CAMINHOS DO MARAVILHOSO EM GIAMBATTISTA BASILE

Abstract

In Lo cunto de li cunti (The tale of tales), Giambattista Basile conceives a narrative model that not only influences the formation of the oral wonder tale but also sets a clear logic for most wonder tale collections that came immediately after it (cf. ZIPES, 2006). This model introduces various components: fairies, ogres, the game, the court, fortune, the journey, transformations, and the body (cf. RAK, 2005; 2013). Each tale includes a type of journey to the woods, the ocean or another city. Such journey reflects the trip that a courtier used to go on after coming of age to see the world or test himself. The survival of the traveler along the way depends on the appearance of fairies and ogres, beings that arbitrarily choose to help them or destroy them. Fortune plays an important part. Bodies are interwoven in the plot. They are embellished, tortured, demolished and rejuvenated while the protagonist tries to survive, no matter the cost, and increase their social status in a world in constant change. That said, the objective of this work is to compile an inventory of the elements of the wonder that give substance to the genre “racconto fiabesco” (“wonder tale”), coined by critic Michele Rak (2005; 2013) to define the list of cunti.