Ariosto, Orlando furioso - introduzione facile e veloce!

Summary

The video explores Ludovico Ariosto's 'Orlando Furioso,' emphasizing its significance in Italian literature. The presenter highlights the work’s origins, starting in 1505, and its evolution over three editions. Ariosto drew inspiration from Matteo Maria Boiardo’s 'Orlando Innamorato,' continuing its themes of chivalry, love, and the quest motif. The video explains the intricate plotlines, such as Orlando's unrequited love for Angelica and Ruggiero's journey. It also discusses the work’s stylistic elements, including irony, and how the language reflects Renaissance ideals, blending courtly and Florentine influences. The video concludes with a discussion of the poem’s complex narrative structure.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ludovico Ariosto began writing *Orlando Furioso* in 1505, continuing from *Orlando Innamorato* by Matteo Maria Boiardo.
• 🗓️ The first edition of *Orlando Furioso* was published in 1515 with 40 cantos. Later editions in 1521 and 1532 added six more cantos and revised the language.
• 🏰 The poem was written for the entertainment of the cultured court of the Este family in Ferrara, where Ariosto worked.
• 📖 Ariosto adopted a more classical Florentine Italian language, following the norms of Pietro Bembo, after initially using the Ferrara dialect.
• 💔 The key theme of the poem is Orlando's unrequited love for Angelica, which drives him to madness.
• 🔍 A central motif in the poem is the 'quest,' with characters pursuing unattainable desires, often leading to failure, especially Orlando's quest for Angelica's love.
• 🌍 The setting of *Orlando Furioso* spans vast locations, from France to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and even the Far East, symbolizing a horizontal and labyrinthine space.
• 📜 The poem is structured to reflect the unpredictable nature of human actions and fortune, contrasting with the divine order in works like Dante's *Divine Comedy*.
• 🌀 The narrative structure involves intertwining storylines with non-linear timelines, making use of flashbacks and simultaneous events.
• 🎭 Ariosto's use of irony and narrative estrangement allows for a satirical view of chivalric ideals, often lowering the grandeur of the heroic characters into relatable, everyday struggles.

Q & A

Who is the author of *Orlando Furioso*?

The author of *Orlando Furioso* is Ludovico Ariosto.

When did Ludovico Ariosto begin composing *Orlando Furioso*?

Ludovico Ariosto began composing *Orlando Furioso* in 1505.

What was the literary influence behind *Orlando Furioso*?

*Orlando Furioso* continues the work of Matteo Maria Boiardo, specifically his poem *Orlando Innamorato*, which ends at the ninth canto of the third book.

When was the first edition of *Orlando Furioso* published, and how many cantos did it include?

The first edition of *Orlando Furioso* was published in 1515, and it included 40 cantos.

What changes were made to *Orlando Furioso* in later editions?

Ariosto revised the work and published two additional editions in 1521 and 1532. The 1532 edition added six more cantos, bringing the total to 46, along with a complete linguistic revision.

How did Ludovico Ariosto modify the language of *Orlando Furioso* between editions?

The earlier editions used the vernacular of the Ferrarese court, but in the later editions, Ariosto adopted a language more aligned with Pietro Bembo's prose, using the Florentine vernacular of the 14th century.

What are the three main narrative threads of *Orlando Furioso*?

The three main threads are: (1) the war waged by King Agramante of Africa against Charlemagne, (2) Orlando's unrequited love for Angelica, and (3) the adventures of Ruggiero and Bradamante, which culminate in their marriage and the foundation of the Este dynasty.

How does *Orlando Furioso* differ from traditional medieval romances in terms of quest structure?

In medieval romances, the quest was often religious or related to chivalric ideals, such as the search for the Holy Grail. In *Orlando Furioso*, however, the quests are profane and always fail, reflecting a more modern, disillusioned view of the world.

What role does irony play in *Orlando Furioso*?

Ariosto frequently uses irony to comment on the actions of his characters, often through humorous or skeptical narrative interventions. For example, when Angelica claims to be a virgin, the narrator sarcastically comments, 'perhaps it was true, but not believable.'

What is the significance of space and time in *Orlando Furioso*?

The space in *Orlando Furioso* is vast and horizontal, spanning multiple regions, unlike the vertical structure of Dante's *Divine Comedy*. Time in the narrative is also labyrinthine, with overlapping timelines and events.

How does *Orlando Furioso* conclude, and how does this compare to Boiardo's work?

At the end of *Orlando Furioso*, Orlando regains his sanity and helps in the battle against the Moors, Angelica marries Medoro, and Ruggiero converts to Christianity and marries Bradamante. Unlike Boiardo's open-ended work, Ariosto provides a conclusive ending.