, if we consider that at that time was spreading the news through the profane Decameron, among other things, we know that knew and met Boccaccio Catwalks to agree with him some narrative themes that meant use. Ride Domenico (1270-1342) Vico Pisano he preferred the kind of hagiographic writing more properly and in fact wrote such works as the Lives of the Fathers and the Pungilingua reworking stories that circulated in the monastic and hagiographic collections of ancient tradition . In prose that is clear and transparent, the rides, offering a model of perfection, the example of the Holy Fathers who came to the sanctity of life and through the experience of sin, which were able to recover. The Little Flowers
Also in the religious prose must enter the vernacular of an anthology of Actus blessed Francisci et eius sociorum (Acts of St. Francis and his companions), composed at the end of the thirteenth century. These are scenes from the life of the saint told under the title The Little Flowers of St. Francis between 1370 and 1390, through which they are extolling the virtues of this saint, extraordinary for its simplicity and humility. The tone is fabulous, concise style, essential and natural, suitable for a naive and heartfelt narrative, which tends to follow the address of a modern religion, based on a sense of perfect Franciscan joy, rather than fear of punishment for sin . The author, however, is anonymous and difficult to identify.
Along the same lines of the Fioretti you can put another anonymous wrote the Life of Brother Michael Minor, which tells the life of poverty and sacrifice of the Friar Minor Michele Berti football, executed as a heretic in Florence in 1389, a victim of the rigor of the Franciscan movement in view of the controversy around the order. The
epistolography
The prose in the vernacular, as was said, was strengthened through the epistolography, gender being the only important channel of communication in distance, usually intended to never sets for several centuries and had its directly from classical sources, as in the burgeoning Latin and Greek. Obvious mind the style of the letters was determined by the target of them, changing according to the recipient and, therefore, content. What we might quote the illustrious precedent of Guittone letters already mentioned, mainly of political tone, no less important and influential was the correspondence of Dante, just remember the letter to Can Grande, where the purpose of comedy shows, that the Italian Cardinals at the conclave to elect the successor of Clement V and the friend of Florence, with the refusal to accept the conditions imposed to return to Florence. Remarkablethe letters of Petrarch, who besides being an example of humanism poet, being in Latin and Cicero on the model, it provides important material which was autobiographical, but not for us is no evidence for the evolution of prose, not being made, those letters in the vernacular. Are relevant in this regard, the Epistles of John Colombini , a merchant from Siena in the second half of the fifteenth century, who suddenly said to the religious life, in 1355, organizing a new order called the "Jesus", based on mysticism. Before you get, with great difficulty, papal approval, was even expelled from the city, but his ideal was finally recognized. The letters were addressed almost all the abbess of Santa Bonda, to assert their way of life, and to express in words the ardent desire of charity, to rejoice in Christ with love and comfort continued acceptance of the miseries and tribulations. In its wake will put his proselyte, Bianco da Siena, which was part of the same order of Jesus and that just inspired by the letters of Colombini, wrote poetry and left a collection of religious hymns. Much more significant both in terms of style, and on that
content, was the prose letters of Santa Caterina da Siena (1347-1380), which in its 381 letters offered a rare example of eloquence, not rhetoric, but supported by a strong pathos and a vigorous imagination. Entered by the Dominican order of Mantellate young, devoted his life to attempt to peace between the warring factions and families, particularly the commitment to return the Pope to Rome, at Avignon. The writing of Catherine was born from a deep faith and although it was not supported by a great literary culture, incredible effects obtained on the same target, for example, on Pope Clement VII, who sent the pages of hot fervor and prayer, that returned from exile Avignon. especially to convince people to take some major battles and important benefit of generous faith, justice and peace, the military often used images, always alive with the extraordinary mysticism that characterized by full and overflowed its mind, burning with love for Christ, which she always considered "husband" until death. Sometimes touched the oratorical emphasis, redeemed, however, with the tone of sincere emotion.
The Chronicles
chroniclers of political and civil life in a unique way distinguished from the second half of the thirteenth century and during the fourteenth century, with clarity and accuracy because they strove to bring back to chronicle the events that happened in the city, without fail to understand the causation and the deep historical reasons that govern the development of events.thirteenth-century writers held these particular patterns of the classical authors, Sullust, Livy, Lucan, insisting on a continuous relationship between the past and the present civilization, recognizing also traces of the Roman, customs and traditions, purposely because we could give some relief to the city's history. The past, therefore, was placed in a perspective almost transfigured, as privileged heritage to be preserved and respected. The distant past, moreover, was often entrusted to illustrative quotations that were used to establish connections with the present. As you get closer to the fourteenth century, the focus shifts from the events to people and the wire with the Roman history becomes more tenuous, while the structure of the story change appearance, assuming the typical portrait of one or more wide celebration of form, such as the Liber Filippo Villani ol'anonima Life of Cola di Rienzo, greatly enhanced. There is still the myth of classicism, but in a strange sort of humanism that is centered around no more ideal city, but the ideal of human personality. Among the chroniclers were known for originality, professionalism and art Dino Compagni and Giovanni Villani.
Dino Compagni was born in Florence between 1255 and 1260 by a popular family of the Guelphs and participated in political affairs and became captain of the City of Or San Michele, prior, standard-bearer of justice and director of Giano della Bella. He was tried after the expulsion of Della Bella from Florence, but acquitted, was prior to the second time (1301), until he was finally dismissed by the government, for the sympathy shown to the whites in their constant opposition to the Pope continued the his life in Florence, on the sidelines until his death in 1324. It was, as seen from the dates, a contemporary of Dante. That time, very hot for the city of Florence, Companions stopped in his chronicle, specifically in the Chronicle of the things they needed 'his time, in three books, written from 1310 to 1312, about the events in 1280 and the descent of Henry VII in Italy, in 1312. The characters of writing Dino Companions are to be found first in the rigor with which he records the facts, through very accurate descriptions, which are never pedantic, but essential in earnest at the same time, especially when involving battles (excellent description of the battle of Campaldino of 1289), and, in the method, which does not is more than annalistic, meeting the classic models, but aims to contemporary, because it provides the narration as authentic witness of which the writer was the protagonist. This promotes not only the absolute truth of the pages, but the spontaneity of the tone in which the story proceeds. There is, however, the moral of the Civil Society in watching the events of his time and his city, because it tends to bring everything to a large drawing moral, providential, almost like the vision of Dante, in which everything finds its justification and explanation. Clearly emerges, however, even the conservatism of the reporter, who aspires to achieve a balance by social classes and is fiercely opposed to the excessive power of the bourgeoisie and the merchant class families banking magnate, who crush the people and prevent participation active arts minor in government. Comrades, in this view, while pursuing a major commitment to truth to be communicated to others, does not show to have full knowledge of the evolution of time, perhaps because he does not realize that the reality of fourteenth-century running in a direction opposite to its democratic and popular aspirations, we encounter, in fact, the gradual affirmation of the primacy of aristocracy, that is towards the formation of the Lords. The providentialism dominates and redeems the partiality of historical vision, but not
prevents the company to have the dramatic peaks of pessimism, in describing the relentless decline of the Commune, and of manners and morals of his city. Responsible for what is natural for him, the policy of the Blacks, against whom he rails fervently touching, in his invective to the citizens 'unfair' in Florence, even the string of apocalyptic prophecy, In announcing, with the arrival of Henry VII and harsh punishments severe illnesses. It always saves, however, in any case, the descriptive truth, placed in the record, as lived and experienced truth.
closer to a more modern historiography is no doubt, however, the Chronicle of Giovanni Villani , born in Florence around 1275. He joined the company of the Peruzzi bank, he held important posts in Rome and Bruges, buy a large financial experience. Returning to Florence, he practiced commercial, participating actively in public life, as prior, three times, the magistrate and the City Chamberlain, as well as head of city politics during the wars against Pisa and Perugia. It was even taken hostage by Mastino della Scala, in the negotiations with Florence, for the purchase of Lucca; past the company of Bardi, was overwhelmed by his failure and jailed on charges of insolvent debt. He died of plague in 1348. The Chronicle
is in twelve books, which do not follow contemporary events only, such as those of the Companions, but told from the destruction of the tower of Babel, until the arrival of Charles of Anjou in Italy. The design work is mainly based on information, is the description of events that are planned according to a conventional and providential, as the Companions. However, direct evidence is lacking, replaced by a historical and chronological. Moreover the same Villani said he wants to set an example to those who are mutation and of things past, and the causes and why "so that readers learn the virtues and avoiding vices; intent here, moralistic narrative that justifies. Despite, however, an apparent detachment from the events and greater than the Companions are also visible from a lack of passion in part, motivated by the fact that he did not participate in the struggle of the Whites and Blacks, are fairly discovered the feelings of the reporter. For example, his love for Florence, in view of the provincial rivalry, a certain power excited and celebratory tone, and his tendency to put things back the wrath, or physical ailments such as fever, both political and social ills or failure, or continue to make economic and financial audits, which fell within its precise skills. The Chronicle is, however, detailed source of information because the report carefully Villani, and excellent collection of documents and statistics, economic and folklore.
plain, clear, smooth the prose of Villani offers a good example of style, opening the great lesson of the classics, available for analysis, far from any drama and passion. Among the reporters
children remember Gino Capponi, Donato Woven Leonardo Frescobaldi and Goro Data
Gino Capponi (1350-1421) wrote the Commentaries the tumult of the Ciompi , showing completely unfavorable to the popular movement that appeared to him as a dangerous threat to the class of the wealthy bourgeoisie to which he belonged, in fact During the uprising he had lost many possessions and then felt the victim in person. Woven
Donato (1313-1370), however, composed a chronicle home, in a lively tone, drawing it from the margins of books, where a custom of the time, stories were often written down assets or made of some illustrious lineage.
Leonardo Frescobaldi, a Florentine who lived in the second half the fourteenth century, wrote Journey to the Holy Land, in which it takes places, cities, customs, who had actually seen during a trip with friends made in 1384.
Goro Data (1362-1435) was born in Florence, was a merchant, mayor and standard-bearer of justice, but above all, was historian and writer. We recall among his works, the secret book, a history of Florence and a short poem of astronomical topics, the Sphere.
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