Essays and Research Papers on Italian Literature

A 9 page paper positioning Petrarch as a transition figure between medieval and Renaissance, but ultimately one whose conclusions about existence are firmly grounded in medieval thought. The paper focuses on Petrarch's literary criticism and letters, particularly the 'Letter to Posterity' and 'The Ascent of Mt. Ventoux', and is both historical and literary in orientation. ...

A seven page paper looking at the motif of the journey as Dante develops it in this poem. The paper shows how the theme of the journey is a precise allegory for the spiritual growth experience we must all undertake at those points in our lives when we find we have lost our way; this, ...

A five page paper looking at Cantos XXXII, XXXIII, and XXXIV of Dante’s classic work in terms of the way the poet uses symbolism and imagery to heighten our understanding of the poem’s meaning. Special attention is paid to the significance of ice, which contrasts with our expectation that Hell is a lake of fire. ...

A five page paper looking at this particular canto of Dante’s classic work in terms of its political overtones. The paper explains the political situation in Dante’s home city of Florence during Dante’s lifetime and how this is reflected in this particular canto. Bibliography lists two sources.

A five page work looking at Boccaccio's 'Decameron' and Dante's 'Divine Comedy' in terms of the way they illustrate the transformation of attitudes toward sexuality and sin as Western society moved from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance during the fourteenth century. No additional sources.

An eleven page paper on the business practices of the Mediterranean area during the late middle ages and Renaissance, as depicted in the 'Decameron' by Giovanni Boccaccio. The paper argues that its practical, non-ideological viewpoint coupled with its strong cosmopolitan emphasis make the work seem very modern. Bibliography lists seven sources.

This 5 page report discusses the ninth U.S. poet laureate,Robert Pinsky, and Dante’s “Inferno.” Drawing on information from an online discussion with The Atlantic Monthly in April of 1995, Pinsky’s ideas as they realte to Dante are examined.Pinsky’s translation of “Inferno” won several awards which called special attention to this American’s view of one ...

This 5 page report discusses Dante Alighieri's classic that tells of the poet’s journey into hell. The report focuses on the structure of hell and then examines the character of Francesca da Rimini who is in hell because of her adulterous affair. Her story gains the sympathy of both Dante and the reader but ...

A 4 page paper which discusses the role and purpose of the character of Virgil in Dante's Inferno. Also discussed is how Virgil, who was in reality a great Roman poet, wrote a work called 'The Aeneid.' This work also serves as an illustration to further describe the purpose for having created the character of Virgil in Inferno. ...

A 3 page review of the plot of the book by Walley Lamb. Traces the emotional baggage which has been dealt to Dominick, an identical twin who struggles not only with his own feelings of inadequacies but the horrors dealt to him by others throughout his life. Traces the development process which allows ...

A 5 page paper which examines the book "Christ in Concrete" by Pietro Di Donato. Different elements of the book are discussed as they apply to issues of working class and characters. No additional sources cited.

This 9 page paper looks at the way in which the depiction of light in this work is used as a representation of divinity, with light becoming brighter as Dante moves closer to God. The way in which this is used and the underling mean discussed concentrating on the first two cantos. The Longfellow translation ...

A five page paper which looks at Dante’s ethical premises in the Purgatorio, and the way in which he uses mythological and historical figures in order to demonstrate the complexities of human behaviour, and their progress towards rationality and the control of passion and instinct. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 5 page paper which examines the popular status of Italian Renaissance actors. Commedia dell'arte was separate from amateur drama because of the high level of performances. Every aspect of the drama was top of the line from the scripts to the costumes to performers, who might play the same role throughout their ...

This five-page-paper presents a discussion about Dante's Inferno and an overview as to its meaning. Bibliography lists one source.

A three page paper on contrapasso, the Italian term for selecting a punishment that perfectly fits the crime. In Dante's Inferno, Dante tried his best to come up with unique punishments that would convince his readers that sinners are really held accountable for their very specific sins in the afterlife, and they should thus do ...

A three page paper looking at a short passage in Dante's "Inferno," describing the fate of a group of sinners frozen in a lake of ice. The paper shows how Dante, intending to invoke our revulsion, succeeds only in invoking our pity. No additional sources.

A five page paper which looks at Machiavelli’s perspective on the importance of good and bad fortune in politics, and the way in which a skilful statesman should have the ability to make use of, but not reply upon, the fortuitous events which might occur in his career. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A five page paper analyzing Niccolo Machiavelli's attitude toward the common people of Italy as evidenced in his work 'The Prince.' The paper argues that Machiavelli believed that a nation composed of relatively powerless common people was best served by a powerful and centralized government which made their decisions for them, and aggressively defended their ...

This 7 page paper consider the first part of Dante's 'Divine Comedy'. It looks to the symbolism in the first two cantos of inferno, interrupting and explaining their presentations and meanings. These include the aspects of the landscape, of light and dark, personalities, the appearance of Virgil and the first appearance of Beatrice. The MLA ...

An 8 page overview of the views of Niccolo Machiavelli in "Il Principe" ("The Prince") written in the sixteenth century. Machiavelli outlines the tactics which he sees important in a ruler advancing the interest of their states and themselves in the future in a unified Italian state. Emphasizes that while these writings could ...

A 6 page paper. The writer discusses themes and symbolism found in the Decameron. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses whether Alberto Moravia's "Il Conformista" possesses, as he claims, aspects of realism and symbolism. No additional sources cited.

A 6 page paper which examines how the theme of the strong and assertive female connects the two stories. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page report discusses Dante Alighieri's (1265-1321) classic and notes that it has always been and is more than likely to remain fascinating to countless moralists, poets, and readers throughout the ages. Dante’s various “guides” serve to cause the reader to consider and re-consider their assumptions about damnation and who “deserves” to be damned. Bibliography lists 4 sources.